Bible Encyclopedia: Ointment

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International 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. 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

Greek

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

Strong's Hebrew

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

Library

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

Smith's Bible Dictionary

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.)

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)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

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).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Any soft substance used for smearing or anointing, usually for soothing or healing.

Thesaurus

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

Bible Concordance

Ointment (29 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 KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 26:12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 14:3 While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard-very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 14:4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, "Why has this ointment been wasted?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 14:5 For that ointment might have been sold for fifteen pounds or more, and the money have been given to the poor." And they were exceedingly angry with her.
(WEY ASV DBY RSV)

Luke 7:37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 7:38 Standing behind at 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.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 7:46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

John 9:6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud of the spittle, and put the mud, as ointment, on his eyes.
(DBY)

John 11:2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.
(WEB KJV WEY BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

John 12:3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

John 12:5 "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
(Root in KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Exodus 30:25 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.
(KJV DBY WBS)

2 Kings 20:13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
(KJV WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 9:30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Job 41:31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 133:2 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;
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT)

Proverbs 27:16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
(KJV JPS WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
(KJV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
(KJV WBS)

Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS RSV)

Song of Songs 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.
(Root in KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Isaiah 1:6 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.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 39:2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 57:9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT)

Daniel 10:3 desirable bread I have not eaten, and flesh and wine hath not come in unto my mouth, and I have not anointed myself at all, till the completion of three weeks of days.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Ointment

Ointment: Not Sacred

Ointment: Not Sacred: The Alabaster Container of

Ointment: Sacred: Compounded by Bezaleel

Ointment: Sacred: Formula For

Ointment: Sacred: Uses of

Related Terms

Alabaster (6 Occurrences)

Anointed (132 Occurrences)

Nard (5 Occurrences)

Wiped (25 Occurrences)