Qetsi'ah (cassia) appears twice in the Hebrew Bible (Psalm 45:8; Ezekiel 27:19) as a prized aromatic spice. It comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia tree, closely related to cinnamon but with a stronger, more pungent fragrance. Cassia was one of the four ingredients in the sacred anointing oil (Exodus 30:24 uses a related term), making it a holy substance restricted to sacred use in Israel.
Cassia's appearance in Psalm 45:8 is deeply messianic: 'All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia [qetsi'ah].' This royal psalm describes the divine King whose very garments carry the scent of the anointing oil — pointing to the Messiah, the Anointed One. The anointing oil itself was to be used only on the Tabernacle furniture and the priests (Exodus 30:22-33), marking them as set apart for divine service. The aroma of cassia signals holiness, consecration, and the presence of the King.