Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "rub" does not appear explicitly in the Bible as a significant theological or doctrinal term. However, the concept of rubbing, in the sense of anointing or applying oil, is present in various biblical contexts. The act of rubbing or anointing with oil is often associated with consecration, healing, and hospitality in the biblical narrative.
Biblical Context:1.
Anointing and Consecration: In the Old Testament, the act of anointing with oil is a significant ritual. It involves rubbing or pouring oil on individuals or objects to set them apart for a holy purpose. This is seen in the anointing of priests, kings, and sacred objects. For example, Aaron and his sons were anointed to serve as priests (
Exodus 28:41: "After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve Me as priests.").
2.
Healing: The New Testament references the use of oil in the context of healing.
James 5:14 states, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." Here, the act of anointing, which involves rubbing oil, is associated with prayer and divine healing.
3.
Hospitality: In biblical times, anointing with oil was also a gesture of hospitality and honor. In
Luke 7:46 , Jesus rebukes a Pharisee by saying, "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume." This highlights the cultural practice of anointing guests as a sign of respect and welcome.
Symbolic Significance:·
Holy Spirit: The act of anointing with oil, which involves rubbing, is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. In
1 Samuel 16:13 , when Samuel anoints David, "the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day forward." This signifies the divine selection and empowerment for service.
·
Purity and Cleansing: Rubbing with oil can also symbolize purification and preparation. In the purification rituals described in Leviticus, oil is used as part of the cleansing process for lepers (
Leviticus 14:17: "The priest shall put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.").
Cultural and Historical Insights:·
Ancient Practices: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, anointing with oil was a common practice for both religious and secular purposes. It was used in rituals, as a cosmetic, and for medicinal purposes. The act of rubbing oil was believed to confer strength, beauty, and health.
·
Symbol of Joy and Gladness: Oil, when used in anointing, is also a symbol of joy and gladness.
Psalm 23:5 reflects this sentiment: "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." This imagery conveys abundance, blessing, and divine favor.
Conclusion:While the specific term "rub" is not a focal point in biblical texts, the associated actions and symbolism of rubbing, particularly in the context of anointing with oil, carry profound spiritual and cultural significance throughout the Scriptures.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To subject (a body) to the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to rub the flesh with the hand; to rub wood with sandpaper.
2. (v. t.) To move over the surface of (a body) with pressure and friction; to graze; to chafe; as, the boat rubs the ground.
3. (v. t.) To cause (a body) to move with pressure and friction along a surface; as, to rub the hand over the body.
4. (v. t.) To spread a substance thinly over; to smear.
5. (v. t.) To scour; to burnish; to polish; to brighten; to cleanse; -- often with up or over; as, to rub up silver.
6. (v. t.) To hinder; to cross; to thwart.
7. (v. i.) To move along the surface of a body with pressure; to grate; as, a wheel rubs against the gatepost.
8. (v. i.) To fret; to chafe; as, to rub upon a sore.
9. (v. i.) To move or pass with difficulty; as, to rub through woods, as huntsmen; to rub through the world.
10. (n.) The act of rubbing; friction.
11. (n.) That which rubs; that which tends to hinder or obstruct motion or progress; hindrance; obstruction, an impediment; especially, a difficulty or obstruction hard to overcome; a pinch.
12. (n.) Inequality of surface, as of the ground in the game of bowls; unevenness.
13. (n.) Something grating to the feelings; sarcasm; joke; as, a hard rub.
14. (n.) Imperfection; failing; fault.
15. (n.) A chance.
16. (n.) A stone, commonly flat, used to sharpen cutting tools; a whetstone; -- called also rubstone.
Greek
5597. psocho -- torub... to
rub. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: psocho Phonetic Spelling: (pso'-kho)
Short Definition: I
rub,
rub to pieces Definition: I
rub,
rub to pieces.
...1472. egchrio -- torub in (oil)
... torub in (oil). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: egchrio Phonetic Spelling:
(eng-khree'-o) Short Definition: Irub in, anoint Definition: Irub in, anoint...
1304. diatribo -- torub hard,rub away, to spend time
... torub hard,rub away, to spend time. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diatribo
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-at-ree'-bo) Short Definition: I tarry, continue...
5147. tribos -- a beaten track, a path
... 5147 (from , "torub") -- properly, a rut (path) formed by (constant use);
(figuratively) the "route" established by the Lord, where people can best know Him....
2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... Cognate: 2346 (the root of 2347 , reflecting an original "b") -- properly,rub together,
constrict (compress), ie together; (figuratively) afflict (distress...
1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate
... 1813 (from 1537 , "wholly out from," intensifying 218 , "smear") -- properly, to
rub (smear) , ie remove (wipe away); obliterate; remove from a previous state...
2833. knetho -- to scratch, itch
... to scratch, itch. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: knetho Phonetic Spelling:
(knay'-tho) Short Definition: Irub, tickle Definition: Irub, tickle, scratch...
5567. psallo -- to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing
... Word Origin from psao (torub) Definition to pull, twitch, twang, play, sing NASB
Word Usage making melody (1), sing (3), sing praises (1). sing, make melody....
218. aleipho -- anoint.
... 218 -- properly, torub or smear olive oil on the body. 218 () is the ordinary
term used for anointing the body with (olive) oil....
5548. chrio -- to anoint
... Probably akin to chraomai through the idea of contact; to smear orrub with oil,
ie (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service -- anoint....
Strong's Hebrew
4448b. malal -- torub, scrape... malal. 4448c . to
rub, scrape. Transliteration: malal Short Definition: signals.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to
rub, scrape NASB Word Usage signals (1
...7833. shachaq -- torub away, beat fine, pulverize
... shachaq. 7834 . torub away, beat fine, pulverize. Transliteration: shachaq Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-khak') Short Definition: beat. Word Origin a prim....
4799. marach -- torub
... marach. 4800 . torub. Transliteration: marach Phonetic Spelling: (maw-rakh')
Short Definition: apply.... root Definition torub NASB Word Usage apply (1)....
7378. rib -- to strive, contend
rib orrub. 7377, 7378. rib orrub. 7379 . to strive, contend. Transliteration:
rib orrub Phonetic Spelling: (reeb) Short Definition: contend....
4414. malach -- to tear away, dissipate
... A primitive root; properly, torub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively, to disappear
as dust; also (as denominative from melach) to salt whether internally...
4886. mashach -- to smear, anoint
... anoint, paint. A primitive root; torub with oil, ie To anoint; by implication,
to consecrate; also to paint -- anoint, paint. 4885, 4886. mashach. 4887 ....
4222. macha -- to strike, clap
... clap. A primitive root; torub or strike the hands together (in exultation) --
clap. 4221, 4222. macha. 4223 . Strong's Numbers.
4229. machah -- to wipe, wipe out
... A primitive root; properly, to stroke orrub; by implication, to erase; also to
smooth (as if with oil), ie Grease or make fat; also to touch, ie Reach to...
Library
How to Read the Bible
... According to Pharisaic interpretation, torub an ear of corn is a kind of threshing,
and, as it is very wrong to thresh on the Sabbath day, therefore it must...
An Idyll of Christian Life
... Spreads a path clear as the day,. Where no churlishrub [166] says nay. To my
joy-conducted feet,.... Warm into the arms of Death. Footnotes: [166]rub, obstruction...
The Purifying Influence of Hope
... To take a very homely illustration"soap and water wash your hands clean, and what
you have to do is simply torub the soap and water on to the hand, and...
Second Instruction.
... they, arranging their boards, and tracing white lines upon them, and sketching the
royal likeness in outline, before they apply the actual colors,rub out some...
Of Evil-Speaking in General.
... duty appeareth from reflecting on the words of the context, which govern these,
and make them up an entire sentence: put them in mind, or,rub up their memory...
Argument. Perpetua is Again Tempted by Her Father Her Third vision...
... [8994] Then my helpers began torub me with oil, as is the custom for contest; and
I beheld that Egyptian on the other hand rolling in the dust....
Fresh Supplies of Power.
... when this sort of thing was being discussed:""I would make the surrender gladly
but as I think of my home life I know I cannot keep it." There was therub....
Call to China and Voyage Hence
... to me, attend to me, for I am the well-rubbed Palm-stem." The figure Hobab used
represented a palm-trunk left for the beasts to come andrub themselves upon....
Omar and the Sacred vine
... It would be hard for him not torub it on his eyes whenever he heard the
hoof of a noble horse or the birds singing at daybreak....
The Release of Saint George.
... One day, as by chance the Knight was wringing his hands, in despair of ever getting
free, he chanced torub in a peculiar manner the magic ring which the Fairy...
Thesaurus
Rub (1 Occurrence)... the action of something moving over its surface with pressure and friction, especially
to the action of something moving back and forth; as, to
rub the flesh
...Scrape (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) Torub over the surface of (something) with a sharp or rough instrument;
torub over with something that roughens by removing portions of the surface...
Wipe (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The lapwing. 2. (vt) Torub with something soft for cleaning; to clean
or dry by rubbing; as, to wipe the hands or face with a towel....
Fray (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Torub; to wear off, or wear into shreds, by rubbing; to fret, as
cloth; as, a deer is said to fray her head. 5. (vi) Torub....
Rase (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Torub along the surface of; to graze.
2. (vt) Torub or scratch out; to erase. 3. (vt) To level...
Rosin
... after distilling off the volatile oil of turpentine; colophony. 2. (vt)
Torub with rosin, as musiciansrub the bow of a violin....
Rubbed (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofRub. Multi-Version Concordance
Rubbed (10 Occurrences). John 9:6 These things saying, he...
Chafe (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To excite heat in by friction; torub in
order to stimulate and make warm. 2. (vt) To excite passion...
Sweep (34 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To pass a broom across (a surface) so as to remove loose dirt, dust, etc.;
to brush, orrub over, with a broom for the purpose of cleaning; as, to...
Royalty (7 Occurrences)
Resources
Why is Gideon referred to as Jerubbaal? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does 2 Timothy 4:3 mean by itching ears? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the history of crucifixion? What was crucifixion like? | GotQuestions.orgRub: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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