Lexical Summary
mashach: To anoint, smear, consecrate
Original Word:מָשַׁח
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:mashach
Pronunciation:mah-shakh'
Phonetic Spelling:(maw-shakh')
KJV: anoint, paint
NASB:anointed, anoint, spread, anointing, oil, painting
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint
2. (by implication) to consecrate
3. (also) to paint
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
anoint, paint
A primitive root; to rub with oil, i.e. To anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint -- anoint, paint.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto smear, anoint
NASB Translationanoint (21), anointed (42), anointing (1), oil (1), painting (1), spread (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew
id.; originally probably as Arabic
wipe or
stroke with the hand (compare RS
Semitic i. 215; 2nd ed., 283), anoint, Aramaic
anoint; on ,
id. (?) in Aramaic inscription see CIS
ii.1. No.145, C, 1; Palmyrene
oil Vog
No.16; Ethiopic
anoint, feast, dine Di
Lex 176; (Assyrian
mašâ—u is measure; Aramaic
id.; Arabic
measurement, compare Dl
Prol. 178 Frä
282)); —
Perfect3masculine singularNumbers 3:25 2t.; suffixPsalm 45:8;1 Samuel 10:1; 2Chronicles 22:7; 2 masculine singularGenesis 31:13 12t., + 9 t. Perfect;Imperfect3masculine singularLeviticus 16:32 6t.; 3 masculine pluralAmos 6:6, + 13 t. Imperfect;Imperative suffix1 Samuel 16:12; pluralIsaiah 21:5;Infinitive absoluteJeremiah 22:14;constructJudges 9:8;Daniel 9:24 +Hosea 8:3 We GASm Now;Exodus 29:29; suffix 1Samuel 15:1 (Baer);Leviticus 7:36;Exodus 40:15;Participle pluralJudges 9:15;passive2 Samuel 3:39 (We suggests derivation from , defective (), wrongly read as ; or by transposition may have been mistaken for an unexampled Hoph`al Participle of );2 Samuel 1:21 (but read (or ) Manuscripts We Dr Kit Bu HPS); pluralExodus 29:2 4t; —
smear, house with colour (paint)Jeremiah 22:14; shield with oil (anoint)Isaiah 21:5;2 Samuel 1:21 (compare Dr; Grweapon anointed; PetersJBL 893, 56weapons of one (the king)anointed); the person, with ointmentsAmos 6:6; unleavened cakes, with oilExodus 29:2;Leviticus 2:4;Numbers 6:15 (P).
anoint, as consecration, solemn setting apart to an office, always by the use of oil poured on the head: as a prophet1 Kings 19:16 (Elisha by Elijah)Isaiah 61:1; elsewhere of king, with accusative,Judges 9:8 (E), soHosea 8:3 reading (for ) We GASm Now; alsoHosea 7:3 reading (for ) We Now; elsewhere accusative of person1 Samuel 16:3,12,13;1 Kings 1:39;2 Kings 11:12;2 Kings 23:30; 2Chronicles 22:7; 23:11;Psalm 89:21with my holy oil;Psalm 45:8 (figurative); with ,2 Samuel 19:11 whomwe have anointed over us;1 Kings 1:45;1 Kings 5:15; with ,Judges 9:15;2 Samuel 2:4,7;1 Kings 19:15;over Israel1 Samuel 15:1,17;2 Samuel 5:3 =1 Chronicles 11:3;2 Samuel 5:17;2 Samuel 12:7;1 Kings 1:34;1 Kings 19:16;2 Kings 9:3,6,12 (Ehpraimitic source);1 Chronicles 29:22;1 Samuel 9:16;1 Samuel 10:1;2 Samuel 3:39 (? see above)
anoint, consecrate to religious service:
, only P, with accusative of personExodus 28:41;Exodus 29:7;Exodus 30:30;Exodus 40:13,15 (3 t. in verse);Leviticus 7:36;Leviticus 8:12;Leviticus 16:32; absoluteExodus 29:29;Numbers 3:3.
Genesis 31:13 (E); tabernacle and its sacred vesselsExodus 29:36;Exodus 30:26;Exodus 40:9,10,11;Leviticus 8:10,11 (all P);Daniel 9:24.
Perfect3masculine singular1 Chronicles 14:8;InfinitiveLeviticus 6:13 3t; —be anointed,1 Chronicles 14:8; Aaron and his sonsLeviticus 6:13 (P); altarNumbers 7:10,84,88.
(see Biblical Hebrew); — absoluteEzra 6:9;Ezra 7:22.
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Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe Hebrew verb מָשַׁח occurs about sixty-nine times and always involves the deliberate application of oil (or occasionally other substances) to set apart a person, object, or place for sacred service. The act signifies divine choice, empowerment, and sanctification.
Consecration of Priests and Sanctuary
Moses “anointed” Aaron and his sons, together with the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 28:41;Leviticus 8:10-12). This inaugural use established a pattern:
•Exodus 40:9 – “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy.”
•Leviticus 16:32 – The high priest serving on the Day of Atonement must be “the priest who is anointed and ordained to minister as priest in his father’s place.”
The oil signified that ministry is a divine trust, not a human appointment (Hebrews 5:4).
Installation of Kings
Israel’s monarchy was founded on anointing. Samuel told Saul, “The Lord has anointed you ruler over His inheritance” (1 Samuel 10:1). David was then anointed at Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:13); the Spirit rushed upon him “from that day forward,” linking anointing with the Spirit’s empowering presence. Other royal anointings include:
•2 Samuel 2:4 – David as king of Judah.
•1 Kings 1:39 – Solomon, anointed by Zadok the priest.
•2 Kings 9:6 – Jehu, commanded to destroy the house of Ahab.
Each anointing authenticated God’s sovereign selection and bound the king to covenant faithfulness.
Prophets and Special Servants
While prophets were not routinely anointed, the verb is applied to Elisha: “You are to anoint Elisha son of Shaphat as prophet in your place” (1 Kings 19:16).Isaiah 61:1 anticipates a Servant whose anointing brings good news, liberty, and comfort—the passage Jesus applied to Himself in Nazareth (Luke 4:18).
Objects, Altars, and Stones
Jacob anointed the pillar at Bethel (Genesis 28:18). Later, the bronze altar, laver, ark, table, lampstand, and altar of incense were anointed (Exodus 30:26-28). The act transferred holiness, making ordinary materials fit for God’s dwelling.
The Holy Anointing Oil
Exodus 30:22-33 records the divinely prescribed mixture—myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, and olive oil. It was “holy, holy” (verse 32), forbidden for common use. By protecting its recipe and application, Scripture safeguards the uniqueness of God’s worship and the exclusivity of His appointed mediators.
Messianic Expectation
Because kings, priests, and (occasionally) prophets were anointed, the title “Messiah” (מָשִׁיחַ, literally “Anointed One”) emerged. Key texts:
•Psalm 2:2 – “The kings of the earth take their stand … against the Lord and against His Anointed.”
•Daniel 9:25-26 – “the Anointed One” who will be cut off.
The New Testament identifies Jesus as the fulfillment (Acts 10:38;John 1:41). His anointing by the Spirit at the Jordan inaugurates the promised kingdom and priestly mediation.
Anointing and the Holy Spirit
The transition from oil to Spirit is explicit: “The Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you” (1 Samuel 10:6); “The Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13). Oil symbolizes the invisible reality. Believers share in this grace: “You have an anointing from the Holy One” (1 John 2:20).
Christological Fulfillment
Acts 4:27 interpretsPsalm 2: “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together … to conspire against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.”Hebrews 1:9 appliesPsalm 45:7 to Christ: “Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” The once-for-all anointing of Jesus secures eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) and establishes Him as Prophet, Priest, and King.
Ministry Significance for the Church
1 Peter 2:9 calls believers “a royal priesthood,” echoing anointing themes: set apart, Spirit-empowered, and commissioned to proclaim God’s excellencies.James 5:14 prescribes anointing the sick with oil in the name of the Lord, linking physical care with prayerful dependence on God’s power.
Summary
מָשַׁח weaves through the Old Testament as a tangible sign of divine choice and consecration, prefiguring the perfect Anointed One. In Him the shadows find substance, and through Him the church receives the Spirit’s abiding anointing for holy worship and faithful witness.
Forms and Transliterations
הִמָּשַׁ֣ח הִמָּשַׁ֥ח הַמְּשֻׁחִ֑ים המשח המשחים וְלִמְשֹׁ֖חַ וַיִּמְשְׁח֣וּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֥וּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֧וּ וַיִּמְשְׁח֨וּ וַיִּמְשְׁחוּ־ וַיִּמְשַׁ֖ח וַיִּמְשַׁ֣ח וַיִּמְשַׁ֥ח וַיִּמְשַׁ֨ח וַיִּמְשָׁחֲךָ֧ וַיִּמְשָׁחֵ֖ם וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֑הוּ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֙הוּ֙ וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹ וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֥ וּמָשַׁ֣ח וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֖ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֛ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֣ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֥ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֧ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֨ וּמָשׁ֖וֹחַ וּמָשׁ֣וּחַ וימשח וימשחהו וימשחו וימשחו־ וימשחך וימשחם ולמשח ומשוח ומשח ומשחת ומשחתו יִמְשַׁ֣ח יִמְשָׁ֑חוּ ימשח ימשחו לִמְשָׁחֳךָ֣ לִמְשֹׁ֥חַ למשח למשחך מְשַׁחְתִּ֤יךָֽ מְשַׁחְתִּ֥יךָֽ מְשַׁחְתִּ֧יךָֽ מְשַׁחְתִּֽיו׃ מְשָׁח֣וֹ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ מְשָׁחֲךָ֧ מְשָׁחֵ֖הוּ מְשֻׁחִ֣ים מְשֻׁחִ֥ים מִשְׁח֥וּ מָשְׁח֣וֹ מָשְׁח֥וּ מָשְׁח֧וּ מָשְׁח֨וּ מָשַׁ֙חְתָּ֙ מָשַׁ֣חְנוּ מָשַׁ֤חְתָּ מָשַׁ֥ח מָשַׁח֩ מֹשְׁחִ֨ים משח משחהו משחו משחים משחך משחנו משחת משחתיו׃ משחתיך נִמְשַׁ֨ח נמשח תִּמְשַׁ֥ח תִּמְשָׁ֑ח תמשח ham·mə·šu·ḥîm hammeshuChim hamməšuḥîm him·mā·šaḥ himmāšaḥ himmaShach lim·šā·ḥo·ḵā lim·šō·aḥ limšāḥoḵā limShoach limshochoCha limšōaḥ mā·šaḥ mā·šaḥ·nū mā·šaḥ·tā mā·šə·ḥōw mā·šə·ḥū māšaḥ māšaḥnū māšaḥtā māšəḥōw māšəḥū maShach maShachnu maShachta masheCho masheChu mə·šā·ḥă·ḵā mə·šā·ḥê·hū mə·šā·ḥōw mə·šaḥ·tî·ḵā mə·šaḥ·tîw mə·šu·ḥîm məšāḥăḵā məšāḥêhū məšāḥōw məšaḥtîḵā məšaḥtîw meshachaCha meshaChehu meshaCho meshachTicha meshachTiv meshuChim məšuḥîm miš·ḥū mishChu mišḥū mō·šə·ḥîm mōšəḥîm mosheChim nim·šaḥ nimšaḥ nimShach tim·šaḥ tim·šāḥ timšaḥ timšāḥ timShach ū·mā·šaḥ ū·mā·šaḥ·tā ū·mā·šō·w·aḥ ū·mā·šū·aḥ ū·mə·šaḥ·tōw ūmāšaḥ ūmāšaḥtā umaShach umashachTa umaShoach umaShuach ūmāšōwaḥ ūmāšūaḥ ūməšaḥtōw umeshachTo vaiyimShach vaiyimshachaCha vaiyimshaChem vaiyimshaChuhu vaiyimshechu velimShoach way·yim·šā·ḥă·ḵā way·yim·šā·ḥêm way·yim·šā·ḥu·hū way·yim·šaḥ way·yim·šə·ḥū way·yim·šə·ḥū- wayyimšaḥ wayyimšāḥăḵā wayyimšāḥêm wayyimšāḥuhū wayyimšəḥū wayyimšəḥū- wə·lim·šō·aḥ wəlimšōaḥ yim·šā·ḥū yim·šaḥ yimšaḥ yimšāḥū yimShach yimShachu
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