Anointing
in Holy Scripture, is either, I. Material—with oil—or II. Spiritual—with the Holy Ghost. I. MATERIAL.—
Ordinary . Anointing the body or head with oil was a common practice with the Jews, as with other Oriental nations. (28:40; Ruth 3:3; Micah 6:15) Anointing the head with oil or ointment seems also to have been a mark of respect sometimes paid by a host to his guests. (Luke 7:46) and Psal 23:5 Official . It was a rite of inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish commonwealth. a.
Prophets were occasionally anointed to their office, (1 Kings 19:16) and were called messiahs, or anointed. (1 Chronicles 16:22; Psalms 105:15) b. Priests, at the first institution of the Levitical priesthood, were all anointed to their offices, (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:3) but afterwards anointing seems to have been specially reserved for the high priest, (Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 16:32) so that “the priest that is anointed,” (Leviticus 4:3) is generally thought to mean the high priest. c.
Kings. Anointing was the principal and divinely-appointed ceremony in the inauguration of the Jewish Kings. (1 Samuel 9:16; 10:1; 1 Kings 1:34,39) The rite was sometimes performed more than once. David was thrice anointed. d. Inanimate objects also were anointed with oil, in token of their being set apart for religious service. Thus Jacob anointed a pillar at Bethel. ((Genesis 31:13; Exodus 30:26-28) Ecclesiastical . Anointing with oil is prescribed by St.
James to be used for the recovery of the sick. (James 5:14) Analogous to this is the anointing with oil practiced by the twelve. (Mark 6:13) II. SPIRITUAL.— In the Old Testament a Deliverer is promised under the title of Messiah, or Anointed, (Psalms 2:2; Daniel 9:25,26) and the nature of his anointing is described to be spiritual, with the Holy Ghost.
(Isaiah 61:1) see Luke 4:18 In the New Testament Jesus of Nazareth is shown to be the Messiah, or Christ or Anointed, of the Old Testament, (John 1:41; Acts 9:22; 17:2,3; 18:4,28) and the historical fact of his being anointed with the Holy Ghost is asserted and recorded. (John 1:32,33; Acts 4:27; 10:38) Christ was anointed as prophet priest and king. Spiritual anointing with the Holy Ghost is conferred also upon Christians by God.
(2 Corinthians 1:21) ” Anointing “expresses the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit upon Christians who are priests and kings unto God.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Anointing
Anointing a-noint'-ing: A distinction was made by the ancient Hebrews between anointing with oil in private use, as in making one's toilet (cukh), and anointing as a religious rite (mashach). ⇒Topical Bible outline for "Anointing." 1. Ordinary Use: (1) As regards its secular or ordinary use, the native olive oil, alone or mixed with perfumes, was commonly used for toilet purposes, the very poor naturally reserving it for special occasions only (Ru 3:3). The fierce protracted heat and biting lime dust of Palestine made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face (Ps 104:15). ⇒See a list of verses on ANOINTING in the Bible. (2) The practice was in vogue before David's time, and traces of it may be found throughout the Old Testament (see De 28:40; Ru 3:3; 2Sa 12:20; 14:2; 2Ch 28:15; Eze 16:9; Mic 6:15; Da 10:3) and in the New Testament (Mt 6:17, etc.). Indeed it seems to have been a part of the daily toilet throughout the East. (3) To abstain from it was one token of mourning (2Sa 14:2; compare Mt 6:17), and to resume…
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Anointing
1. The application of unguents to the skin and hair as an act of the toilet is an ancient custom ; the oldest prescription extant is for this purpose, and professes to date from about B.C. 4200. Among the Jews a. was a daily practice (Mt 6"), the oil being applied to exposed parts (P8 104"), soothing the skm burnt by the sun. The eflfects of oil are more enduring than those of water, hence a. was practised after bathing (Ru 3', Ezk 16'). It was a mark of luxury to use specially scented oils (Am 6"), such as those Hezekiab kept in his treasure-house (2 K 20"). As a. was a sign of joy (Pr 27*), it was discontinued during the time of mourning (Dn lO') ; so Joab instructed the woman of Tekoa to appear un- anointed before David (2 S 14^). On the death of Bathsheba's chUd, David anointed himself to show that his moumin" had ended (2 S 12-°). The cessa- tion of a. was to be a mark of God's displeasure if Israel proved rebellious (Dt 28", Mic 6"), and the restoration of the custom was to be a sign of God's returning favour (Is 61'). Anointing is used as a symbol of prosperity in Ps 92'°, Ec…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia