Anointed Meaning: Definition, Bible & Spiritual Meaning

Anointed means having oil or another substance applied to a person or object, especially as part of a religious ceremony. In the Bible, it can also mean being set apart, consecrated, chosen, or empowered for a special purpose. In everyday English, anointed can describe someone formally selected for an important role, such as an expected successor.

Key Takeaways

• Anointed is the past tense and past participle of anoint.
• Literally, it means applying oil or another substance to someone or something.
• In biblical contexts, anointing could symbolize consecration or appointment to a special role.
• Kings, priests, and other religious figures could be associated with anointing in Scripture.
• “The Anointed One” is closely connected with the terms Messiah and Christ.
• In modern English, anointed can also mean officially chosen or regarded as the likely person for an important position.

What Does Anointed Mean?

Anointed is the past tense and past participle of the verb anoint. At its most literal level, anoint means to put oil, ointment, or another substance on a person or object.

The word has a particularly strong religious meaning. In Christian and biblical contexts, anointing can refer to setting someone or something apart for a sacred purpose. Bible reference works describe anointing as both a physical practice involving oil and a metaphorical concept associated with God’s Spirit and special responsibility.

The word also has a broader English meaning. Someone can be described as an anointed successor when they have been selected or are expected to take an important position. Cambridge gives this figurative meaning alongside its religious definition.

Anointed as a Religious Term

In a religious setting, being anointed generally suggests that someone has been consecrated, dedicated, or set apart for a particular sacred role.

The exact significance depends on the religious tradition and context. In biblical references, oil was used in ceremonies involving people as well as sacred objects.

Anointed in Everyday English

The word does not always refer to religion.

For example:

“She was the anointed successor to the company’s founder.”

Here, anointed means selected, designated, or widely regarded as the expected successor, rather than literally having oil placed on her.

This figurative use is recognized in modern English dictionaries.

Anointed Meaning in the Bible

The anointed meaning in the Bible is broader than simply putting oil on someone’s head.

Anointing was an established practice in the biblical world. Oil could be used for personal care, hospitality, medicinal purposes, burial preparation, and religious ceremonies. In sacred contexts, anointing could indicate that a person or object was being dedicated or set apart.

For example, biblical references describe anointing sacred objects and furnishings as part of consecrating them for religious use. Exodus 40:9 describes anointing the tabernacle and its furnishings and treating them as holy.

Anointing With Oil

Oil was an important part of ancient life. It was used for grooming and comfort as well as for religious purposes.

The Bible Gateway encyclopedia notes that anointing could be associated with relief from the sun, personal grooming, hospitality, medicine, and other practical uses. An honored guest could also be anointed as a sign of respect.

So, the presence of oil alone does not automatically mean that anointing had exactly the same religious significance in every biblical passage.

Kings, Priests, and Prophets

Anointing had a particularly important connection with leadership and sacred office.

Bible reference works describe anointing associated with kings, priests, and prophets. Kings could be anointed as part of their installation, while priests were also connected with anointing in their sacred roles.

The story of David provides a well-known biblical example. David was anointed by Samuel, marking his special appointment to kingship.

In this setting, anointed communicates more than the physical action. It signifies a person being set apart for a particular role.

What Does “Anointed by God” Mean?

When someone says that a person is “anointed by God,” the phrase generally means that the person is believed to have been specially chosen, empowered, or set apart by God for a particular spiritual purpose.

The phrase can therefore describe a perceived divine calling or spiritual empowerment.

Bible reference material connects spiritual anointing with the work of the Holy Spirit and describes anointing as setting someone apart and equipping them for spiritual work.

The phrase is often used in Christian speech about preaching, ministry, worship, leadership, or another form of religious service. Its precise theological interpretation can vary among Christian traditions.

Spiritual Meaning of Anointed

The spiritual meaning of anointed is commonly connected with three ideas:

1. Being set apart — someone or something is dedicated to a sacred purpose.
2. Being appointed — a person is given a particular responsibility or role.
3. Being empowered — in Christian theology, anointing can be associated with the activity of the Holy Spirit.

This is why the phrase “anointed person” can carry a deeper meaning than simply “religious person.” It may refer to someone believed to have a particular calling or spiritual responsibility.

However, the word should always be interpreted according to its context. A sentence about an “anointed successor” in a business article is using the word figuratively, while “anointed by God” is clearly religious.

Anointed vs. Blessed vs. Chosen

These words overlap, but they are not identical.

Word	General meaning	Main idea
Anointed	Set apart, consecrated, or appointed	Special designation or sacred purpose
Blessed	Favored, helped, or given a blessing	Favor or benefit
Chosen	Selected for a particular purpose	Selection
Appointed	Officially assigned to a role	Formal assignment

For example, someone can be chosen for a position without being described as anointed. Likewise, someone may be blessed without having undergone an anointing ceremony.

In religious language, however, these concepts can overlap depending on the passage and theological tradition.

How to Use “Anointed” in a Sentence

Here are examples showing different meanings of the word:

• The priest anointed the king with oil during the ceremony.
• David was anointed for kingship in the biblical account.
• Many Christians use the phrase “anointed by God” to describe spiritual calling or empowerment.
• She was considered the anointed successor to the retiring CEO.
• The ceremony involved anointing the sacred objects with oil.

These examples show why context matters. The first and fourth sentences involve different meanings even though they use the same word.

Where Does the Word Anointed Come From?

The English word anointed comes from the verb anoint.

Etymological sources trace anoint through Middle English and Old French to Latin inunguere, meaning to anoint or smear with oil. The English adjective anointed has been used since the late 14th century in the sense of being smeared with oil.

The word developed a strong religious association through its use in Christian texts. Etymological references specifically connect its spiritual development with expressions such as “the Lord’s Anointed.”

There is also an important connection between anointed, Messiah, and Christ. Messiah comes from a Hebrew term associated with anointing, while Christ comes through Greek and ultimately means “the Anointed.”

Frequently Asked Questions 

Conclusion

The anointed meaning depends on context, but its central idea is being covered with oil or set apart for a particular purpose.

In ordinary English, anointed can simply describe someone formally selected for an important position. In biblical and Christian contexts, it can carry deeper meanings involving consecration, appointment, spiritual empowerment, and sacred purpose. The word is also closely connected to the titles Messiah and Christ, making it an important term for understanding biblical language.