Anointing

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The application of oil was associated with times of rejoicing and celebration. It also possessed a deeper significance, including that of being singled out by God for special favour or responsibilities.

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Anointing as a social custom

In personal grooming

Ec 9:8 The associations here are of joy and well-being.

See also Ru 3:3; Ps 92:10; Is 57:9; Am 6:6; Mt 6:17

Anointing guests as a mark of honour

Psalm 23:5 ESV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

See also Lk 7:36–39; Lk 7:44–47; Jn 12:3

Anointing corpses as a burial preparation

Mark 16:1 ESV

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

Anointing religious objects

Ex 40:9–11 Anointed objects are set apart (consecrated), to be used only in the performance of religious ceremonies.

Anointing people for office

Priests

Exodus 40:12–15 ESV

Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

See also Le 4:16; Le 21:10–12; 1 Ch 29:22

Kings

1 Kings 1:39 ESV

There Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”

See also 1 Sa 10:1; 1 Sa 16:12–13; 2 Sa 5:3; 2 Ki 11:12

A prophet

1 Ki 19:15–16 the only reference to the anointing of a prophet

Anointing people for other purposes

For purification

Leviticus 14:15–18 ESV

Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. And some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord.

For healing

Mk 6:13 It has been suggested that anointing in a healing context may be related to the use of oil for medicinal purposes.

The figurative use of anointing

Anointing by God

1 Sa 26:9 Israel’s king is frequently referred to as “the Lord’s anointed”. His physical anointing is seen as symbolising a divine anointing. The word “Messiah” literally means “the anointed one”; Is 45:1 Cyrus, as God’s agent for a specific task, is referred to as “his anointed”.

See also 2 Sa 23:1; Ps 2:2; Ps 45:2; Ps 89:20; Eze 28:14

God’s people in the OT

1 Chronicles 16:22 ESV

saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

Christian believers

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

See also 1 Jn 2:20; 1 Jn 2:27 This anointing is not received in an outward ceremony but by sharing in the Holy Spirit’s anointing of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ as God’s Anointed One (the Messiah)

Ac 4:26–27 Jesus Christ’s receiving of the Holy Spirit at his baptism was his “anointing” for his Messianic work; Ac 10:38 Note the link between anointing and the Holy Spirit.