bible verses about anointing

Bible Verses About Anointing: 12

Bible verses about anointing: 12 Scriptures on mashach, chrisma, and Spirit anointing.

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By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 30, 2026Updated October 1, 20265 min read1 John 2:20 (NIV)

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"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth."

— 1 John 2:20 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about anointing want Scripture on oil / Spirit anointing — not only the broader holiness list or the Holy Spirit list alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about the anointed, Bible verses about holiness, Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about worship, Bible verses about grace, Bible verses about prayer, and Bible verse of the day. Anointing here means mashach / chrisma — setting apart with oil or the Spirit's anointing — distinct from holiness as a way of life alone, and not a substitute for creating separate consecration or dedication pages this run.

Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, "anoint" often uses מָשַׁח mashach (Strong's H4886; Bible Hub H4886) — to smear, anoint, consecrate by anointing. In Greek, "anointing" as the Spirit's gift can use χρῖσμα chrisma (Strong's G5545; Bible Hub G5545) — an anointing, unction. 1 John 2:20 and 2:27 speak of the anointing from the Holy One; Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18 of the Lord anointing his servant; Acts 10:38 of God anointing Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power. Anointing in Scripture marks God's claim and enabling — not a private brand.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 2 presses that believers have an anointing from the Holy One and need not be tossed by every false teacher (Bible Hub MHC 1 John 2; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 1 John 2). On Isaiah 61 he marks the Spirit of the Lord upon the anointed servant to preach good news to the poor (Bible Hub MHC Isaiah 61; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Isaiah 61). (Holiness and worship lists live on those pages; this list centers mashach / chrisma.)

12 Bible verses about anointing

  1. 1 John 2:20. "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth." Anointing from the Holy One. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  2. 1 John 2:27. "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him." The anointing remains in you. See Bible verses about truth.

  3. Isaiah 61:1. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners," The Lord has anointed me. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  4. Luke 4:18. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free," He has anointed me — good news. See Bible verses about Jesus.

  5. Acts 10:38. "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." God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power. See Bible verses about healing.

  6. 1 Samuel 16:13. "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." Anointed with oil — Spirit came powerfully. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

  7. Psalm 23:5. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." You anoint my head with oil. See Bible verses about peace.

  8. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." He anointed us — Spirit as deposit. See Bible verses about grace.

  9. James 5:14. "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." Anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. See Bible verses about prayer.

  10. Exodus 30:30. "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests." Anoint — consecrate for service. See Bible verses about holiness.

  11. Hebrews 1:9. "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Anointing with the oil of joy. See Bible verses about joy.

  12. Psalm 89:20. "I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him." Sacred oil — anointed him. See Bible verses about worship.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need anointing — not twelve as a grind. If you need the Spirit's anointing on believers, start with 1 John 2:20. If you need Jesus anointed for mission, open Isaiah 61:1 or Luke 4:18. If you need oil and prayer for the sick, open James 5:14. For holiness, open Bible verses about holiness. For the Spirit, open Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about anointing?

1 John 2:20 (anointing from the Holy One), Isaiah 61:1 (the Lord has anointed me), and Acts 10:38 (God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about anointing differ from holiness?

The live holiness page centers set-apart living (qadosh / hagios). An anointing page centers mashach / chrisma — oil and Spirit anointing that marks and enables — then cross-links holiness, the Holy Spirit, and worship. See Bible verses about holiness.

What do mashach and chrisma mean?

Hebrew mashach (H4886) means to smear or anoint (often with oil). Greek chrisma (G5545) means an anointing or unction. In 1 John it names the Spirit's teaching anointing on believers.

Is anointing only for kings and priests in the Old Testament?

Old Testament passages anoint priests and kings (Exodus 30:30; 1 Samuel 16:13), and the New Testament speaks of God anointing Jesus (Acts 10:38) and of believers having an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20, 2:27). See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.

Where can I read more about holiness, the Holy Spirit, and worship?

Start with Bible verses about holiness, then Bible verses about the Holy Spirit, Bible verses about worship, and Bible verses about grace.

Sources

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