Complete Guide to Anointing Oils
Welcome Brothers and Sisters!
In this article, we will give you interesting information about anointing oils in Christianity and their relation to the Holy Land.
We tell you all you need to know about anointing oils, how they are made, how to use them, their spiritual benefits, and why they make great gifts!
What is Anointing Oil?
Simply explained, anointing oil is oil used for anointing.
In fact, the word ‘anointing’ itself means to rub with oil as a part of a religious ceremony, such as healing, or to bless a Christian who has devoted her life to the service of God.
In English the word “Christian” is derived from the Latin word – Christus, which comes from the Greek word Χριστός (Christós), meaning the “Anointed One”.
Jesus is the “Christ” or “Messiah”, which means the anointed one.
According to the New Testament, Jesus is prophet, priest, and king, which again emphasizes the concept of anointing.
That’s why in the Christian religion, anointing oil has special importance, and it is also considered a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
Of course, the use of anointing oil has its roots in the Jewish faith, where it was used to designate a person (like the Temple ornaments) or people (such as Aaron and his sons) as ‘holy’ (qadosh) in the eyes of God (Exodus 30:29).
Many people ask, can any oil be used for anointing? Or are there special types or ingredients for anointing oils?
Continue reading to find out.
Anointing Oil in the Bible:
The Holy Scriptures provide several meanings and applications of anointing oil.
Overall, it is mentioned 20 times in the Bible, especially in the Book of Exodus, where God commanded Moses to use anointing oil to bless Aaron and his sons as priests in the Tabernacle, and also to set apart objects of worship.
Spices used to make anointing oil were part of the offerings that the Jews brought to the Temple.
According to Exodus 25:3 “This is the offering which you shall take from them: gold, silver, bronze, 4 blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats’ hair, 5 rams’ skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, 6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense”
Anointing oil also figures prominently in the life of Jesus. He was anointed before his death by Mary Magdalene (Luke 7:36–50) in the home of Simon the Pharisee who lived somewhere in Galilee, probably Capernaum, Nain, or Cana.
After his death, his body was also prepared for burial, and he was anointed with spices and fragrances by two Pharisees who became his followers, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea.
The Gospel tells us that these two secret followers of Jesus anointed him with “a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds” (John 19:39) and bound Jesus’ body in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury (John 19:40).
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is built at the site of the grave of Jesus.
Let’s now see how anointing oils are described in the Old and New Testaments.
Anointing Oils in the Old Testament:
The Book of Exodus calls this “holy, anointing oil,” three times, and it was not to be used for secular and domestic purposes (Exodus 30:32-33).
It was used to bring people into religious or public leadership roles:
- Moses poured oil on the head of Aaron (the high priest) and his descendants to mark them as holy and set apart to the Lord (Exodus 25:6).
- Prophets were also anointed, as in the case of Elisha. God told Elijah to “anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.” (1 Kings 19:16)
- Kings were anointed to rule the nation, especially David, who was anointed thrice by Samuel – at the city of Bethlehem (1 Samuel 9:16; 10:1; 1 Kings 1:34, 39)
Not to mention, objects also were anointed with oil to make them sacred, like Jacob anointed a pillar at Bethel (Genesis 31:13; Exodus 30:26-28).
Anointing Oils in the New Testament:
Moving on, there are five passages in the New Testament that talk about anointing with oil.
Jesus instructed his disciples at Capernaum to go and to anoint the sick and heal them (Mark 6:13)
Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus’ feet with nard as an act of worship (Mark 14:3–9). The Gospel describes it as an “alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard”, which was costly.
James, the brother of Jesus and Bishop of Jerusalem instructs the church elders to anoint the sick with oil for healing (James 5:14)
Stone of Unction:
When you visit the Holy Land, you can actually see and touch the Stone of Unction.
This stone is the first thing you will see at your visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
It is located on the way from Golgotha to the Edicule, and this stone is also called the Stone of Anointing, the place where Christ’s body was anointed with oil for burial after the crucifixion.
There you can see many Catholic and Orthodox pilgrims touch this stone and place religious items on it (gifts and souvenirs) that will bring this blessing to their homes.
Now we know what the Bible says about anointing oil, let’s now see how different churches use it.
Anointing Oil and its Use in the Christian Life:
As mentioned above, anointing oil has special importance in Christian life and the life of the Church.
It is used during:
- Baptism
Eastern Churches have the rite of chrismation (anointing) which is performed at the time of baptism.
While chrismation is usually done by the bishop, priests can also anoint believers using the oil consecrated by the bishop
- Dedication
Both mainline and non-denominational churches also use oil that has been blessed by a pastor to anoint their families and homes.
Individuals can also ask for anointing at various stages of their faith journey, such as conversion or a call to ministry.
- Unction
Unction (anointing of the sick) is considered sacramental in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches. The holy oil of unction is usually blessed by the bishop or priest.
Other uses in the church include:
Healing
Oil was used for the sick and applied to injuries.
The traditional practice was to anoint the sick and pray for healing.
Protection in Spiritual Warfare
In the Book of Isaiah, “anoint the shield” (Isaiah 21:5) indicates the practice of rubbing oil on a soldier’s shield. This is often used to symbolize Christians preparing or engaged in a spiritual battle.
Listen to this great Video from Hagee Ministries channel:
“The Awesome Power of the Anointing”
Anointing Oil used by other Denominations
Along with Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, several Eastern denominations use anointing oil in their worship. These include:
Armenian Church
The Armenian Church uses anointing called the holy muron (myrrh).
They believe that some of the holy anointing oil blessed by Moses and Aaron had blessed, still remained in Jesus’ time.
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church calls anointing oil by various names, such as ‘Oil of Unction’ or ‘Oil of the Holy Horn’.
They believe that holy oil consecrated by the apostles of Jesus has been successively been handed down in the Church to this day.
Coptic Church
Moving on, the Coptic Church of Egypt also uses holy myron and believes in its continuity from the time of the apostles.
St. Thomas Christians
Finally, the St. Thomas Christians of India believe that when Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, came to their country, he brought holy anointing oil with him, which they still possess.
Anointing Oil Ingredients:
You can find the recipe for anointing oil in Exodus 30:23-24:
Olive Oil
The oil comes from pressing olive trees that are native to Israel.
Read more about olive oil from the Holy Land here.
Cassia
Secondly, we have Cassia, which is a bark with a sweet scent, similar to cinnamon.
The bark is coarse, dark, and rough on the outside, but inside it is smoother and reddish-brown.
Ancient Israelites used Cassia from Egypt, Syria and Palestine.
Cinnamon
This is one ingredient that most of us recognize for its distinct color and aroma.
Its sweet fragrance comes from its aromatic essential oil, which is prepared by pounding the bark, softening it in seawater and then distilling it quickly.
Myrrh
One of the most important ingredients on our list, myrrh comes from a reddish-brown dried sap called Commiphora myrrha.
Raw myrrh resin and its essential oil have a sharp, pleasing and a little bitter fragrance.
Other ingredients include nard, calamus or common sweet flag and kaneh bosem.
Anointing oil as a Christian Gift:
Many people buy anointing oil from the Holy Land for its spiritual benefits.
But they also make great gift items.
The best occasion to present anointing oil to a friend or family member is when they get a new home.
Depending on their religious beliefs, you can also gift anointing oils when someone has a baby.
They can rub some of the oil on the child’s forehead for divine protection and good health.
Recent converts can also be a given the gift of anointing oils from the Holy Land.
Popular Holy Land Anointing Oil Brands are:
There are many popular brands made in the Holy Land like: Ein Gedi, The New Jerusalem, Galilee, and Messiah.
You can also find some US brands like Swanson, Majestic Pure.
If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can also make anointing oils at home.
Most people prefer Jerusalem holy oils because they are produced with the traditional ingredients and contain spiritual blessings of the holy land.
Spiritual Powers of Anointing Oil:
While every Christian believer is anointed with the Spirit of God, using anointing oil provides special blessings and spiritual powers that enable them to unlock the fullness of God’s grace and mercy in their lives.
Using anointing oil provides protection against evil forces.
Anointing an individual or object also helps to concentrate on God’s protection and divine favor in a vivid manner.
Many Christian believers who pray and read the Word daily need something ‘extra’ in their spiritual lives, and anointing oil helps them grow deeper in faith.
As Joseph Prince once said: “The anointing oil speaks of blessing, fruitfulness, and health for God’s people”.
Pastor Joseph Prince Video about Anointing Oils:
Popular Questions about Anointing Oils:
What does dreaming about anointing oil mean?
Anointing oil in a dream can have many different meanings.
The most common interpretation is that oil signifies things are running smoothly, and you can expect positive changes ahead.
How do you pray over anointing oil?
Depending on your church affiliation, you can pray over anointing oil yourself or have it blessed by a pastor, priest, or bishop.
Here’s a simple prayer for anointing oil:
“Dear Jesus, the true Anointed One, I pray that you anoint this oil in Your heavenly name.
I pray that You cleanse it of any defilement in it or upon it, and that You make it holy for the work of Your glory.
Amen”
What anointing oil should I use?
There are different types of anointing oil with different qualities and spiritual meanings.
For instance, myrrh is known for its healing abilities and is also used during bridal preparation.
Likewise, Rose of Sharon is symbolic of beauty, while Lily of the Valley symbolizes purity of heart.
What are the ingredients of anointing oil?
Several ingredients are used to make anointing oils, including olive oil, myrrh, and cinnamon.
Can Holy Oil expire?
Anointing oil doesn’t expire, but it can lose its scent and efficacy over time.
How much does anointing oil cost?
The average price of anointing oil on websites like Amazon, Etsy, and Walmart is 8-12$ for 0.4oz / 12ml bottles, going up to 150$ for 500ml bottles.