| Easton's Bible Dictionary Various fragrant preparations, also compounds for medical purposes, are so called (Exodus 30:25; Psalm 133:2; Isaiah 1:6; Amos 6:6; John 12:3; Revelation 18:13). Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Any soft substance used for smearing or anointing, usually for soothing or healing. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia OINTMENT oint'-ment: The present use of the word "ointment" is to designate a thick unguent of buttery or tallow-like consistency. the King James Version in frequent instances translates shemen or meshach (see Exodus 30:25) "ointment" where a perfumed oil seemed to be indicated. the American Standard Revised Version has consequently substituted the word "oil" in most of the passages. Merqachah is rendered "ointment" once in the Old Testament (Job 41:31 (Hebrew 41:23)). The well-known power of oils and fats to absorb odors was made use of by the ancient perfumers. The composition of the holy anointing oil used in the tabernacle worship is mentioned in Exodus 30:23-25. Olive oil formed the base. This was scented with "flowing myrrh.... sweet cinnamon.... sweet calamus.... and.... cassia." The oil was probably mixed with the above ingredients added in a powdered form and heated until the oil had absorbed their odors and then allowed to stand until the insoluble matter settled, when the oil could be decanted. Olive oil, being a non-drying oil which does not thicken readily, yielded an ointment of oily consistency. This is indicated by Psalm 133:2, where it says that the precious oil ran down on Aaron's beard and on the collar of his outer garment. Anyone attempting to make the holy anointing oil would be cut off from his people (Exodus 30:33). The scented oils or ointments were kept in jars or vials (not boxes) made of alabaster. These jars are frequently found as part of the equipment of ancient tombs.
The word translated "ointment" in the New Testament is muron, "myrrh." This would indicate that myrrh, an aromatic gum resin, was the substance commonly added to the oil to give it odor. In Luke 7:46 both kinds of oil are mentioned, and the verse might be paraphrased thus: My head with common oil thou didst not anoint; but she hath anointed my feet with costly scented oil.
For the uses of scented oils or ointments see ANOINTING; OIL.
James A. Patch | Multi-Version Concordance Ointment (29 Occurrences) Matthew 26:7 a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Matthew 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor." (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV) Matthew 26:12 For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Mark 14:3 While he was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar of ointment of pure nard-very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over his head. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Mark 14:4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, saying, "Why has this ointment been wasted? (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Mark 14:5 For that ointment might have been sold for fifteen pounds or more, and the money have been given to the poor." And they were exceedingly angry with her. (WEY ASV DBY RSV) Luke 7:37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV) Luke 7:38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV) Luke 7:46 You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV) John 9:6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud of the spittle, and put the mud, as ointment, on his eyes. (DBY) John 11:2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick. (WEB KJV WEY BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS) John 12:3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) John 12:5 "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV) Revelation 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Root in KJV ASV WBS YLT) Exodus 30:25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. (KJV DBY WBS) 2 Kings 20:13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. (KJV WBS YLT) 1 Chronicles 9:30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices. (KJV DBY WBS) Job 41:31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 133:2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; (KJV WBS) Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. (KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT) Proverbs 27:16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. (KJV JPS WBS YLT) Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. (KJV DBY WBS NAS RSV) Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. (KJV WBS) Ecclesiastes 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. (KJV JPS DBY WBS RSV) Song of Songs 1:3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (Root in KJV JPS DBY WBS) Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (KJV WBS YLT) Isaiah 39:2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. (KJV WBS YLT) Isaiah 57:9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. (KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT) Daniel 10:3 desirable bread I have not eaten, and flesh and wine hath not come in unto my mouth, and I have not anointed myself at all, till the completion of three weeks of days. (See NAS) | 
