Hebrew word · H4888

מִשְׁחָה

hamishchah

anointing

Anointing: the act of smearing or pouring oil on someone or something. In Leviticus 7:35 it can also mean the priests' consecrated portion. It comes from the verb mashach, 'smear, anoint', the same root as mashiach, 'anointed one' (later 'Messiah').

Appears 26 times in 24 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) ointment (used to consecrate by anointing)

2) anointing portion

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 35:28

Range of meaning

Anointing: the act of smearing or pouring oil on someone or something. In Leviticus 7:35 it can also mean the priests' consecrated portion. It comes from the verb mashach, 'smear, anoint', the same root as mashiach, 'anointed one' (later 'Messiah').

Against the English

'Anointing oil' is a fair rendering. In modern church language 'anointing' often means a spiritual empowerment or a special presence of God on a person. In Exodus 'the oil of the anointing' is a physical perfumed compound with an exact recipe.

How it drifted

Later Christian usage, influenced by passages such as 1 John 2:20, 27 ('you have an anointing from the Holy One'), turned 'anointing' into a metaphor for spiritual gifting. Modern charismatic usage widened the metaphor further.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exodus 30:22–33 gives the recipe: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, 250 of cinnamon, 250 of fragrant cane, 500 of cassia, and a hin of olive oil. It was applied to the tent, ark, table, lampstand, altars, basin and the priests, making them 'most holy'. Making a copy or putting it on an outsider carried the penalty of being 'cut off'. Anointing objects and officials to mark them out is widely attested in the ancient Near East, for example in Hittite and Mesopotamian installation rites and Egyptian temple ritual.

From the study of Exodus 30:25

Range of meaning

The act of anointing, or the oil used for it. The verb behind it, mashach, is physical: to smear or daub. It is used of oil spread on flat bread (Exodus 29:2), of oiling shields (Isaiah 21:5), and even of painting a house red (Jeremiah 22:14). In ritual it marks a person or object as designated for a role. Lexicons also list a related sense, "allotted portion," at Leviticus 7:35 and Numbers 18:8.

Against the English

Most versions say "anointing oil." KJV varies between "holy ointment" and "holy anointing oil" for the same phrase, which hides the verbatim repetition.

How it drifted

In much modern church speech, "the anointing" means a felt spiritual power on a person. That sense draws on later texts about being anointed with the Spirit (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38; 1 John 2:20, 27). It is not the sense in this verse, where the first things anointed are a tent and its furniture.

Used elsewhere in the period

Concentrated in the priestly sections of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. Biblical Aramaic uses the related noun meshach simply for "oil" (Ezra 6:9; 7:22). Anointing as a rite of installation and consecration appears outside Israel too: the installation of a high priestess at Emar in Syria (about 1200 BC) includes anointing, and stones were anointed there as well. Compare Jacob's stone in Genesis 28:18. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation, renders the word with chrisma, from the same family as christos.

From the study of Leviticus 8:12

Range of meaning

Noun from mashach: "anointing", or the share or portion that belongs to the anointed. Here it appears in the fixed phrase shemen hammishchah, "the oil of anointing", which is the technical name for one sacred blend.

Against the English

"Anointing oil" can sound like any oil used in a church service. In the Torah this is one exclusive compound with a set recipe, and copying it or putting it on an ordinary person was a capital-level offence ("cut off from his people", Exod 30:32–33).

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 30:22–33 gives the recipe: liquid myrrh, fragrant cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, and a hin (about 3–6 litres) of olive oil, blended "as by a perfumer". The same phrase appears at Exod 25:6; 29:7; 31:11; Lev 21:10, 12. Psalm 133:2 pictures this oil running down Aaron's beard onto the collar of his robes.

Where it appears

Exodus · 15

  1. Exodus 25:6 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing

    olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

  2. Exodus 29:7 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    Then take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

    Here: A noun from the same root as the verb at the end of the verse (mashach). 'The anointing oil' names this oil by what it is used for. Exodus 30:32–33 forbids copying it or putting it on an ordinary person, on pain of being cut off from the people. So this is restricted, holy material, not a cosmetic.

  3. Exodus 29:21 הַמִּשְׁחָה֒ <the> anointing

    And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. Then he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments.

  4. Exodus 29:29 לְמָשְׁחָ֣ה for anointing

    The holy garments that belong to Aaron will belong to his sons after him, so they can be anointed and ordained in them.

  5. Exodus 30:25 מִשְׁחַת־ מִשְׁחַת־ anointing of

    Prepare from these a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a sacred anointing oil.

    Here: Names the oil's purpose: it is for smearing or pouring on, the physical act that marks something for sacred service. Verses 26-30 list exactly what receives it.

  6. Exodus 30:31 מִשְׁחַת־ anointing of

    And you are to tell the Israelites, ‘This will be My sacred anointing oil for the generations to come.

  7. Exodus 31:11 הַמִּשְׁחָ֛ה <the> anointing

    in addition to the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them according to all that I have commanded you.”

  8. Exodus 35:8 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;

  9. Exodus 35:15 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    the altar of incense with its poles; the anointing oil and fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle;

  10. Exodus 35:28 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    as well as spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.

    Here: The act of smearing or pouring oil to set something apart. 'The oil of the anointing' is the specific holy blend of Exodus 30:22–33, used to consecrate the tent, its furniture and the priests.

  11. Exodus 37:29 הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ <the> anointing

    He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

  12. Exodus 39:38 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;

    Here: From the verb "to smear, rub on, anoint," the same root as māšîaḥ, "anointed one." "Oil of the anointing" is the name of one specific holy compound, used to consecrate the tabernacle, its objects and its priests (30:22–33).

  13. Exodus 40:9 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it along with all its furnishings, and it shall be holy.

  14. Exodus 40:15 מָשְׁחָתָ֛ם anointing their

    Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations.”

Leviticus · 9

  1. Leviticus 7:35 מִשְׁחַ֤ת וּמִשְׁחַ֣ת [is] [the] share of, and [the] share of

    This is the portion of the food offerings to the LORD for Aaron and his sons since the day they were presented to serve the LORD as priests.

  2. Leviticus 8:2 הַמִּשְׁחָ֑ה <the> anointing

    “Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,

  3. Leviticus 8:10 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    Next, Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it; and so he consecrated them.

    Here: "The anointing." With "oil" it names the one sacred blend whose recipe is given in Exodus 30:22–33 and which was forbidden for any ordinary use. The word "the" points back to that known substance.

  4. Leviticus 8:12 הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה <the> anointing

    He also poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.

    Here: "The anointing". This names one specific, restricted holy oil, "the anointing oil", as opposed to ordinary cooking or cosmetic oil. The article marks it as the oil already prescribed and known.

  5. Leviticus 8:30 הַמִּשְׁחָ֗ה <the> anointing

    Next, Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he consecrated Aaron and his garments, as well as Aaron’s sons and their garments.

  6. Leviticus 10:7 מִשְׁחַ֥ת [the] anointing of

    You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed.

  7. Leviticus 21:10 הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ <the> anointing

    The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.

    Here: 'The oil of the anointing': the oil used to set people and objects apart for God. It comes from the same root as māšîaḥ, 'anointed one' (Lev 4:3 calls the high priest 'the anointed priest').

  8. Leviticus 21:12 מִשְׁחַ֧ת <the> anointing of

    He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD.

Numbers · 2

  1. Numbers 4:16 הַמִּשְׁחָ֑ה <the> anointing

    Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

  2. Numbers 18:8 לְמָשְׁחָ֛ה to a portion

    Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.

    Here: This could mean 'as a measured portion' or 'because of (your) anointing'. Most modern scholars take it as 'portion, share'. Older translations read it as 'anointing', since the same consonants spell the ordinary word for anointing. Either way, it names the priests' rightful share.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.