Topic
Ointment
33 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Exodus 30:23–25ISBE · Nave SACRED — Formula for
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel…
- Exodus 30:25Easton · ISBE
And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
- Exodus 30:33Smith · ISBE
Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
- Exodus 37:29Smith · Nave SACRED — Compounded by Bezaleel
¶ And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.
- Psalms 133:2Easton · ISBE
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
- Isaiah 1:6Easton · Smith
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
- Amos 6:6Easton · Nave NOT SACRED
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
- Exodus 29:7Smith
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
- Exodus 30:23Smith
Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
- Exodus 30:26–33Nave SACRED — Uses of
And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and…
- Exodus 37:1Nave SACRED — Compounded by Bezaleel
And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
- Exodus 40:9Smith
And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.
Show 21 more
- Exodus 40:15 Smith
- Ruth 3:2 Smith
- 1 Samuel 8:13 Smith
- 2 Kings 20:13 Nave NOT SACRED
- Nehemiah 3:8 Smith
- Esther 2:12 Nave NOT SACRED
- Job 41:31 ISBE
- Ecclesiastes 7:1 Nave NOT SACRED
- Ecclesiastes 10:1 Nave NOT SACRED
- Song of Songs 1:3 Nave NOT SACRED
- Song of Songs 4:10 Nave NOT SACRED
- Jeremiah 8:22 Smith
- Matthew 26:7 Nave NOT SACRED — The alabaster container of
- Matthew 26:12 Smith
- Mark 14:3–5 Nave NOT SACRED
- Luke 7:46 ISBE
- John 9:6 Smith
- John 12:3 Easton
- John 12:3–5 Nave NOT SACRED
- Revelation 3:18 Smith
- Revelation 18:13 Easton
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 6 references
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 14 references
- 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)
- Funereal . --Ointments as well as oil were used to anoint dead bodies and the clothes in which they were wrapped. (Matthew 26:12)
- Medicinal . --Ointment formed an important feature in ancient medical treatment. (Isaiah 1:6; Jeremiah 8:22; John 9:6; Revelation 3:18) etc.
- 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)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 6 references
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 Ex 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 Ex 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 Ps 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 (Ex 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 Lu 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
In the topical indexes
Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 14 references, grouped by sub-topic
- → NOT SACRED 2Ki 20:13; Es 2:12; Ec 7:1; 10:1; So 1:3; 4:10; Am 6:6; Mr 14:3-5; Joh 12:3-5
- The alabaster container of Mt 26:7
- → SACRED
- Formula for Ex 30:23-25
- Uses of Ex 30:26-33
- Compounded by Bezaleel Ex 37:1,29
- See OIL, SACRED
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.