The myrrh mentioned in the Bible is probably the resin from the "Balsamodenron myrrha" tree that grows in NE Africa and parts of Arabia. It had various uses in the Bible:
- a person perfume used in intimate encounters, Est 2:12, Prov 7:17, SS 1:13, 3:6, 4:6, 14, 5:5, 13, 6:12, etc
- A component of the holy incense used in the sanctuary service,
- an expensive gift fit for nobility, Gen 43:11, 37:25, 2 Chron 9:24, Isa 39:2, etc.
- As a component of embalming fluids used in burial service, Matt 26:12, Mark 14:8, John 12:3, 7, John 19:39.
From the above, when connected with Jesus, it appears that Myrrh was used as one of the embalming fluids that was usually reserved for the most extravagant burials of nobility.
In the case of Matt 2:11, all three gifts were consistent with extravagance fit for nobility or royalty.
- The Gold was used extensively in the sanctuary/temple and was used extensively by Solomon
- Frankincense was used in the sanctuary/temple holy incense and as a gift to nobility and royalty (as well as intimately, SS 4:6)
- Similarly, Myrrh also has the same connotations
Thus, the magi at His birth marked Jesus was born a king (Matt 1:1-16, Luke 1:32, 33, John 1:49, etc) ; and Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus gave Jesus a burial fit for nobility and nobility (Isa 53:9, 12, John 19:38-40).
This is consistent with Jesus being both High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary (Heb 2:17, 4:14-16, 5:10, 6:20, 7:26, 27, 8:1, 6, 9:11, 10:12, etc) and King of God's eternal Kingdom.