The Holy Anointing Oil
Worship & RitualMeaning: “Oil of consecration”
Set apart for God — a picture of the Spirit’s anointing.
The fragrant oil compounded to a holy recipe for consecrating the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priests.
What It Was
God gave Moses an exact recipe for “an holy anointing oil” of myrrh, sweet cinnamon, calamus, cassia and olive oil (Exodus 30:23–25). With it Moses anointed the tabernacle, its furniture, Aaron and his sons. It was holy; to duplicate it for common use was forbidden (Exodus 30:32–33).
Biblical Significance & Symbolism
Anointing with oil set persons and objects apart for God’s service, and throughout Scripture the oil pictures the Holy Spirit. Kings, priests and prophets were anointed; the title “Messiah” / “Christ” means Anointed One, and believers share his anointing (1 John 2:20, 27).
Timeline
God gives the recipe for the holy anointing oil
Scripture References
20 versesExodus12 verses
Exodus 25:6
Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,
Exodus 29:7
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.
Exodus 29:21
And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
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. apothecary: or, perfumer
Exodus 30:31
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
Exodus 31:11
And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.
Exodus 35:8
And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,
Exodus 35:15
And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,
Exodus 35:28
And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Exodus 37:29
And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.
Exodus 39:38
And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door, the sweet: Heb. the incense of sweet spices
Exodus 40:9
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.
Leviticus7 verses
Leviticus 8:2
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;
Leviticus 8:10
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.
Leviticus 8:12
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
Leviticus 8:30
And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
Leviticus 10:7
And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
Leviticus 21:10
And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;
Leviticus 21:12
Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.
Numbers1 verse
Numbers 4:16
And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.
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Frequently asked about The Holy Anointing Oil
What was The Holy Anointing Oil in the Bible?
The fragrant oil compounded to a holy recipe for consecrating the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priests.
What does The Holy Anointing Oil symbolize?
Set apart for God — a picture of the Spirit’s anointing.
What does the name The Holy Anointing Oil mean?
The name The Holy Anointing Oil means “Oil of consecration”.
What was The Holy Anointing Oil made of?
The Holy Anointing Oil was made of olive oil, myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia.
Who made The Holy Anointing Oil?
The Holy Anointing Oil was made by Compounded after the apothecary’s art.
Where was The Holy Anointing Oil kept?
The Holy Anointing Oil was kept at The sanctuary.
Where is The Holy Anointing Oil first mentioned in the Bible?
The Holy Anointing Oil is first mentioned in Exodus 25:6.
How often is The Holy Anointing Oil mentioned in the Bible?
The Holy Anointing Oil is mentioned in 20 verses across 3 books: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers.
What was the holy anointing oil used for?
To consecrate the tabernacle, its furniture, and the priests, setting them apart for God; its sacred recipe could not be copied for ordinary use (Exodus 30:22–33).
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