Ointment

(An oily or unctuous substance, usually compounded of oil with various spices and resins and aromatics, and preserved in small alabaster boxes or cruses, in which the delicious aroma was best preserved. Some of the ointments have been known to retain their: fragrance for several hundred years. They were a much-coveted luxury, and often very expensive. --ED.)

1. Cosmetic . --The Greek and Roman practice of anointing the head and clothes on festive occasions prevailed also among the Egyptians, and appears to have had place among the Jews. (Ruth 3:2)
2. Funereal . --Ointments as well as oil were used to anoint dead bodies and the clothes in which they were wrapped. (Matthew 26:12)
3. Medicinal . --Ointment formed an important feature in ancient medical treatment. (Isaiah 1:6; Jeremiah 8:22; John 9:6; Revelation 3:18) etc.
4. Ritual.--Besides the oil used in many ceremonial observances, a special ointment was appointed to be used in consecration. (Exodus 30:23,33; 29:7; 37:29; 40:9,15) A person whose business it was to compound ointments in general was called an "apothecary." (Nehemiah 3:8) The work was sometimes carried on by woman "confectionaries." (1 Samuel 8:13)

Various fragrant preparations, also compounds for medical purposes, are so called (Exodus 30:25; Psalm 133:2; Isaiah 1:6; Amos 6:6; John 12:3; Revelation 18:13). (n.) Any soft substance used for smearing or anointing, usually for soothing or healing.OINTMENT

oint'-ment: The present use of the word "ointment" is to designate a thick unguent of buttery or tallow-like consistency. the King James Version in frequent instances translates shemen or meshach (see Exodus 30:25) "ointment" where a perfumed oil seemed to be indicated. the American Standard Revised Version has consequently substituted the word "oil" in most of the passages. Merqachah is rendered "ointment" once in the Old Testament (Job 41:31 (Hebrew 41:23)). The well-known power of oils and fats to absorb odors was made use of by the ancient perfumers. The composition of the holy anointing oil used in the tabernacle worship is mentioned in Exodus 30:23-25. Olive oil formed the base. This was scented with "flowing myrrh.... sweet cinnamon.... sweet calamus.... and.... cassia." The oil was probably mixed with the above ingredients added in a powdered form and heated until the oil had absorbed their odors and then allowed to stand until the insoluble matter settled, when the oil could be decanted. Olive oil, being a non-drying oil which does not thicken readily, yielded an ointment of oily consistency. This is indicated by Psalm 133:2, where it says that the precious oil ran down on Aaron's beard and on the collar of his outer garment. Anyone attempting to make the holy anointing oil would be cut off from his people (Exodus 30:33). The scented oils or ointments were kept in jars or vials (not boxes) made of alabaster. These jars are frequently found as part of the equipment of ancient tombs.

The word translated "ointment" in the New Testament is muron, "myrrh." This would indicate that myrrh, an aromatic gum resin, was the substance commonly added to the oil to give it odor. In Luke 7:46 both kinds of oil are mentioned, and the verse might be paraphrased thus: My head with common oil thou didst not anoint; but she hath anointed my feet with costly scented oil.

For the uses of scented oils or ointments see ANOINTING; OIL.

James A. Patch

3464. muron -- ointment
... ointment. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: muron Phonetic Spelling:
(moo'-ron) Short Definition: anointing-oil, ointment Definition: anointing-oil ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3464.htm - 7k

3487. nardos -- nard, ointment of nard
... nard, ointment of nard. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: nardos Phonetic
Spelling: (nar'dos) Short Definition: spikenard, a perfume Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3487.htm - 6k

4666. smurna -- myrrh (used as an ointment and for embalming)
... myrrh (used as an ointment and for embalming). Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: smurna Phonetic Spelling: (smoor'-nah) Short Definition: myrrh ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4666.htm - 6k

3462. murizo -- to anoint
... Definition: I anoint. Cognate: 3462 (from 3464 ) -- apply ointment ("anoint"),
especially for burial (embalming). See 3464 (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3462.htm - 6k

4101. pistikos -- trustworthy
... Adjective Transliteration: pistikos Phonetic Spelling: (pis-tik-os') Short Definition:
genuine, pure Definition: genuine, pure (of ointment), trustworthy. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4101.htm - 6k

211. alabastron -- a box of alabaster
... alabastron Phonetic Spelling: (al-ab'-as-tron) Short Definition: an alabaster phial
or bottle Definition: a phial or bottle of perfumed ointment, usually of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/211.htm - 6k

4841. merqachah -- an ointment pot
... 4840, 4841. merqachah. 4842 . an ointment pot. Transliteration: merqachah Phonetic
Spelling: (mer-kaw-khaw') Short Definition: ointment. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/4841.htm - 6k

4842. mirqachath -- an ointment mixture
... 4841, 4842. mirqachath. 4843 . an ointment mixture. Transliteration: mirqachath
Phonetic Spelling: (meer-kakh'-ath) Short Definition: mixing. ...
/hebrew/4842.htm - 6k

7543. raqach -- to mix or compound oil or ointment
... raqach. 7544 . to mix or compound oil or ointment. Transliteration: raqach Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-kakh') Short Definition: perfumer. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7543.htm - 6k

7546. raqqach -- ointment maker, perfumer
... 7545, 7546. raqqach. 7547 . ointment maker, perfumer. Transliteration: raqqach
Phonetic Spelling: (rak-kawkh') Short Definition: perfumers. ...
/hebrew/7546.htm - 6k

4888b. mishchah -- ointment, consecrated portion
... 4888a, 4888b. mishchah. 4889 . ointment, consecrated portion.
Transliteration: mishchah Short Definition: anointing. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4888b.htm - 5k

7548. raqqachah -- (female) ointment maker, perfumer
... 7547, 7548. raqqachah. 7549 . (female) ointment maker, perfumer. Transliteration:
raqqachah Phonetic Spelling: (rak-kaw-khaw') Short Definition: perfumers. ...
/hebrew/7548.htm - 6k

8081. shemen -- fat, oil
... Origin from shamen Definition fat, oil NASB Word Usage choice (1), fatness (2),
fertile (2), fertile* (1), lavish (1), oil (176), oils (3), ointment (1), olive ...
/hebrew/8081.htm - 6k

7545. roqach -- spice mixture, perfume
... confection, ointment. From Raqqown; an aromatic -- confection, ointment. see HEBREW
Raqqown. 7544, 7545. roqach. 7546 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7545.htm - 6k

4888. mishchah -- consecrated portion
... to be anointed, ointment Or moshchah {mosh-khaw'}; from mashach; unction (the act);
by implication, a consecratory gift -- (to be) anointed(-ing), ointment. ...
/hebrew/4888.htm - 5k

5480a. suk -- to pour (in anointing), anoint
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to pour (in anointing), anoint NASB Word Usage
anoint (4), anointed (3), poured (1), use any ointment (1). 5480, 5480a. ...
/hebrew/5480a.htm - 5k

The Precious Ointment.
... THE PRECIOUS OINTMENT. In the Bible we learn of a woman who took "a pound
of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the precious ointment.htm

The Box of Ointment.
... XVII. THE BOX OF OINTMENT. ... Nor ought we to forget our blessed Lord's reply, when
Judas objected to the waste of the ointment""Let her alone; ... ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xvii the box of ointment.htm

The Cruse of Ointment
... Mark CHAPTER 14:1-9 THE CRUSE OF OINTMENT. ... For this ointment might have been
sold for above three hundred pence, and given to the poor. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 1-9 the cruse of.htm

The Holy Spirit is Rightly Called the Ointment of Christ...
... Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, on the Holy Spirit. To the Emperor Gratian. Book I. Chapter
IX. The Holy Spirit is rightly called the ointment of Christ? ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter ix the holy spirit.htm

Petilianus Said: "But He Thus Praises the Ointment of Concord ...
... Book II. Chapter 105. " 238. Petilianus said: "But he thus praises the
ointment of concord among brethren? "238. Petilianus ...
/.../chapter 105 238 petilianus.htm

Of the Concord Between Matthew, Mark, and John in their Notices of ...
... LXXIX."Of the Concord Between Matthew, Mark, and John in Their Notices of the Supper
at Bethany, at Which the Woman Poured the Precious Ointment on the Lord ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter lxxix of the concord between.htm

Of a Holy Brother to whom the Mother of Christ Appeared when He ...
... SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER XLVII OF A HOLY BROTHER TO WHOM THE MOTHER OF CHRIST
APPEARED WHEN HE WAS ILL, AND BROUGHT HIM THREE VASES OF HEALING OINTMENT. ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xlvii of a holy.htm

Civ. Jesus Arrives and is Feasted at Bethany.
... b 3 And while he was [there] as he sat at meat, there came ^a unto him a woman {
^d 3 Mary} ^a having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, ^b of ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/civ jesus arrives and is.htm

Origin of the World; Basilides' Account of the "Sonship. "
... (He left the spirit) not altogether deserted or separated from the Sonship; nay,
(far from it,) for it is just as when a most fragrant ointment is put into a ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter x origin of the world.htm

And Jesus Six Days Before the Passover...
... [2661] And Mary took a case of the ointment of fine nard, of great price, [2662]
and opened it, and poured [8] it out on the head of Jesus as he was reclining ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxxix and jesus six.htm

Ointment (29 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. OINTMENT. oint'-ment: The present use of the word
"ointment" is to designate a thick unguent of buttery or tallow-like consistency. ...
/o/ointment.htm - 18k

Alabaster (6 Occurrences)
... Occurs only in the New Testament in connection with the box of "ointment of spikenard
very precious," with the contents of which a woman anointed the head of ...
/a/alabaster.htm - 11k

Anointed (132 Occurrences)
... his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with
the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ...
/a/anointed.htm - 41k

Nard (5 Occurrences)
... perfumery. 2. (n.) An ointment prepared partly from this plant. See Spikenard. ...
hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. ...
/n/nard.htm - 8k

Wiped (25 Occurrences)
... his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with
the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ...
/w/wiped.htm - 14k

Wipe (24 Occurrences)
... his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with
the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ...
/w/wipe.htm - 14k

Expensive (6 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment,
and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. (WEB RSV NIV). ...
/e/expensive.htm - 8k

Poured (155 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment,
and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. ...
/p/poured.htm - 37k

Perfume (202 Occurrences)
... The above collection also contains a small glass vial in which is a bronze spoon
firmly held in some solidified ointment, probably formerly perfumed oil. ...
/p/perfume.htm - 38k

Reclining (25 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:7 there came to him a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, very
precious, and she poured on his head as he is reclining (at meat). (YLT NIV). ...
/r/reclining.htm - 14k

What is an alabaster box? | GotQuestions.org

What is spikenard in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the balm of Gilead? | GotQuestions.org

Ointment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus