ANOINTING in the BIBLE Hebrew: ANOINT H4886 mâshach BDB Definition: 1) to smear, anoint, spread a liquid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to smear 1a2) to anoint (as consecration) 1a3) to anoint, consecrate 1b) (Niphal) to be anointed Part of Speech: verb A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: a primitive root Greek: ANOINT G218 aleiphō al-i'-fo Thayer Definition: From G1 (as a particle of union) and the base of G3045; to oil (with perfume): - anoint.
A. Patriarchy
1. Jacob, to dedicate objects to God with oil
a. Pillar at Bethel Genesis 28:10-22
b. Altar at Bethel Genesis 35:1-15
B. Law of Moses
1. Dedication and Cleansing of temple and people with oil
a. Formulation Exodus 30:22-25; 35:8,28; 37:29
b. Unleavened bread Exodus 29:1-3
c. Priests and their clothing Exodus 28:40-41; 29:7,21,29; 30:30; 40:12-15; Leviticus 8:12-13, 30; Numbers 18:18; 35:25
i. Sin offering for anointed priest Leviticus 4:3-16 ii. Offering the day priest is anointed Leviticus 6:20-22 iii. Priest to receive part of anointed offerings Leviticus 7:35-36 iv. Anointed Aaron forbidden to leave temple when in service Leviticus 10:6-7
v. Anointed high priest not leave the tabernacle/temple, uncover his head or tear his clothes for the dead or touch dead body Leviticus 21:10-12
d. Altar after a sin offering Exodus 29:36
e. Tabernacle/Temple, the ark, altars, etc. Exodus 30:26-38; 30:31: 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10-11; Numbers 7:1,10,84,88
f. Offerings
i. Meat (meal) offering Leviticus 2:4 ii. Thanksgiving offering Leviticus 7:12
2. Completion of Nazarite vow
a. offering included unleavened bread anointed with oil Numbers 6:13-15
3. Dedication of Kings to God
a. Saul
i. Samuel anoints Saul as king 1 Samuel 9:16; 10:1 ii. Samuel reminds Saul of God’s anointing at his rejection 1 Samuel 15:1,17 iii. David refuses to kill Saul 1 Samuel 24:6,10; 26:9-23; Psalms 132:17 iv. Saul’s attempted suicide and David killing the Amalekite that killed Saul 2 Samuel 1:14,16
v. David mourns Saul 2 Samuel 1:21
b. David
i. Samuel sent to anoint David as king 1 Samuel 16:3,6,12-13 ii. David anointed by men of Judah 2 Samuel 2:4,7 iii. David anointed by men of Israel 2 Samuel 5:3,17; 1 Chronicles 11:3 iv. God had anointed David 2 Samuel 12:7; 19:21; 22:50-51; 23:1
v. David mourns Abner 2 Samuel 3:39 vi. Psalms mentioning David Psalms 18:50: 23:5; 28:8; 89:20
c. Solomon
i. High priest Zadok anoints Solomon 1 Kings 1:34,39,45; 1 Chronicles 29:22
d. Hazael, to be anointed king of Syria 1 Kings 19:15-16
e. Jehu anointed king over Israel 1 Kings 19:16; 2 Chronicles 22:7
f. Joash anointed king in Judah 2 Kings 11:12; 2 Chronicles 23:!1
g. Jehoahaz anointed king in Judah 2 Kings 23:30
f. Zedekiah Lamentations 4:20
g. King of Tyre Ezekiel 28:14
h. Cyrus Isaiah 45:1
i. “the king of Persia and conqueror of Babylon; first ruler of Persia to make a decree allowing the Israelite exiles to return to Jerusalem” [Brown-Driver-Briggs]
4. Dedication of prophets to God
a. Elisha anointed a prophet of God 1 Kings 19:15; 2 Kings 9:3,6,12
b. Isaiah
5. God’s Anointed
a. God saves His anointed Psalms 20:6
i. “This, according to the view given in the introduction, is the response of the king.” -Albert Barnes_
b. Two figures standing by God Zechariah 4:14 “These are the two anointed ones - Joshua, the high priest; and Zerubbabel the governor.” -Adam Clarke-
6. Jerusalem/Israel
a. Faithless bride Ezekiel 16:9
7. The Messiah [Prophesy fulfilled]
a. God anointed with “the oil of gladness” Psalms 45:7---Hebrews 1:9
b. “Anointed me to preach good tidings Isaiah 61:1—Luke 4:16-21
c. Kings of earth against God’s anointed Psalms 2:1-2 – Acts 4:25-27
A. Physical Hygienic/cleanliness
1. When fasting Matthew 6:17
B. Healing the sick
1. Miraculous by the twelve Mark 6:13
2. Miraculous by elders James 5:14
C. Preparing a body for burial
1. Jesus
a. Before His death Mark 14:2-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 11:2; 12:1-8
b. After His death Mark 16:1
D. Jesus [Anointed by the Father, representing his appointment as “king” to the world]
1. Peter proclaims Jesus’ spiritual anointing to council Acts 4:25-27 – Psalms 2:1-2
2. Peter preaches Jesus’ anointing to household of Cornelius Acts 10-:38
3. Hebrew writer affirms spiritual anointing Hebrews 1:9
E. Apostles -- spiritual anointing
1. Paul writing to Corinth 2 Corinthians 1:21
F. Christians -- spiritual anointing
1. Some received a spiritual anointing 1 John 2:27
a. The “anointing teacheth you all things”
i. This can only be those whom Apostles “laid hand on” Acts 8:9-25
A. Summary of 1st Century Anointing
1. Jesus was ‘anointed’ to be king
2. The Apostles were ‘anointed’ to be Jesus’ representatives and “witnesses” of His resurrection. John 15:26-27; Acts 1:16-21; 23:11
3. Some Christians were ‘anointed’ when the Apostles laid hands upon them to receive miraculous gifts from the Holy Spirit Acts 8:9-19; 19:1-6
4. Miracles (a result of ‘anointing’) were to “confirm the word” being preached Mark 16:14-20; Hebrews 2:1-4
B. Why ‘anointing’ is not commanded or needed today
1. In the 1st Century, the Gospel (New Testament) was:
a. revealed and understandable
b. confirmed with miracles from the Holy Spirit
c. completed in the 1st Century.
C. There is no NEW revelation today, therefore no need for miraculous ‘anointing”