Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4400 Vegetation and food  »  4488 oil

Normally olive oil, which was in plentiful supply in Israel and in general household use. Its ritual uses included the anointing of priests and kings and ceremonial cleansing; in the NT oil was used to anoint the sick. As a sign of God's provision for his people, oil was associated with prosperity and gladness, and was a mark of spiritual blessing.

The production of oil

Job 24:11 Olives were pressed either with a pestle and mortar or in a stone press; Matthew 26:36 “Gethsemane” means “oil press”, named after the stone presses associated with the Mount of Olives.

General uses of oil

As a necessary provision

1 Chronicles 12:40; 2 Chronicles 11:11

As a fuel for lamps

Exodus 27:20 pp Leviticus 24:2 See also Exodus 35:14 pp Exodus 39:37; Numbers 4:9; Matthew 25:1-10

Mixed with flour in baking

1 Kings 17:12-16 See also Exodus 29:23; Numbers 11:8

As an ointment

Isaiah 1:6 See also Psalm 55:21; Luke 10:34

Oil for use in the sanctuary

Nehemiah 10:39 See also Exodus 25:6 pp Exodus 35:8; Numbers 4:16; 1 Chronicles 9:29; Ezra 6:9

Oil used for ceremonial anointing

Instructions for making and using the anointing oil

Exodus 30:23-33 See also Exodus 31:11; Exodus 37:29

Holy objects were consecrated by anointing with oil

Jacob twice anoints a pillar at Bethel:

Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:14

God's command to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings:

Exodus 40:9-11; Leviticus 8:10-11

Priests were ordained by anointing with oil

Leviticus 8:12 pp Exodus 29:7 See also Exodus 29:21 pp Leviticus 8:30; Leviticus 10:7; Leviticus 21:10-12; Psalm 133:2; Zechariah 4:12-14

Kings were anointed with oil

1 Samuel 10:1 Saul

David. Anointing with oil is associated with the gift of the Holy Spirit:

1 Samuel 16:13; Psalm 89:20 1 Kings 1:39 Solomon; 2 Kings 9:1-6 Jehu

Further ceremonial uses of oil

In ceremonial cleansing

Leviticus 14:15-18,24-29

In offerings

At the consecration of priests:

Exodus 29:2; Numbers 8:8

At the daily sacrifice:

Exodus 29:40; Numbers 28:5

With the grain offering:

Leviticus 2:1-7; Leviticus 6:20-21; Numbers 7:13 Leviticus 7:12 with the thank offering; Numbers 6:15 at the completion of the Nazirite's vow

With the burnt offering:

Numbers 28:9,28; Ezekiel 46:4-5

Oil was excluded from certain offerings

Leviticus 5:11; Numbers 5:15

Oil used to anoint the sick

James 5:14 See also Mark 6:13

God's provision of oil

Oil as a sign of God's blessing

Deuteronomy 32:13 See also Deuteronomy 7:13; Deuteronomy 8:7-8; Deuteronomy 11:14; Hosea 2:8

Oil withdrawn as a sign of judgment

Deuteronomy 28:40 See also Deuteronomy 28:51; Joel 1:10; Micah 6:15; Haggai 1:11

Renewed provision of oil following restoration

Jeremiah 31:12 See also Hosea 2:22; Joel 2:18-19,24

The firstfruits of the oil harvest

Numbers 18:12; Deuteronomy 18:4; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:37

Tithes of oil

Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23; Nehemiah 13:12

Oil as a commodity for trade

1 Kings 5:11 pp 2 Chronicles 2:10; Ezra 3:7; Ezekiel 27:17; Hosea 12:1

Oil as a sign of prosperity

Job 29:6 See also Deuteronomy 33:24; 2 Kings 20:13 pp Isaiah 39:2; Proverbs 21:20; Isaiah 57:9; Ezekiel 16:18-19

Oil associated with celebration

Psalm 45:7 The joy with which God anoints his servants is likened to the oil which anoints the bridegroom in preparation for his wedding. See also Psalm 104:15; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Isaiah 61:3; Matthew 6:17 Oil draws attention away from the fact that a person is fasting; Hebrews 1:9

Oil as a sign of honour

Psalm 23:5 Oil was used to anoint the heads of honoured guests at a meal. See also Psalm 141:5; Luke 7:46

See also

3239  Holy Spirit, anointing
4404  food
4490  ointment
4492  olive
4496  perfume
5222  baking
5373  lamp & lampstand
5617  measures, liquid
7304  anointing
7368  grain offering
8283  joy