Anointing: Burial

When anointing, oil is poured over someone’s head or feet or parts of the body are smeared with oil.
Oil is used in the Bible when washing the body, as perfume for women and men, but also often with a religious or ritual significance.

Anointing as Cleansing

In antiquity, rubbing with oil was part of the care of the body. This was its function, for instance, in 2 Samuel 12:20 (ESV). When David resumes his life after the death of his child, he rubs himself with oil.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells his disciples that they should wash their faces and rub their heads with oil when fasting (Matthew 6:17, ESV).

Anointing as Hospitality

Anointing can be a sign of hospitality. It was probably a Jewish custom to rub one’s guest’s head and feet with oil.

Anointing as Consecration

In the Old Testament, anointing is also a way of consecrating someone or something. People or things that are anointed are consecrated for service to God or are a reminder of his presence. Jacob pours oil over a stone in Bethel after dreaming of a ladder there, on which angels are ascending and descending (Genesis 28:18).