What Did It Mean for a Person to Be Anointed?

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In the cultural and religious context of the ancient Near East, and especially within the Hebrew Scriptures, anointing with oil was more than a ceremonial gesture—it carried rich symbolic and practical significance. Anointing set a person apart for a specific role or purpose, often one of divine origin and spiritual authority. To understand the theological weight of anointing, one must examine its usage, terminology, and fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Cultural Practice of Anointing

1. Hospitality and Favor

Anointing was commonly practiced as an act of hospitality and honor in ancient Middle Eastern society. Hosts would anoint a guest’s head with perfumed oil as a mark of welcome and esteem. Psalm 23:5 illustrates this:
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
This act was not limited to religious ceremony but was a cultural token of affection and generosity, often performed during feasts or significant social gatherings (cf. Luke 7:46).

The Religious Significance of Anointing in Israel

1. Appointment to a Sacred Office

In the Hebrew Scriptures, anointing was the ritual act by which individuals were consecrated for a divinely appointed role. This was done with olive oil poured upon the head and often accompanied by God’s Spirit empowering the individual for service.

Priests: Aaron, the brother of Moses, was anointed as the first high priest of Israel. Leviticus 8:12 says,
“Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”
This set Aaron apart as holy, dedicated to mediate between God and Israel.
Kings: Anointing was the divine marker for royal authority. When David was chosen as king to replace Saul,
“Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13).
This anointing confirmed divine selection and conferred spiritual empowerment.
Prophets: Though less frequent, some prophets were also anointed. Elijah was commanded to anoint Elisha as his prophetic successor (1 Kings 19:16), though in practice this likely referred to divine commissioning rather than ritual oil-pouring.

Hebrew and Greek Terminology

The act of anointing is translated from the Hebrew word מָשַׁח (māshach), meaning “to smear” or “to pour.” From this verb comes the noun מָשִׁיחַ (māshîaḥ), translated “Messiah,” meaning “Anointed One.” In Greek, the corresponding verb is χρίω (chriō), and from it the noun χριστός (Christos), or “Christ,” is derived.

Thus, “Messiah” in Hebrew and “Christ” in Greek are titles meaning “the Anointed One,” rather than surnames. These terms point to a person chosen and empowered by God for a specific, exalted mission.

Jesus—The Ultimate Anointed One

Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled and transcended the Old Testament concept of anointed individuals. He was not anointed with physical oil, but with the Holy Spirit itself, marking Him as the definitive fulfillment of all prophetic, priestly, and kingly roles.

Matthew 3:16 records:
“And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon Him.”
This event served as His divine anointing for public ministry, paralleling the oil-anointing of ancient kings and priests.
Luke 4:18 quotes Jesus reading from Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”
Jesus claimed this prophecy was fulfilled in Him, identifying Himself as God’s ultimate Anointed One.

This spiritual anointing enabled Jesus to function as:

Prophet, bringing God’s message and fulfilling the Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17).
High Priest, mediating between God and man, offering the perfect atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 4:14–16).
King, inheriting the throne of David and ruling in God’s Kingdom with everlasting authority (Luke 1:32–33).

Other Anointed Individuals in Scripture

While Jesus is uniquely the Christ, others in Scripture are also referred to as “anointed ones”:

Moses, though not explicitly anointed with oil, was divinely appointed and thus identified with the same concept (cf. Hebrews 11:24–26).
Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who released the Jews from Babylonian captivity, is called “His anointed” in Isaiah 45:1. This does not mean Cyrus was spiritually sanctified, but that he was sovereignly appointed to fulfill Jehovah’s purpose.

Spiritual Application for Christians

Anointing is also extended metaphorically to all believers under the new covenant:

2 Corinthians 1:21-22:
“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”
Though not literal, this “anointing” refers to the sealing of the Holy Spirit as a mark of God’s ownership and consecration of His people.
1 John 2:27:
“And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you…”
This emphasizes spiritual discernment and divine guidance imparted to true disciples through God’s Word and Spirit.

However, the anointing of the Christian congregation should not be confused with the unique messianic anointing of Jesus, which remains singular and preeminent.

Conclusion

Anointing in biblical theology signifies consecration, divine appointment, and empowerment. In ancient Israel, anointing with oil marked priests, kings, and prophets for sacred service. These anointed figures foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill all roles in perfection. His anointing demonstrates God’s plan to redeem and reign through one perfect Mediator. For the Christian, anointing serves as a metaphor for spiritual identification with Christ and consecration to God’s service.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).