Topical Bible: Anointing: Ointment For: Richly Perfumed

◄ Anointing: Ointment For: Richly Perfumed ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Anointing with richly perfumed ointment is a practice deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of the ancient Near East, including those of the Israelites. This practice is frequently mentioned in the Bible, where it serves both practical and symbolic purposes.

Biblical Context and Usage

In biblical times, anointing with oil was a common practice for personal grooming, hospitality, and religious rituals. The use of richly perfumed ointments was particularly associated with honor, consecration, and blessing. These ointments were often made from a blend of olive oil and aromatic spices or perfumes, such as myrrh, cinnamon, and cassia, which were highly valued for their fragrance and preservative qualities.

Scriptural References

1. Personal Grooming and Hospitality: Anointing with oil was a sign of hospitality and respect. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus highlights the neglect of this custom by Simon the Pharisee: "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume" (Luke 7:46). This act of anointing was a gesture of honor and welcome.

2. Consecration and Religious Rituals: Anointing was also used for consecrating priests, kings, and sacred objects. The richly perfumed anointing oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. In Exodus, God commands Moses to prepare a sacred anointing oil: "Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil" (Exodus 30:23-24). This oil was used to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as Aaron and his sons, setting them apart for divine service.

3. Symbol of Joy and Gladness: Anointing with oil is also associated with joy and celebration. In Psalm 45, a royal wedding psalm, the king is described as being anointed with the "oil of joy": "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you above your companions with the oil of joy" (Psalm 45:7). The richly perfumed oil signifies divine favor and blessing.

4. Preparation for Burial: Perfumed ointments were used in the preparation of bodies for burial, as seen in the account of Jesus' anointing at Bethany. Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume, an act He interprets as preparation for His burial: "She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial" (Mark 14:8).

Cultural and Theological Significance

The use of richly perfumed ointments in anointing reflects the cultural appreciation for fragrance and the theological significance of consecration and blessing. The fragrance of the ointment symbolizes the presence of the divine and the sanctification of the anointed person or object. In the New Testament, anointing takes on a deeper spiritual meaning, representing the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon believers, empowering them for service and marking them as belonging to God.

The practice of anointing with richly perfumed ointment, therefore, serves as a multifaceted symbol within the biblical narrative, encompassing themes of honor, consecration, joy, and divine presence.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Songs 4:10
How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is your love than wine! and the smell of your ointments than all spices!
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 12:3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
Torrey's Topical Textbook