Although the word “anointed” is common in Christian circles, what does it really mean in the Bible?
The truth is, when you don’t know the meaning of this biblical word, you may not understand its purpose and importance. Moreover, you may not recognize the signs of anointed individuals, even if you’re one of them.
So if someone introduces themself to you as an anointed one, what do they mean? Is it possible for believers in Christ to receive anointing in this present day just like in biblical times?
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I’ll provide relevant answers to these questions and more from the scriptural perspective. Get comfortable and keep reading as I guide you through this powerful topic.
What Does it Mean to Be Anointed in the Bible?
In the holy scripture, the act of anointing involves pouring sacred oil on an individual’s head to suggest that God has set them apart for a specific purpose.
The term “anointing” comes from the Hebrew word “Mashiach,” meaning “to anoint, rub with, or smear with oil.”
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Sometimes, inanimate objects can be anointed with oil for sacred use. During biblical times, the special anointing oil meant for a religious service was usually mixed with fine spices and prepared using a specific procedure.
The oil is considered sacred and is solely used for the purpose for which it was prepared. It’s worth noting that anointing with oil was a common practice in biblical times.
Priests practiced the consecrating use of oil to dedicate people and objects to symbolize God’s presence.
Ultimately, the primary purpose of the anointing is to separate individuals, objects, or places for a divine use.
There are two types of anointing in the Bible; physical anointing and spiritual anointing. Let’s discuss them:
1. Physical Anointing
Just as the name suggests, this type of anointing is the act of applying olive oil to a person or object for a spiritual or ceremonial purpose. It’s the evidence that someone or something has been chosen for God’s purposes.
Immediately after rubbing or smearing a person with holy anointing oil, the spirit of God begins to rest on them.
Contrary to certain religious beliefs, the anointing oil doesn’t endow people with power—it is only a symbol of consecration and God’s presence in their life.
2. Spiritual Anointing
Spiritual anointing refers to the empowering power of the Holy Spirit that God gives to a person to enable them perform His Will with divine power.
Unlike physical anointing, spiritual anointing doesn’t involve the use of oil. Instead, it is the invisible work of God that equips believers for service and godly living.
In other words, the spiritual anointing comes from the Lord and not man, as seen in the book of Isaiah 61:1:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news…; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
Who are the Anointed Ones in the Bible?
From the Old Testament to the New Testament of the Bible, we see several instances of those whom God specially set apart for His divine assignment. Here are the major anointed ones in the scripture:
1. Priests
Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first priest to be anointed in the Bible. He was anointed by Moses as the high priest of Israel, as described in Exodus 29:7: “Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.”
We also see a similar act in Leviticus 8:12, “He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”
God gave Moses specific instruction on the preparation of the oil used for the anointing of the high priest.
Considering the purpose for which the oil was made, anyone else is not allowed to replicate the formula for general use.
According to Exodus 30:23-25, the recipe for the sacred anointing oil are,
500 shekels of liquid myrrh
250 shekels of cinnamon
250 shekels of Calamus
500 shekels of cassia
Olive oil
Now, the holy oil wasn’t just for Aaron but for other high priests who came after him, including his sons. That’s not all; the oil was also used to anoint the altar and other sacred vessels in the tabernacle.
Without the anointing, the priests wouldn’t be any different from the rest of the Israelites. Besides, they won’t be able to take part in priestly activities.
Usually, the consecration period lasts for seven days, after which the anointed priest can start his ministerial work.
2. Kings
Many instances of kings’ anointing appear in the Bible, with Saul being the first anointed king. Let’s discuss a few of the most famous examples of the kings anointed in the Bible.
Saul
Despite Saul’s impressive physical features, he humbled himself before God. Perhaps his act of humility was what attracted God’s attention to Him.
When the people of Israel asked for a king, the Lord sent Samuel to anoint Saul as King of Israel, and we see this in 1 Samuel 10:1:
“Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the LORD has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.”
Immediately, the spirit of the Lord fell powerfully upon Saul, and he began to prophesy with the prophets (1 Samuel 10:10).
After Saul was eventually appointed as King of Israel, he continued to walk blamelessly before God. However, Saul’s downfall began when he exhibited an act of impatience by offering a sacrifice at Gilgal, a duty assigned to prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 13).
Later, he disobeyed God’s instruction at Amalek, a behavior that led to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15).
Apart from losing his kingship, the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit took control of his life.
David
After God rejected Saul as king, he appointed a shepherd boy named David to rule Israel. While Saul was still on the throne, the Lord commanded Samuel to go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem and anoint one of his sons as king.
When Samuel arrived at Jesse’s house, he thought Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, was the chosen one, based on his stature, but he wasn’t. Jesse’s seven sons passed before Samuel, but God did not approve of any of them (1 Samuel 16:10).
Of all Jesse’s sons, the Lord chose his youngest, David, who was taking care of the sheep at the time Samuel went to anoint him. 1 Samuel 16:13 states that Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers.
From the day David was anointed, the spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. Although David didn’t become king immediately after Saul anointed him, he began to do exploits from that moment. His courage to face Goliath and kill him is proof that the spirit of the Lord was mighty upon him.
David’s second anointing took place after Saul’s death, according to 2 Samuel 2:4, “Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”
Even though David had been previously anointed, his public anointing by the men of Judah gave him the recognition as king of Israel.
King David’s life story is such an interesting one because he committed some grievous sins, including adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11-12). Still, David was considered the man after God’s heart, probably because of his humble and remorseful attitude whenever he committed a sin.
Solomon
When David grew old and became weak, his son Adonijah planned to take over his throne. To make sure Adonijah’s plan didn’t work out, David commanded priest Zadok and prophet Nathan to anoint his son Solomon as king:
“Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”
The anointing upon Solomon ensured his peaceful succession after the death of David (1 Kings 1:34).
3. Prophets
In scripture, the anointing of prophets is majorly a spiritual one. One of the most famous and powerful examples of prophetic anointing appears in 2 Kings 2:1-15, which speaks of how Elijah anointed his attendant Elisha using his mantle.
When it was almost the time for Elijah to be taken up to heaven, Elisha kept following him. Upon realizing Elisha’s persistence, Elijah asked what he truly desired before he was taken to heaven. Interestingly, Elisha asked for the double portion of Elijah’s anointing.
As the two men continued to walk together, a chariot of horses suddenly appeared and carried Elijah with them in a whirlwind. During that moment, Elijah’s mantle fell and Elisha picked it up, receiving a double portion of Elijah’s anointing in the process.
Just like Elisha, other prophets in the Bible were not anointed physically. God chose prophet Jeremiah for his divine purposes while he was in his mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). On the other hand, Isaiah received his anointing when he had a vision where a Seraphim touched his lips (Isaiah 6:1-8).
Though the spiritual anointing doesn’t involve the use of oil, it is equally as powerful in the lives of the prophets as the physical anointing.
4. Jesus Christ
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the beloved son of God and the Messiah the prophet Isaiah speaks of in Isaiah 61. It’s not surprising that the title of Messiah comes from the Hebrew word “Mashiach,” which translates to “anointed one.” Likewise, the name “Christ” was derived from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “the anointed one.”
Jesus Christ proclaimed at the beginning of His ministry, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19).
The anointing upon the life of Jesus was evident through his many works of miracles and good works. Due to the nature of His anointing, Jesus performed the roles of a prophet, priest, and king.
As a prophet, Jesus declares the word of God with power and authority (Acts 3:22). In the same manner, Jesus plays His priestly duty by interceding between God and man (Hebrews 4:14-15). And as the King, He rules over all the kings of the earth and His kingdom has no end (Luke 1:32-33).
Today, the divine anointing of Jesus Christ is available through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
At the moment a person gives their life to Christ Jesus, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and then become one with the body of Christ.
What’s the Purpose of the Anointing?
As I mentioned earlier, the primary purpose of the anointing is to consecrate people and objects for God’s use. It’s a sign that God has approved and empowered them for a special assignment. Here are other purposes of anointing in the Bible:
1. Commencement of Leadership Roles
Usually, the anointing of a king, prophet, or priest represents the beginning of their respective leadership offices. When Samuel anointed David, the Bible records that the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on Him from that day (1 Samuel 16:13). Years later, David began to rule God’s people, the children of Israel.
After receiving the mantle of Elijah, Elisha parted the Jordan River, a proof of the beginning of his prophetic assignment (2 Kings 2:14). Aaron was just like every other Israelite until Moses anointed him for the service of a priest. His consecration became the standard for anointing of other priests who came after him, including his male children.
2. Healing
In some cases, the anointing can be used for medicinal purposes. According to Mark 6:13, the disciples of Jesus Christ anointed many sick people and healed them. Similarly, in the book of James 5:14-15, St. James encourages believers who are sick to call on the elders of the church for prayers and anointing to receive divine healing:
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
So the anointing oil is potent for healing through the mighty power of God.
3. Hospitality
Considering the value of the anointing oil in biblical times, it is often used as an act of hospitality to honor special guests. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive oil (John 12:1-8). In Psalm 23:5, King David portrays himself as an important guest who was anointed on the Lord’s table in the presence of his enemies. Therefore, the anointing can be a symbol of honor and the joyful acceptance of a guest.
4. Divine Protection
When God anoints an individual, He protects them from harm. 1 Chronicles 16:21-22 states that God did not allow anyone to oppress His anointed ones and He warned kings on their behalf: “He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.” Therefore, the anointing allows God’s spirit to rest upon our lives, shielding us from every attack and scheme of the enemy.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now understand what it means to be anointed in the Bible. Whoever receives the Lord’s anointing becomes extraordinary and unstoppable. They begin to do exploits, just like the prophets, priests, and kings in biblical times, because the spirit of God rests mightily upon them.
Furthermore, they’ll receive the divine empowerment to do the same work of healing and deliverance like Jesus Christ (John 14:12). Luckily, the anointing of God remains powerful and available for every believer today through the Holy Spirit.
If you desire the anointing of the Lord today, give your life to Christ and continue to live a godly life. As you grow in faith, you’ll begin to do great and mighty things because the spirit of the Lord is mighty upon your life!
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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