Meaning of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit

The concept of "anointing" in biblical texts carries both material and spiritual significance, with the latter primarily referring to the work of the Holy Spirit. In its material sense, anointing with oil was a common practice in ancient Israel and other Oriental nations for various purposes, including personal hygiene, refreshment, purification, and even medicinal uses ^{[1, 3]}. For instance, it was used for decorating the person (Ruth 3:3), refreshing the body (2 Chron. 28:15), and healing wounds (Isa. 1:6) ^[3].

More significantly, anointing with oil served as a rite of consecration, setting apart individuals or objects for a holy or sacred purpose ^{[2, 5]}. This ritual was central to the inauguration of the three key offices in the Jewish commonwealth: prophets, priests, and kings ^{[1, 2]}. Prophets like Elisha were anointed (1 Kings 19:16), as were priests, including the high priest (Exod. 29:29; Lev. 4:3), and kings, which was equivalent to crowning them (1 Sam. 16:13) ^{[2, 5]}. The holy anointing oil itself was a specially compounded perfume (Exod. 30:25) ^[10].

Spiritually, the "anointing of the Holy Spirit" signifies a divine consecration and empowerment. This spiritual anointing is understood as an emblem of the communication of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit ^[12]. The Greek word for "anoint," chriō (χρίω), is used metaphorically in the New Testament for God's anointing ^[9].

Jesus Christ is preeminently "the Anointed One," which is the meaning of "Christ" (Greek) and "Messiah" (Hebrew) ^[8]. Isaiah 61:1, quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18, declares, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted" ^{[4, 7]}. This anointing empowered Jesus for his redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King ^{[8, 16]}. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at his baptism is seen as this anointing, empowering him to accomplish God's salvation ^[16].

Believers are also said to have an "unction" or "anointing" from the Holy One, referring to the Holy Spirit and His graces ^{[6, 11, 13]}. This anointing is not merely a gift but the Holy Spirit Himself, dwelling within believers ^[14]. It is through this spiritual anointing that God's people are sanctified and made fit for sacred uses, much like the Old Testament objects consecrated by holy oil ^[15]. The grace of the Spirit is sometimes called a "chrism" or "ointment," alluding to the anointing oil under the law ^{[11, 14]}. This anointing enables believers to withstand false teachings and discern truth ^[13].

Sources

Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Anointing — in Holy Scripture, is either, I. Material--with oil--or II. Spiritual--with the Holy Ghost. I. MATERIAL.-- + Ordinary . Anointing the body or head with oil was a common practice with the Jews, as with other Oriental nations. (28:40; Ruth 3:3; Micah 6:15) Anointing the head with oil or ointment seems also to have been a mark of respect sometimes paid by a host to his guests. (Luke 7:46) and Psal 23:5 + Official . It was a rite of inauguration into each of the three typical offices of the Jewish commonwealth. a. Prophets were occasionally anointed to their o”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Anoint — The practice of anointing with perfumed oil was common among the Hebrews. (1.) The act of anointing was significant of consecration to a holy or sacred use; hence the anointing of the high priest (Ex. 29:29; Lev. 4:3) and of the sacred vessels (Ex. 30:26). The high priest and the king are thus called "the anointed" (Lev. 4:3, 5, 16; 6:20; Ps. 132:10). Anointing a king was equivalent to crowning him (1 Sam. 16:13; 2 Sam. 2:4, etc.). Prophets were also anointed (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chr. 16:22; Ps. 105:15). The expression, "anoint the shield" (Isa. 21:5), refers t”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anointing — With oil -- Ps 92:10. With ointment -- Joh 11:2. Was used for Decorating the person. -- Ru 3:3. Refreshing the body. -- 2Ch 28:15. Purifying the body. -- Es 2:12; Isa 57:9. Curing the sick. -- Mr 6:13; Jas 5:14. Healing wounds. -- Isa 1:6; Lu 10:34. Preparing weapons for war. -- Isa 21:5. Preparing the dead for burial. -- Mt 26:12; Mr 16:1; Lu 23:56. The Jews were very fond of. -- Pr 27:9; Am 6:6. Was applied to The head. -- Ps 23:5; Ec 9:8. The face. -- Ps 104:15. The feet. -- Lu 7:38,39; Joh 12:3. The eyes. -- Re 3:18. Ointment for Richly perfumed. -- S”
Luke “Luke 4:18 (YLT) — `The Spirit of the Lord <FI>is<Fi> upon me, Because He did anoint me; To proclaim good news to the poor, Sent me to heal the broken of heart, To proclaim to captives deliverance, And to blind receiving of sight, To send away the bruised with deliverance,”
Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H4886] mashach (part 3/4) — 2 anoint, as consecration, solemn setting apart to an office, always by the use of oil poured on the head: לנביא as a prophet 1Kin 19:16 (Elisha by Elijah) Isa 61:1; elsewhere of king, with accusative, מֶלֶךְ Judg 9:8 (E), so Hosea 8:3 reading מֶלֶךְ מִמְּשֹׁחַ (for מ ׳מִמַּשָּׂא ᵑ0) We GASm Now; also 7:3 reading יִמְשְׁחוּ (for יְשַׂמְּחוּ ᵑ0) We Now; elsewhere accusative of person 1Sam 16:3, 12, 13; 1Kin 1:39; 2Kin 11:12; 23:30; 2Chr 22:7; 23:11; קָדְשִׁי בְּשֶׁמֶן Psa 89:21 with my holy oil; שָׂשׂוֺן שׁמן 45:8 (figurative); with על, 2Sam 19:11 whom we have anointed ”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Unction — (1 John 2:20, 27; R.V., "anointing"). Kings, prophets, and priests were anointed, in token of receiving divine grace. All believers are, in a secondary sense, what Christ was in a primary sense, "the Lord's anointed."”
Isaiah “Isaiah 61:1 (NASB) — The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christ — Anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Acts 17:3; 18:5; Matt. 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (61:1), and by Daniel (9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince." The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge”
STEPBible TBESG “[G5548] G5548 = (G5548) — χρίω to anoint (Hom., al.); [in LXX chiefly for מָשַׁח of consecration to a sacred office: priest, <ref='Exo.28.41'>Exo.28:41;</ref> prophet, <ref='1Ki.19.16'>3Ki.19:16;</ref> king, <ref='1Sa.10.1'>1Ki.10:1;</ref> of things, <ref='Exo.40.9'>Exo.40:9</ref>, <ref='Lev.8.10'>Lev.8:10</ref>, al.]. In NT, metaphorically, of God's anointing, __(a) Christ: <ref='Act.4.27'>Act.4:27;</ref> with inf., <ref='Luk.4.18'>Luk.4:18</ref> (LXX); with dupl. accusative (see B1., § 34, 4), <ref='Heb.1.9'>Heb.1:9</ref> (LXX); πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, ”
Exodus “You shall make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. -- Exodus 30:25”
1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 2:20: But ye have an unction from the Holy One,.... Meaning the Spirit, and his graces, with which Christ, the head, is anointed without measure, and his members in measure; from whence he is called Christ, and they Christians. These were really the Lord's anointed ones; they were true believers; were the wise virgins who had oil in their vessels with their lamps, which would never go out. The grace of the Spirit is called a chrism, or an ointment, or an anointing, in allusion to the anointing oil under the law; See Gill on Mat 25:3; of which anointing oil the Jews say (h),”
Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 29:7: Then shalt thou take the anointing oil - It appears, from Isa 61:1, that anointing with oil, in consecrating a person to any important office, whether civil or religious, was considered as an emblem of the communication of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. This ceremony was used on three occasions, viz., the installation of prophets, priests, and kings, into their respective offices. But why should such an anointing be deemed necessary? Because the common sense of men taught them that all good, whether spiritual or secular, must come from God, its origin and ”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 2:20: But--Greek, "And." He here states the means which they as believers have wherewith to withstand. Antichrists (Jo1 2:18), namely, the chrism (so the Greek: a play upon similar sounds), or "anointing unguent," namely, the Holy Spirit (more plainly mentioned further on, as in John's style, Jo1 3:24; Jo1 4:13; Jo1 5:6), which they ("ye" is emphatical in contrast to those apostates, Jo1 2:19) have "from the Holy One, Christ" (Joh 1:33; Joh 3:34; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:14): "the righteous" (Jo1 2:1), "pure" (Jo1 3:3), "the Holy One" (Act 3:14) "of God"; Mar 1:24.”
1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 2:20: But ye have an unction - The word χρισμα signifies not an unction, but an ointment, the very thing itself by which anointing is effected; and so it was properly rendered in our former translations. Probably this is an allusion to the holy anointing oil of the law, and to Psa 14:7 : God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness - he hath given thee the plenitude of the Spirit, which none of thy fellows - none of the prophets, ever received in such abundance. By this it is evident that not only the gifts of the Spirit, but the Holy Spirit himself, is intended. This ”
Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 30:29: And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy,.... By anointing them, and so be set apart for sacred uses only; as by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the people of God, the vessels of mercy, are really sanctified, and made meet for the master's use; and therefore it is called the sanctification of the Spirit, which is true holiness, in opposition to typical or ceremonial holiness, here intended; and if this holy anointing oil made those things most holy that were anointed with it, how much more must the grace of the Spirit those who partake of it; and though”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 3:16: 3:16 The Spirit of God descending like a dove was anointing Jesus, through whom salvation would come. This event was like a king’s being anointed with oil at his coronation. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to accomplish God’s salvation and defeat Satan (see 12:18, 28). This same Spirit empowers Jesus’ followers (10:20; Acts 1:8).”

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