SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE

(Hebrew VERB, BDB 602, KB 643 I; NOUN, BDB 603)

Used for beautification (BDB 691 I, cf. Deut. 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam. 12:20; 14:2; 2 Chr. 28:15; Dan. 10:3; Amos 6:6; Mic. 6:15; Matt. 6:16)
Used for guests (BDB 206, cf. 2 Chr. 28:15; Ps. 23:5; Luke 7:38,46; John 11:2)
Used for healing (BDB 602, cf. Isa. 61:1; Mark 6:13; Luke 10:34; John 9:6,11; James 5:14; [used in hygienic sense in Ezek. 16:9]; Rev. 3:18)
Used in preparation for burial (cf. Mark 14:8; 16:1; John 12:3,7; 19:39-40; note 2 Chr. 16:14, but without the VERB "anoint")
Used in a religious sense (of an object, BDB 602)
1. Gen. 28:18; 31:13 (a pillar)
2. Exod. 29:36; Lev. 8:11; Num. 7:10,84,88 (the altar)
3. Exod. 30:26; 40:9-16; Lev. 8:10-13; Num. 7:1 (the tabernacle)
Used for installing leaders
1. Priests
  1. Aaron (Exod. 28:41; 29:7,21; 30:30; Lev. 8:11)
  2. Aaron's sons (Exod. 29:29; 40:12-15; Lev. 7:36)
  3. standard phrase or title (Lev. 4:3,16; 16:32)
2. Kings
  1. by God (cf. 1 Sam. 2:10; 2 Sam. 12:7; 2 Kgs. 9:3,6,12; Ps. 45:7; 89:20; Isa. 45:1)
  2. by the prophets (cf. 1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1; 15:1,17; 16:3,12-13; 1 Kgs. 1:45; 19:15-16; 2 Kgs. 9:1-6,12)
  3. by priests (cf. 1 Kgs. 1:34,39,45; 2 Kgs. 11:12)
  4. by the elders (cf. Jdgs. 9:8,15; 2 Sam. 2:4,7; 5:3; 2 Kgs. 23:30; 1 Chr. 11:3; 29:22)
  5. of Jesus as Messianic king (cf. Ps. 2:2; Dan. 9:25-26; Luke 4:18 [Isa. 61:1]; Acts 4:27; 10:38; Heb. 1:9 [Ps. 45:7])
  6. Jesus' followers (cf. 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:20,27 [chrisma])
3. possibly of prophets (cf. 1 Kgs. 19:16; Isa. 61:1)
4. unbelieving instruments of divine deliverance
  1. Cyrus (cf. Isa. 45:1; 61:1)
  2. King of Tyre (cf. Ezek. 28:14, where he uses Garden of Eden metaphors)
5. term or title "Messiah" means "an Anointed One" (BDB 603, cf. Ps. 2:2; 89:38; 132:10)

Acts 10:38 is a verse where all three persons of the Godhead are involved in anointing. Jesus was anointed (cf. Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38). The concept is widened to include all believers (cf. 1 John 2:27). The Anointed One has become the anointed ones! This may be parallel to Antichrist and antichrists (cf. 1 John 2:18). The OT symbolic act of physical anointing with oil (cf. Exod. 29:7; 30:25; 37:29) relates to those who were called and equipped by God for a special task (i.e., prophets, priests, and kings). The word "Christ" is a translation of the Hebrew term "the anointed one" or Messiah.

The Messiah anoints those who receive the gospel (cf. 2 Cor. 1:21; 1 John 2:20,27). We are equipped to stand for Him, serve Him, and wait for Him amidst life's tribulations.

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH