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Not every food you enjoy today has existed in biblical times; however, olive oil is undoubtedly one of the foods used during those times. You may be wondering what its use is?
In the bible, olive oil represents Christianity because it's placed beside wine, bread, and water, a symbol of Christianity. Because of its spiritual significance, olive oil is commonly used during anointment.
The priest receives it and symbolizes glory, authority, and responsibility.
An old school friend of mine, Carissa, told me her understanding of the spiritual meaning of olive oil. In the biblical perspective, it allows us to cast out devils, heal the sick, and cleanse the reapers.
In the bible, oil has been mentioned more than 200 times. They played a significant role in the lives of Hebrews because it has been used in different spiritual practices.
In particular, olive oil was used in foods and bread, given as an offering, used as medicine, traded as currency, and applied as a moisturizer.
To know more about the significance of olive oil in the bible, continue reading below.
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Significance of Olive Oil in the Bible
For olive oil to hold such spiritual significance, it must have been around for a while, right? This oil has a long history.
Before we go into the significance of olive oil, let's study its background.
People believe the days of harvesting olives began in the 8th millennium BC or Before Christ. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean basin grew olive trees that later appeared in the Levant and Asia Minor.
Olive oil had many uses during these times. Some use it to make soap and skincare, but others use it to fuel their oil lamps and perform rituals.
Now that you know the brief history of olive oil, let's proceed with the significance of olive oil in the bible. Well, they represent different symbols and their use in Christianity.
Olive oil grows with long branches, and they have always appeared in the bible to represent peace. For instance, during the death of Jesus, olive trees were present.
Also, Jesus was in the garden of olive to pray. This place is redemption for Jesus to feel God's guidance and passion.
On the day when Jesus of the Nazareth went to Jerusalem, the Jews held olive branches to hail his arrival. This tradition is still alive today.
That's why on Palm Sundays, people go to church to get their olive branches blessed. Before this tradition came to be, people would take an olive branch, place it on their bed's headboard or display it on their balconies.
During these periods, Christians who have died would prefer their tombs covered in olive branches. It's their way of a sendoff to the afterlife.
There are four primary Christian symbols, and olive oil is one of them. The other three include water, wine, and bread. Because of its references in the bible, olive oil plays a vital role in Christianity in different ways.
As mentioned a while ago, priests received olive oil for anointment. You can read it in Exodus 20:22-33, where the passage says, “You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture; it shall be a holy anointing oil.”
When the priest receives the anointing with olive oil, it will give them authority to serve.
Monarchs and kings will receive an olive oil anointment during the early days. For example, Samuel, a prophet and Israeli monarch, was the second to get anointed with this oil.
Although anointment is featured in Christianity, it's been a practice way back to the Pagan times. The Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians will use olive oil for the same purpose.
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Moreover, oil is used in medicine; however, not the one to treat health conditions today. Aside from its spiritual benefits, it has medicinal properties too.
You might also be interested in the Spiritual meaning of Garlic, since it is as useful and symbolic as olive oil.
You can see these healing rituals, sacred lamps, and olive oil in church. One such person who received the healing ritual was Michael Pellicer. His case is known as the Miracle of Calanda.
Pellicer had an amputation of his leg, and he experienced lots of pain from the procedure. Therefore, he used the sacred lamp olive oil to ease the pain while venturing to Zaragoza's Temple of Pilar daily.
It took two years before leaving Zaragoza for Calanda. His leg got treated through the Virgin Pilar.
On the other hand, when someone experiences exorcisms, they would use the sacred oils for such a purpose. Three sacred oils exist – the holy chrism or myrrh, the oil of catechumens, and the oil of the sick.
The holy chrism oil will be used for baptisms and confirmations, while the oil of catechumens plays a unique role in exorcisms.
The oil of the sick is used to treat illnesses. The oil of the catechumens can prevent sin and other harmful elements of life, making it the ideal oil for praying exorcisms.
Meanwhile, this oil is used in baptisms because it can erase sin. The person getting baptized will also get the oil of the holy chrism when the bathing stage ends.
In Christian churches, mainly the Roman Catholic, the bishop or priest will utilize a sacred olive oil. This time, they will use the oil of the holy chrism.
It has a fragrance and scent of balm mixed with it.
Spiritual meaning of Oil
In biblical times, oil plays different kinds of roles. From using it to worship and spiritual practices to applying it as a moisturizer to skin and hair, many denominations use oil in different worship services, such as baptizing, calling, healing, and spirituality.
So, let's start with the meaning of oil for healing, offering, and unity. The scriptures mentioned oil is associated with healing and offering to God.
In Mark 6:12-13, when Jesus sent the disciples out in the ministry, they anointed people with oil. They went out and preached to people about repentance.
They got rid of demons and anointed many sick people with oil.
Oil was also used as an offering to God. It's because oil can keep the lamp burning inside the temple.
The consistent burning of the lamp inside the tabernacle represented the spirit of God continuously communicating to his people.
Moreover, oil served as a uniting element in Psalm 133:1-2 that says: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to his garments;”
When Christians are unified, they represent how the power of the holy spirit can bring a unique, diverse group of people together as one in Christ.
And speaking of the holy spirit, oil symbolizes the presence and power of the spirit of God in the bible.
When David was anointed with oil, the scripture says that the holy spirit empowered him.
Jesus' followers often referred to Him as the anointed one, using oil as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit being present and acting in Christ. You can read on Luke 4:18, where Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.”
You can also read in Acts 10:38, where the Christians recounted, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him.”
The anointing referred to in these bible passages is the spirit that came to influence the individual or even Jesus. It symbolizes the invisible presence of the holy spirit or to empower or strengthen the anointed.
The anointing oil will signify that the individual is filled with the spirit of God.
Lastly, oil can signify empowerment. When God called Aaron the first priest of Israel, they anointed him with oil to symbolize being devoted to God for his works.
If you read in Exodus 30:30-32, they mixed a unique oil with anointing Aaron and his sons and remained set aside for only this responsibility.
When Samuel anointed David to be the first king of Israel, he used oil during the process. It was mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:13, where it says: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.”
The anointing began with David, then continued to the successive kings of Israel. They were anointed with oil to show that God had chosen them to be the ruler of His people.
Nowadays, many churches still anoint people with oil when they are called into the ministry for the first time and when they are being sent out to begin new ministries, build churches, or go on missions.
The Prophets of God were also anointed with oil. They were the chosen ones to anoint the kings.
Seeing Jesus referred to as the anointing one can bring together His status as the High Priest, Prophet, and King.
Karen Hyman
Karen is a Psychic Medium, a Professional Astrologer, a Spiritual Advisor, and a Life Coach who has been in this career for 19+ years. She specializes in numerology, tarot and oracle cards, twin flames, love & relationships, zodiac, horoscope, dreams interpretation, and astrology. She aims to provide comfort and assurance using her abilities to offer answers to those who seek professional guidance. Read More About Karen Here.
