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Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

OINTMENT

Various preparations, generally of a spicy nature with an oil base. In Palestine, olive oil was the chief base of ointments and was itself considered an ointment. The OT does not distinguish between “oil” and “ointment.” In Egypt and Mesopotamia, numerous vegetable oils and animal fats formed the basis of ointments. Among the vegetable oils, some of the more important include castor oil, sesame oil, linseed oil, radish oil, colocynth oil, and oil from various nuts.

Ointments played an important and visible role in antiquity. In the hot and dry climate of the Near East, ointments gave a measure of protection. Widespread medicinal uses, soothing qualities, and effectiveness in masking odors made the use of ointments a virtual necessity among all classes. The OT mentions apothecaries or perfumers (1 Sm 8:13 OET (RV-only · LV-only); 2 Chr 16:14 OET (RV-only · LV-only)), artisans who were organized into guilds (Neh 3:8 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

SA1 8:13: OET SA1 8:13 (RV-only SA1 8:13 · LV-only SA1 8:13)

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OET-RV SA1 8:13

13 He’ll take your daughters to manufacture perfumes, or to be cooks and bakers.

OET-LV SA1 8:13

13 And_DOM daughters _of_your(pl) he _will _take to_perfumers and_to_cooks and_to_bakers.

CH2 16:14: OET CH2 16:14 (RV-only CH2 16:14 · LV-only CH2 16:14)

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OET-RV CH2 16:14

14 and he was buried in the tomb that he’d had carved out in ‘The City of David’. They laid his corpse on a bed of prepared spices and perfumes that had been mixed ready. Then they lit a large bonfire in his honour.

OET-LV CH2 16:14

14 And_people_buried _him in_his _own _of_grave(s) which he _had _dug to_him/it in_the _city _of Dāvid and_they_made _him _lie in_place which he _had _filled spices and_kinds mixed as_ointment _mixture _of work and_they _burnt to_him/it a _burning great up _to (to)_muchness.

NEH 3:8: OET NEH 3:8 (RV-only NEH 3:8 · LV-only NEH 3:8)

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OET-RV NEH 3:8

8 Next again was Harhayah’s son Uziel (one of the goldsmiths), then Hananyah (who was a son of the perfumers) rebuilt as far as the Broad Wall.

OET-LV NEH 3:8

8 On his/its_hand ˊUzziy^ʼēl the _son _of Ḩarhₐ^yāh goldsmiths he _repaired and_on his/its_hand Ḩₐnan^yāh the _son _of the _perfumers he _repaired and_they _restored Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) to the_wall (the)_broad.

In general, ointments were made by boiling aromatic substances in oil (cf. Jb 41:31 OET (RV-only · LV-only JOB 41:23)). Perfumed ointments were combinations of certain raw materials with specially prepared oil. In the OT, qualifying terms such as “fragrant” (Sg 1:3 OET (RV-only · LV-only)) or “precious” (Eccl 7:1 OET (RV-only · LV-only)) signify perfumed oils. Ointments could be stored in a variety of vessels, but flasks made of alabaster were preferred. An alabaster jar held the expensive ointment with which Mary anointed Jesus in Bethany (Mk 14:3 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

JOB 41:31: OET JOB 41:31 (RV-only JOB 41:31 · LV-only JOB 41:23)

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OET-RV JOB 41:31

31 It makes the deep ocean boil like a pot.
⇔ It makes the sea swirl like a jar of ointment.

OET-LV JOB 41:23

23  It _makes _boil like_pot the_deep the_sea it _makes like _(the)_ointment.

SNG 1:3: OET SNG 1:3 (RV-only SNG 1:3 · LV-only SNG 1:3)

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OET-RV SNG 1:3

3 As for the fragrance of your perfumes—they’re good.
⇔ Your reputation is like fragrant oil
⇔ so the eligible young women love you.

OET-LV SNG 1:3

3 To_odour oils _of_your are_good is_oil which_it _is _poured _out your(ms)_name therefore yes/correct/thus/so young _women they_love _you.

ECC 7:1: OET ECC 7:1 (RV-only ECC 7:1 · LV-only ECC 7:1)

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OET-RV ECC 7:1

7 A good reputation is better than expensive perfume,
⇔ and the day you die is more important than the day of your birth.

OET-LV ECC 7:1

7 Is_good a _name more_than _ointment good and_the _day _of (the)_death more_than _the _day _of his _being _born.

MRK 14:3: OET MRK 14:3 (RV-only MRK 14:3 · LV-only MRK 14:3)

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OET-RV MRK 14:3

3 Meanwhile, Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) was in Beyt-Ania (Bethany) at the home of Shim’on (Simon) who had previously had leprosy. Yeshua was sitting there when a woman came in with a hand-crafted container of very expensive fragrant lotion. Breaking open the sealed flask, she poured the fragrant oil over Yeshua’s head.

OET-LV MRK 14:3

3 And him being in Baʸthania, in the house of _Simōn the leprous, reclining of _him, a_woman came having an_alabaster _flask of _ointment, of_ genuine expensive _nard, having _broken the alabaster _flask, she _poured _down it on _the head of _him.

Ointments had a variety of uses. Among the Semites in particular, ointments acquired important associations. Aaron, his sons, the tabernacle, and its furnishings were all consecrated by holy anointing oil. This compound consisted of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia mixed with olive oil (Ex 30:23-25 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Kings and prophets were anointed, but not with the holy anointing oil mixture.

EXO 30:23–25: OET EXO 30:23–25 (RV-only EXO 30:23–25 · LV-only EXO 30:23–25)

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OET-RV EXO 30:23

23 Then you yourself must collect these spices: 6kg of fragrant sap named myrrh, then 3kg of fragrant cinnamon, 3kg of fragrant cane,

OET-RV EXO 30:24

24 and 6kg of fragrant casia bark. (Use the official weight for everything.) Also, four litres of olive oil.

OET-RV EXO 30:25

25 Get a professional perfumer to make this into a sacred, fragrant, anointing oil.

OET-LV EXO 30:23

23 And_you(ms) take to/for_yourself(m) spices the_best _of myrrh _of flowing five hundred(s) and_cinnamon _of spice half _of_its fifty and_two _hundred and_cane _of spice fifty and_two _hundred.

OET-LV EXO 30:24

24 And_cassia five hundred(s) by_the _shekel _of the _holy _place and_oil _of olive[s] a _hin.

OET-LV EXO 30:25

25 And_you _will _make DOM_him/it oil _of anointing _of holiness ointment _of an _ointment _mixture the_work _of a _perfumer oil _of anointing _of holiness it _will _be.

As a cosmetic, perfumed ointments controlled unpleasant odors. Applications were made to the body (2 Sm 12:20 OET (RV-only · LV-only)), clothing (Ps 45:8 OET (RV-only · LV-only PSA 45:9)), or personal objects (Prv 7:17 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Women utilized ointments for cleansing the skin and enhancing the attractiveness of their skin (Est 2:12 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). The fragrance of certain ointments attracted the attention of the opposite sex (Sg 4:10 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Not surprisingly, the Song of Songs has several references to fragrant ointments.

SA2 12:20: OET SA2 12:20 (RV-only SA2 12:20 · LV-only SA2 12:20)

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OET-RV SA2 12:20

20 Then David got up from the ground and washed, and he rubbed lotions on and changed his clothes, then he entered Yahweh’s tent and worshipped him. Then he went back home and asked for food to be served, and he ate.

OET-LV SA2 12:20

20 And_ Dāvid _he/it _rose _up from_the_ground and_he _bathed and_he _anointed _himself and_he _changed his and_he _went the _house _of YHWH and_he _bowed _down and_he _went to house _of_his _own and_he _asked and_they _set to_him/it food and_he/it _ate.

PSA 45:8: OET PSA 45:8 (RV-only PSA 45:8 · LV-only PSA 45:9)

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OET-RV PSA 45:8

8 All your clothes smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.
⇔ Stringed instruments playing from of ivory palaces have made you glad.

OET-LV PSA 45:9

9  Are_myrrh and_aloes cassia(s) all _of clothes _of_your from palaces _of ivory stringed _instrument they_have _made _you _glad.

PRO 7:17: OET PRO 7:17 (RV-only PRO 7:17 · LV-only PRO 7:17)

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OET-RV PRO 7:17

17 I’ve perfumed my bed
⇔ with fragrant myrrh and aloes and cinnamon.

OET-LV PRO 7:17

17 I _have _sprinkled bed _of_my myrrh aloes and_cinnamon.

EST 2:12: OET EST 2:12 (RV-only EST 2:12 · LV-only EST 2:12)

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OET-RV EST 2:12

12 ⇔Each young woman would get twelve months of beauty treatment according to the Persian law for women—there would be six months of applying oil of myrrh, then six months of perfumes and other lotions designed for women. Then their turn would come, one at a time, to be taken to King Ahashverosh (Ahasuerus /Xerxes).

OET-LV EST 2:12

12 And_when_ the_turn _of a _young _woman and_a _young _woman _arrived to_go to the_king ʼAḩashvērōsh from _the_end/extremity of _being to/for_her/it according_to _the _regulation _of the _women two _plus ten month[s] if/because thus the _days _of their _rubbings _of_their six months with_the _oil _of (the)_myrrh and_six months with _(the)_oil and_with_the _cleansings _of (the)_women they _were _completed.

SNG 4:10: OET SNG 4:10 (RV-only SNG 4:10 · LV-only SNG 4:10)

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OET-RV SNG 4:10

10 How your love is beautiful, my girlfriend, my bride.
⇔ How your love is better than wine
⇔ and the smell of your oils is nicer than all spices.

OET-LV SNG 4:10

10 How love(s)_of_your they _are _beautiful my _sister _of_my bride how love(s)_of_your they _are _good more_than _wine and_the _odour _of your(pl)_oils _of_your from_all spices.

The use of ointments to refresh and soothe guests was a mark of hospitality in the ancient Near East. Cones of ointment placed on the heads of guests and allowed to drip down over the body were used by the Egyptians (cf. Ps 133:2 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). As a sign of respect and honor, the head of a guest was anointed with oil. Jesus chided a Pharisee who neglected this traditional mark of hospitality (Lk 7:37-40 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Mary anointed Jesus with a costly flask of nard, a fragrant ointment obtained from the roots of an aromatic herb from India (Mk 14:3 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

PSA 133:2: OET PSA 133:2 (RV-only PSA 133:2 · LV-only PSA 133:2)

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OET-RV PSA 133:2

2 It’s like having expensive oil on the head,
⇔ running down the beard—Aharon’s (Aaron) beard,
⇔ and which then runs down onto the collar of his robes.

OET-LV PSA 133:2

2 Like_oil (the)_good on the_head which_runs _down on the_beard the _beard _of ʼAhₐron which_is_running _down on the _opening _of his _robes _of_his.

LUK 7:37–40: OET LUK 7:37–40 (RV-only LUK 7:37–40 · LV-only LUK 7:37–40)

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OET-RV LUK 7:37

37 Then wow, a sinful woman from the city who knew that he was reclining in there, came into the room carrying a beautiful carved stone flask of scented skin-cream.

OET-RV LUK 7:38

38 She stood weeping behind Yeshua’s feet, wetting his feet with her tears. Then she used her hair to wipe off the tears and kissed his feet and rubbed the lotion into them.

OET-RV LUK 7:39

39 When the Farisaios who had invited Yeshua saw this, he said to himself, “If that man was a prophet, he’d know who she is and what kind of woman it is that’s touching him, because she breaks God’s laws.”

OET-RV LUK 7:40

40 “Shim’on (Simon),” Yeshua asked him, “I need to tell you something.”
¶ “Tell me, teacher,” he replied.

OET-LV LUK 7:37

37 And see a_woman who was in the city a_sinner, and having _known that he _is _reclining in the house of _the Farisaios_party _member, having _brought _back an_alabaster _flask of _ointment,

OET-LV LUK 7:38

38 and having _stood behind by the feet of _him weeping, she _began to _be _wetting the feet of _him with _the, tears, and she _was _wiping _off them with _the hairs of _the head of _her, and was _kissing the feet of _him, and was _anointing them with _the ointment.

OET-LV LUK 7:39

39 And the Farisaios_party _member, the one having _invited him having _seen, he _spoke by himself saying:
This one if he _was a_prophet, would was _knowing who and what _kind _of the woman, who is _touching against _him, because she _is a_sinner.

OET-LV LUK 7:40

40 And the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) answering said to him:
Simōn, I _am _having something to _say to _you.
And he, is _saying.
Teacher say it,

Ointments were used in the burial process. In the NT a corpse would be washed (Acts 9:37 OET (RV-only · LV-only)) and anointed with ointments (Mk 16:1 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). The body was wrapped in linen garments with spices and ointments (Lk 23:56 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Jn 19:40 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Both the Jews and the Romans utilized nard for burials. A mixture of myrrh and aloes was used in the burial of Jesus.

ACT 9:37: OET ACT 9:37 (RV-only ACT 9:37 · LV-only ACT 9:37)

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OET-RV ACT 9:37

37 Around that time she got sick and died. After washing her body, they placed it in an upper room,

OET-LV ACT 9:37

37 And it _became in the those days, she having _ailed to _die _off.
And having _washed her they _put in an_upper _room.

MRK 16:1: OET MRK 16:1 (RV-only MRK 16:1 · LV-only MRK 16:1)

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OET-RV MRK 16:1

16 After the Rest Day was over, Miryam (Grk. Maria /Mariam) from Magdala, Miryam the mother of Ya’akov (James; Grk. Yakobos), and Salome, all went and bought some traditional burial spices that evening to take to the burial chamber and place with the body.

OET-LV MRK 16:1

16 And the day _of _rest having _elapsed, the Maria/(Miryām) the from _Magdala and Maria the mother of_ the _Yakōbos/(Yaˊₐqoⱱ), and Salōmaʸ, bought spices in _order _that having _come, they _may _anoint him.

LUK 23:56: OET LUK 23:56 (RV-only LUK 23:56 · LV-only LUK 23:56)

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OET-RV LUK 23:56

56 then they returned to the house and prepared spices and ointments.
¶ Once the Rest Day began, they all rested as per God’s command,

OET-LV LUK 23:56

56 And having _returned, they _prepared spices and ointments.
And indeed on _the day _of _rest they _rested according _to the command.

JHN 19:40: OET JHN 19:40 (RV-only JHN 19:40 · LV-only JHN 19:40)

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OET-RV JHN 19:40

40 So they took Yeshua’s body and wrapped it around with linen strips with the spices as per the Jewish burial customs.

OET-LV JHN 19:40

40 Therefore they _took the body the of_Yaʸsous, and they _bound it in _linen _cloths with the spices, as the_custom of _the Youdaiōns is to _be _burying.

Medicinal uses of ointment were frequent. Oil was applied to wounds (Lk 10:34 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Balm (probably an aromatic gum) had well-known medicinal uses and is associated with Gilead (Jer 8:22 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Balm was an item of export from Palestine (Gn 37:25 OET (RV-only · LV-only); Ez 27:17 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Biblical reference is made to a famous eye ointment produced and exported by the city of Laodicea (Rv 3:18 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Ointments formed an important commodity for merchants in the Roman period (18:13 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

LUK 10:34: OET LUK 10:34 (RV-only LUK 10:34 · LV-only LUK 10:34)

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OET-RV LUK 10:34

34 and went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring olive oil and wine on them, then put him on his own animal and took him to a roadhouse and looked after him.

OET-LV LUK 10:34

34 and having _approached, he _bound _up the wounds of _him, pouring _on olive _oil and wine, and having _mounted him on his own mount, he _brought him to an_inn and was _taken _care of _him.

JER 8:22: OET JER 8:22 (RV-only JER 8:22 · LV-only JER 8:22)

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OET-RV JER 8:22

22 Is there no medicine in Gilead?
⇔ ≈ Isn’t there a doctor there?
⇔ Why isn’t my people’s daughter getting healed?

OET-LV JER 8:22

22 Balm is_there _not in_Gilˊād or a _physician is_there _not there if/because why not the _healing _of the _daughter _of my _people _of_my has _it _come _up.

GEN 37:25: OET GEN 37:25 (RV-only GEN 37:25 · LV-only GEN 37:25)

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OET-RV GEN 37:25

25 Then they sat down to eat, and a bit later when they looked up, look, there was a caravan of Yishmaelim (Ishmaelites) coming towards them. They had left Gilead carrying spices and balm and myrrh on their camels that they were going to take down to Mitsrayim (Egypt).

OET-LV GEN 37:25

25 And_they _lived to_eat bread and_they _lifted _up eyes _of_their and_they _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE a _caravan _of Yishmāˊ^ʼēlī was_coming from_Gilˊād and_camels _of_their were_carrying spice and_balm and_myrrh they_were_travelling to_take_them_down towards_Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

EZE 27:17: OET EZE 27:17 (RV-only EZE 27:17 · LV-only EZE 27:17)

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OET-RV EZE 27:17

17 Yehudah (Judah) and Yisrael (Israel) were trading with you. They provided wheat from Minit, cakes, honey, oil, and balsam for your merchandise.

OET-LV EZE 27:17

17 Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_the _land _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they were_your(pl)_of_traders for_the _wheat(s)_of Minnit and_cake and_honey and_oil and_balm they _exchanged merchandise _of_your.

REV 3:18: OET REV 3:18 (RV-only REV 3:18 · LV-only REV 3:18)

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OET-RV REV 3:18

18 I advise you to buy gold from me that’s been refined by fire so that you might get rich, and buy white clothes so that you can dress yourself so that the shame of your nakedness might not be displayed, and buy ointment to rub on your eyes so that you’ll be able to see.

OET-LV REV 3:18

18 I _am _counselling to _you to _buy from me gold having _been _refined by fire, in _order _that you _may _be _rich, and clothes white, in _order _that you _may _clothe yourself, and not may _be _revealed the shame of _the nakedness of _you, and eyesalve to _rub _in the eyes of _you, in _order _that you _may _be _seeing.

REV 18:13: OET REV 18:13 (RV-only REV 18:13 · LV-only REV 18:13)

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OET-RV REV 18:13

13 cinnamon and spice, incense and myrrh and frankincense, wine and oil and fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep and horses, and chariots and slaves and people’s souls.

OET-LV REV 18:13

13 and cinnamon, and amomum, and incenses, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and olive _oil, and fine _flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and of _horses, and of _carriages, and of _slaves, and souls of _humans.

Anointing with oil came to be associated with gladness and joy (Ps 45:7 OET (RV-only · LV-only PSA 45:8); Is 61:3 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Thus, one was to refrain from anointing during times of mourning (2 Sm 14:2 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). The lack of oil for anointing was viewed as judgment (Mi 6:15 OET (RV-only · LV-only)). Shields were anointed with oil to make them supple and possibly to help deflect projectiles (2 Sm 1:21 OET (RV-only · LV-only)).

PSA 45:7: OET PSA 45:7 (RV-only PSA 45:7 · LV-only PSA 45:8)

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OET-RV PSA 45:7

7 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness,
⇔ therefore God, your god, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions.

OET-LV PSA 45:8

8  You _have _loved righteousness and_you _have _hated wickedness therefore yes/correct/thus/so he_has _anointed _you god god _of_your the_oil _of joy more_than _of_your _companions.

ISA 61:3: OET ISA 61:3 (RV-only ISA 61:3 · LV-only ISA 61:3)

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OET-RV ISA 61:3

3 It’ll be a time to give Tsiyon’s (Zion) mourners a nice turban instead of ashes on their heads,
⇔ oil to show joy on their faces instead of mourning,
⇔ a cloak of praise instead of a discouraged spirit.
⇔ Then they’ll be called ‘oaks of righteousness’ that Yahweh planted to display his splendour.

OET-LV ISA 61:3

3 To_put to_the _mourners _of Tsiyyōn/(Zion) to_give to/for_them a _turban in _place _of ash[es] oil _of joy in _place _of mourning a _mantle _of praise in _place _of a _spirit faint and_it _will _be _called to/for_them the _oaks _of (the)_righteousness the _planting _of YHWH to_glorify _himself.

SA2 14:2: OET SA2 14:2 (RV-only SA2 14:2 · LV-only SA2 14:2)

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OET-RV SA2 14:2

2 so he sent for a wise woman from Tekoa and told her, “Now, please put on mourning clothes and don’t put on any make-up. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for several days,

OET-LV SA2 14:2

2 And_ Yōʼāⱱ _he _sent to_Təqōˊī and_he/it _took from_there a _woman wise and_he/it _said to_her/it play _the _mourner please and_put _on please garments _of mourning and_do _not anoint _yourself oil and_you _will _be like_a _woman this days many who _has _been_mourning on a _dead_person.

MIC 6:15: OET MIC 6:15 (RV-only MIC 6:15 · LV-only MIC 6:15)

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OET-RV MIC 6:15

15 You’ll sow, but not harvest.
⇔ ≈ You’ll tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with their oil.
⇔ ≈ You’ll press grapes, but not drink the wine.

OET-LV MIC 6:15

15 You you _will _sow and_not you _will _reap you you _will _tread olive[s] and_not you _will _anoint _yourself oil and_new _wine and_not you _will _drink wine.

SA2 1:21: OET SA2 1:21 (RV-only SA2 1:21 · LV-only SA2 1:21)

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OET-RV SA2 1:21

⇔  21 You mountains in Gilboa,
⇔ may you have no dew or rain fall on you,
⇔ nor fields producing grain for offerings.
⇔ Because it was there that Sha’ul’s shield was splattered with his blood,
⇔ and the leather won’t be preserved with oil again.

OET-LV SA2 1:21

21 Oh _mountains _of in_Gilboˊa not dew and_not rain be_on_you(pl) and_fields _of contributions if/because there the_shield _of the_mighty_ones it _was _defiled the _shield _of Shāʼūl not was_anointed with_oil.