Part of Speech: Verb
Strong's Number: H4886
Original Word: mashah
Usage Notes: "to anoint, smear, consecrate." A common word in both ancient and modern Hebrew, mashah is also found in ancient Ugaritic. It occurs approximately 70 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. The word is found for the first time in the Old Testament in Gen 31:13: "… where thou anointedst the pillar, and … vowedst a vow unto me …" This use illustrates the idea of anointing something or someone as an act of consecration. The basic meaning of the word, however, is simply to "smear" something on an object. Usually oil is involved, but it could be other substances, such as paint or dye (cf. Jer 22:14). The expression "anoint the shield" in Isa 21:5 probably has more to do with lubrication than consecration in that context. When unleavened bread is "tempered with oil" in Exod 29:2, it is basically equivalent to our act of buttering bread.
The Old Testament most commonly uses mashah to indicate "anointing" in the sense of a special setting apart for an office or function. Thus, Elisha was "anointed" to be a prophet (1Kings 19:16). More typically, kings were "anointed" for their office (1Sam 16:12; 1Ki 1:39). Vessels used in the worship at the sacred shrine (both tabernacle and temple) were consecrated for use by "anointing" them (Exod 29:36; Exod 30:26; Exod 40:9-10). In fact, the recipe for the formulation of this "holy anointing oil" is given in detail in Exod 30:22-25.
Usage Number: 2
Part of Speech: Noun
Strong's Number: H4899
Original Word: mashîah
Usage Notes: "anointed one." A word that is important both to Old Testament and New Testament understandings is the noun mashîah, which gives us the term messiah. As is true of the verb, mashîah implies an anointing for a special office or function. Thus, David refused to harm Saul because Saul was "the Lord's anointed" (1Sam 24:6). The Psalms often express the messianic ideals attached to the Davidic line by using the phrase "the Lord's anointed" (Psa 2:2; Psa 18:50; Psa 89:38, 51). Interestingly enough the only person named "messiah" in the Old Testament was Cyrus, the pagan king of Persia, who was commissioned by God to restore Judah to her homeland after the Exile (Isa 45:1). The anointing in this instance was more figurative than literal, since Cyrus was not aware that he was being set apart for such a divine purpose.
The New Testament title of Christ is derived from the Greek Christos which is exactly equivalent to the Hebrew mashîah, for it is also rooted in the idea of "to smear with oil." So the term Christ emphasizes the special anointing of Jesus of Nazareth for His role as God's chosen one.
