WHAT IS ANOINTING?  The Hebrew verb “MASAH” [TO ANOINT] has three meaning:

• To smear something on the object [Genesis 31:3],
• To anoint the shield, meaning to lubricate [Isaiah 21:5]
• To temper with oil, meaning to butter bread [Exodus 29:2]

The Hebrew noun “MASIAH” that means ANOINTED ONE was used only for Jesus Christ [Psalm 2:2, 18:50, 89:38].

MASIAH was used figuratively for king Saul as the LORD’S ANOINTED [1 Samuel 24:6] and Cyrus as HIS ANOINTED [Isaiah 45:1].

GREEK VERBS FOR ANOINTING:

MURIZO, meaning to anoint the body for burial [Luke 7:46, Mark 14:8]

“You did not anoint [ELAION] MY head with oil, but she anointed [MURON] MY feet with perfume (embalming ointment)”.

EPICHRIO , to rub on used for the blind man when Jesus healed him from blindness [John 9:6, 11].

ENCHRIO to rub in, or to smear with the eyes of the LAODICEANS meaning to beautify it [Revelation 3:18]

ALEIPHO  used for an anointing of any kind:

1. A physical refreshment [Ruth 3:3, Daniel 10:3]
2. Anointing of the sick that is to heal [Mark 6:13, James 5:14] by applying some medicinal ointment or oil,
3. Anointing a pillar or foundation [Genesis 31:31
4. Anointing the captives [2 Chronicles 28:15]
5. Anointing the priests or kings [Exodus 40:15]

CHRIO   confided to sacred and symbolic anointing of Christ as the ANOINTED ONE OF GOD [Luke 4:18, Acts 4:27, 10:38, Hebrews 1:9]

CHRIO also refers to ANOINTING OF BELIEVERS FROM GOD [2 Cor. 1:21].

CHRISMA,a were a Greek noun stands for ANOINTED ONE meaning Christ, standing by metonymy for the Person Himself (as for the Holy Spirit), [1 John 2:20, 27, Daniel 9:26].

CHRIO refers to the work of the Holy Spirit at the point of salvation imputing righteousness of God to the believer.

Copyright ©2003-2007  J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries