Part 1: The "Laying on of Hands"
Part 2: Anointing
Part 3: Ordination
Part 1: The "Laying on of Hands"
Old Testament: ("lay, laying, layest, layedst, layeth")As punishment or burden:
Ex. 7:4 on Egypt, as a negative "burden" or punishment.
5414 nathan, to give (used with wide application, to put, make, etc.), apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, cast, cause, charge, commit, give, grant, lift up, make, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, recompense, render, require, send (out), set (forth), store, strike, thrust, trade, yield.
Deu. 7:15 (God will lay punishment upon your enemies)
Deu. 11:25 (God will lay fear of you on your enemies)
Deu. 21:8 (Moses' prayer that God lay not innocent blood upon Israel)To ordain (as a positive "burden" or responsibility):
Deu. 34:9 ". . . for Moses had laid his hands upon (Joshua): . . ." [per divine instructions, Num. 27:18].Since Moses was still alive, this helped prevent confusion among the people as to who was now in charge of leading the Israelites.
Upon offerings (sacrifices)
Lev. 3:2, 8, 13; 4:4, 15, 24, 29, 33; 16:21
5564 camak, to prop, (lit. or fig.); (reflexive) to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense) bear up, establish, (up-) hold, lean, lie hard, put, rest self, set self, stand fast, sustain.
"laid" 5564 Lev. 8:14, 18, 22 (laid hands on the sacrifices)
To set apart for death:
Lev. 24:14
5564 ( see above)
To assign sin to or charge with:
Num. 12:11 lay not the sin upon us
7896 shyith, to place, (in a very wide application); apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay (up), let alone, make, mark, set, shew.
Job 34:23
A blessing or "reward":
Gen. 48:14-15, 17 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid (7896) it upon Ephraim's head . . .
A commission:
Num. 27:23 And (Moses) laid (7896) his hands upon (Joshua), and gave him a charge . . .
To place:
Jud. 18:19 lay your hand upon your mouth
7760 suwm or siym; to put (used in wide variety of applications, lit. and fig.); appoint, call (a name), change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, mark, ordain, preserve, put (on), reward, set (up), turn, work.
to mark: 1 Sam. 11:2 gouge out right eye to "lay" (7760) reproach upon all Israel
to seize:
2 Kings 11:16 And they laid (7760) hands on (Athaliah) [and she was executed]
2 Chrn. 23:15 ditto2 Chrn. 29:23 priests laid (7760) hands on the he goats for sacrifices
to place:
7901 shakab, to lie down (for rest, sex, decrease, or any other purpose): cast down, lay (to put) (down), (make to) lie (self) (down, still, with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.
2 King. 4:29 lay my staff upon the face of the child
2 King 4:34 he lay upon the childNeh. 13:21 I will lay hands upon you (a warning)
to do violence to:Est. 2:21 sought to lay hands on the king
Est 3:6 to lay hands on Mordecai
Neh. 13:21 (shown above)
Isa. 11:14 lay their hand upon Edom7971 shalach, to send away, for or out (in a great variety of applications); appoint, cast (away, out), forsake, give (up), leave, let depart, push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, sow, spread.
Est. 8:7 laid (7971) hands upon the Jews
NT ("lay, laying, laid")
healing:
Mat. 9:18 lay your hand upon her and she shall live
Mk. 5:23 ditto
Mk. 16:18 they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recoverMk. 6:5 laid (2007) (Christ laid hands on a few, and healed them)
Lk. 4:40 (Christ) laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
Lk. 13:13 (Christ) laid his hands on her; and immediately she was made straight [healed], and glorified God.
Acts 28:8 Paul . . . prayed and laid his hands on him, and healed him (Publius)
2007 epitithemi, to impose (in a friendly or hostile sense); add unto, lade, lay upon, put (up) on, set on (up).
1 Tim. 5:22 lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: . . .
Rev. 1:17 and (Christ) laid his right hand upon me, saying . ..(in John's vision)
Ordination:
Acts 6:6 seven (deacons?, 1 Tim. 3:8-10) chosen ; "they laid their hands on them"
Acts 13:1-3 , "prophets and teachers . . . laid their hands on them" (Barnabas and Saul)
To seize, or to harm:Lk. 20:19 (priests) sought to lay hands on (Christ)
Lk. 21:12 they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you,
Mat. 19:15 "laid" (2007) parable
1911 epiballo, to throw upon: beat into, cast (up) on, fall, lay (on), put (unto), stretch forth, think on.
Mat. 23:4 (Pharisees) lay (heavy burdens) upon men's shoulders
Mat. 26:50 they laid (1911) hands on Jesus and took him.
Mk. 14:46 they laid their hands on him, and took him. (Christ)
Jn. 7:30 no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
verse 44 ditto
8:20 dittoActs 4:3 And they laid hands on (Peter and John)
5:18 on the apostles
The giving of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 8:17-19 Then laid (2007) they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit
And when Simon saw that through laying (1936) on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,
Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay (2007) hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit1 Tim. 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying (1936) on of the hands of the presbytery.
[Note: "presbytery", (4244) from (4245) presbuteros (comparative of presbus, "elderly") meaning "older"; as a noun, "senior". Strong's also says, "the order of elders, i.e. (spec.) Isr. Sanhedrin". But the term "presbytery" literally refers merely to the "older" followers of Christ who were present. This is a reference to physical age, not rank or position. Obviously the Sanhedrin was not ordaining the followers of Christ. ]
Heb. 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying (1936) on of hands, . . .
1936 epithesis; (from 2007), an imposition (of hands officially): laying (putting) on.
Acts 19:6 Paul laid (2007) hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
[Note: The Holy Spirit was also given without the laying on of hands. See Topic Guide: Baptisms.]
Conclusions to Part 1:
1. The "laying on of hands" can have either a positive or negative implication (Deu. 7:15, 11:25).
2. It can show a transfer of authority (Num. 27:18) although authority can be transferred without this act (1 Kings 19:19 and 2 Kings 2:9-15). Authority or responsibility can also be conferred by God directly upon individuals without any involvement of other humans or organizations (see Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Judges, and the Prophets. Notice that Paul was called directly by God, and not through any man.).
3. It is associated with healing (Mk. 6:5, see also "anointing"), although healing was also accomplished by prayer alone (Mat. 8:5-13), and with the use of "anointed cloths" alone (Acts 19:12).
4. It is associated with the giving of the Holy Spirit, although the Holy Spirit was sometimes given without this ritual (Mat. 3:16, Acts 8:35-40.
Part 2: Anointing
Dict. v.t. M.E. anointen; enointen; O. Fr. enoindre < Latin inungere, in- in, on, and ungere, to anoint. To pour oil upon; to smear or rub with oil or unctuous substances; to consecrate in a sacred rite by unction, or the use of oil.
Consecrate-- To make or declare to be sacred with certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to enroll among deities or saints; to canonize; to give episcopal rank to; to dedicate with solemnity; to render venerable; to make respected; to hallow.
Old Testament: ("anoint, anointed, anointedst, anointest, anointing")4886 mashach, to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by impl. to consecrate; also to paint: anoint, paint.
5480 cuwk, prop. to smear over (with oil), i.e. anoint: anoint (self)
4899 mashiyach, anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest or saint); spec. the Messiah: anointed, Messiah.
1101 balal, to overflow (spec. with oil), by impl. to mix; also to fodder: anoint, confound, mix (self), give provender, temper.
4473 mimshach, in the sense of expansion; outspread (i.e. with outstretched wings): anointed.
1121 and 3323:
1121 ben, a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense . . . [anoint-] ed one, appointed to, . . . "
3323 yitshar, (from 6671, to glisten, to press out oil); oil (as producing light); fig. anointing:
1878 dashen, to be fat; trans. to fatten (or regard as fat); spec. to anoint; fig. to satisfy; demons.to remove (fat) ashes (of sacrifices): accept, anoint, take away the (receive) ashes (from), make (wax) fat.
4888 mishchah, or moshchah, unction (the act); by impl. a consecratory gift: (to be) anointed (-ing), ointment.
8081 shemen, grease, espec. liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); fig. richness.
New Testament: ("anoint, anointed, anointing")
218 aleipho; to oil (with perfume): anoint.
3462 murizo, to apply (perfumed) unguent to: anoint.
1472 egchrio; to rub in (oil), i.e. besmear: anoint.
5548 chrio, to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by impl.) to consecrate to an office or religious service: anoint.
2025 and 1909:
2025 epichrio, to smear over: anoint.
1909 epi, superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.) as a relation of distribution; over, upon, at, on: upon.
5545 chrisma, an unguent or smearing, i.e. (fig.) the spec. endowment ("chrism") of the Holy Spirit: anointing, unction.
Anointing of priests
Ex. 28:41 ". . . shall anoint 4886 them, and consecrate 4390, 3027 them, and sanctify 6942 {them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office}3547."
4886 mashach, to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by impl. to consecrate; also to paint: anoint, paint.
3547 kahan, appar. mean. to mediate in religious services; but used only as denom. from 3548 (kohen, lit. one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); to officiate as a priest; fig. to put on regalia: deck, be (do the office of a, execute the, minister in the ) priest ('s office).
consecrate 4390, 3027:
4390 male; or mala; to fill or be full of, in a wide application (lit. and fig.); consecrate, fullness, accomplish, confirm, fill, fulfill, full.
3027 yad, a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709 the closed one): used in a great variety of applications, both lit. and fig..
sanctify 6942 qadash, to be (causat. make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): appoint, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, (be, keep) holy, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify.
Anointing of Kings
1 Sam. 9:16-17; 10:1; 15:1; (Saul) 4886
1 Sam. 16:3, 12-13; (David) 4886
1 Kings 1:34; (Solomon) 4886
1 Kings 19:15 (Hazael of Syria) 4886
Anointing of Prophets
1 Kings 19:16 (Elisha) 4886
Isa. 61:1 (Isaiah) 4886
Anointing of High Priests
Num. 35:25; 4886
Good Grooming
2 Sam. 12:20; 5480
Mat. 6:17, (when fasting) 218
Lk. 7:46; 218
Anointing for Burial
Christ's head, Mk. 14:3-9; 3462, "she is come aforehand to anoint my body for the burying"
Jn. 12:3-7; 218, "against the day of my burying has she kept this"Mk. 16:1, after the crucifixion, 218
Anointing of Objects:
A stone, Gen. 28:18, 31:13. Jacob's "pillow" stone, which he erected as a "pillar" stone as a monument to his covenant with God. (See "Stone of Destiny"). (See "The Coronation Stone").
Bread, Ex. 29:2; 4886
The Tabernacle and its furnishings, Lev. 8:10; 4886
The Altar and its vessels, Lev. 8:11; Num. 7:84; 4886
Anointing for Healing
Mk. 6:13; 218
Jas. 5:14, 218
In Worship
Christ's feet anointed, Lk. 7:46; 218.
In the OT, the "unleavened bread" sacrifice was anointed with oil (Lev. 2:4).
(Leavening is symbolic of hypocrisy, Mat. 16:6-12, and of sin, 1 Cor. 5:6-8.)
Christ is symbolized by the "unleavened bread" of Passover (Jn. 6:51, Mat. 26:26).
Christ was sacrificed for us (Heb. 10:10-12).She accepted Christ as her "sacrifice" and "anointed" him, hence verse 48, "And he said unto her, Your sins are forgiven."
And in verse 50, "And he said unto the woman, Your faith has saved you: go in peace."Her tears reflected her personal "sacrifice" as described by David, "For you desire not (animal or agricultural) sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psa.51:16-17; also Psa. 40:6; 107:22; Pro. 21:3).
Anointing Without Oil
Symbolic:
Healing, Rev. 3:18; 1472.
Purification, (of "Jerusalem), Eze. 19:9; 5480.
Blessings (of "fat" things) Psa. 23:5; 1878.
1878 dashen, to be fat; trans. to fatten (or regard as fat); spec. to anoint; fig. to satisfy; demons.to remove (fat) ashes (of sacrifices): accept, anoint, take away the (receive) ashes (from), make (wax) fat.
For Healing:
Christ anointed (2025, 1909) the blind man with mud, Jn. 9:6, 11 (Note, "washed", symbolic of baptism, "sight", symbolic of spiritual understanding)
2025 epichrio, to smear over: anoint.
1909 epi, superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.) as a relation of distribution; over, upon, at, on: upon.
Spirit Beings:
Cherub, Eze. 28:14; 4473
4473 mimshach, in the sense of expansion; outspread (i.e. with outstretched wings): anointed.
Two "Olive trees", Zech. 4:11-14; 1121, 3323
1121 ben, a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense . . . [anoint-] ed one, appointed to, . . . "
3323 yitshar, (from 6671, to glisten, to press out oil); oil (as producing light); fig. anointing:
Anointing by the Holy Spirit:
Christ, Lk. 4:18; 5548
Acts 4:27; 10:38; 5548
Heb. 1:9; 5548Followers of Christ anointed by God, 2 Cor.1:21-22, 5448
An anointing of "understanding", 1 Jn. 2:27; 5545
Conclusions to Part 2:
1. Anointing is the physical act of "smearing or rubbing with oil" which has symbolic implications.
2. It was a part of the rituals for consecrating priests (Ex. 28:41) and kings (1 Sam. (9:16). Our calling is to be "kings and priests" (Rev. 1:6, 5:10, Ex. 19:6).
3. It was part of the ritual for burial (Mk. 14:3-9, Jn. 12:3-7). We are to be symbolically buried through baptism, with Christ (Col. 2:12).
4. It was used in the dedication of objects to be used in the rituals of worship toward God (Lev. 8:10-11) including the Tabernacle itself. When God's Spirit dwells in us, we become a symbolic Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16).
5. It is often associated in the New Testament with healing (Jn. 9:6-11). Christ "anointed" a blind man's eyes with mud, then told him to wash himself in the pool of Siloam, after which he received "sight". The washing in water is a form of baptism, symbolic of the cleansing from sin (Eph. 5:26, Rev. 1:5, Heb. 10:22). Receiving physical sight is symbolic of receiving spiritual understanding (1 Jn. 2:27, Mat. 13:13-17). As followers of Christ our anointing is by God through his Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 1:21-22).
Healing is symbolic of conversion (Isa. 6:10, Rev. 3:18).
Part 3: Ordination
To Ordain
Dict. verb transitive, < Latin ordinare, order, arrange, appoint, (Eccles.) to invest with ministerial or priestly functions; to confer holy orders upon. To decree, as an edict; to give orders for; to destine or predestine: said of God or fate.
verb intransitive, to decree; to order; to command.
Old Testament: ("ordain, ordained, ordaineth,')
3245 yacad, to set, (lit. or fig.); intens. to found: reflex. to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult: appoint, take counsel, establish, instruct, ordain, set.(+ more)
7760 suwm or siym, to put (used in a great variety of applications, lit, fig. ): appoint, call (a name), change, charge, commit, convey, determine, give, hold, impute, mark, ordain, reward, set (up), work. (+ more).
8239 shaphath, to locate, i.e. hang on or (fig.) establish, reduce: bring, ordain, set on.
6213 asah, to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application: accomplish, advance, appoint, bestow, commit, perform, prepare, serve, work. (+ more)
5414 nathan, to give, used with great latitude of application (put, make, etc.): appoint, assign, charge, commit, direct, fasten, grant, lay (unto charge, up), lift up, make, ordain, place. (+ more)
5975 amad, to stand, in various relations (lit. and fig.): appoint, confirm, be employed, establish, make, ordain, be (over), raise up, set (over).(+ more)
6965 quwm, to rise (in various applications, lit., fig.): accomplish, decree, help, hold, lift up, make, ordain, perform, rear (up), rise (up), set (up), establish, (make to) stand. (+ more).
3559 kuwn, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causat.) to set up, in a great variety of applications whether lit. (establish, fix. prepare, apply), or fig. (appoint, render sure, proper or prosperous): confirm, direct, ordain, order, perfect, provide, set (aright, fast, forth), establish, stand. (+ more)
6186 arak, to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications): direct, ordain, (set in) order, prepare. (+ more)
4483 mena' or menah (Aramaic), to count, appoint: number, ordain, set.
6466 pa'al, to do or make (systematically and habitually), espec. to practice: commit, (evil-) do (-er), make (-r), ordain, work (-er).
New Testament: ("ordain, ordained")
1299 diatasso, to arrange thoroughly, i.e. (spec.) institute, prescribe, etc.: appoint, command, give, (set in) order, ordain.
2525 kathistemi, to place down (permanently), i.e. (fig.) to designate, constitute, convoy: appoint, conduct, make, ordain, set.
4160 poieo, to make or do (in a very wide application,): appoint, give, execute, exercise, fulfill, give, hold, ordain, perform, provide. (+ more).
5087 tithemi, to place (in the widest application, lit. and fig.: prop. in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from 2476 which denotes an upright and active position): appoint, commit, give, lay (down), make, ordain, purpose, put. (+ more).
1096 ginomai, to cause to be, i.e.to become (come into being), used with great latitude (lit. fig. ): be ordained to be. (+ more).
3724 horizo, to mark out or bound ("horizon"), i.e. (fig.) to appoint, decree, specify: declare, determine, limit, ordain.
5021 tasso, to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. assign or dispose (to a certain position or lot): appoint, determine, ordain, set.
5500 cheirotoneo, to be a hand-reacher or voter (by raising the hand), i.e. (gen.) to select or appoint: choose, ordain.
2919 krino, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially): by impl. to try, condemn, punish: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, ordain, sentence to. (+ more).
4304 promeletao, to premeditate: meditate before.
4282 proetoimazo, to fit up in advance (lit. or fig.): ordain before, prepare before.
2680 kataskeuazo, to prepare thoroughly (prop. by external equipment rather than by internal fitness): by impl. to construct, create: build, make ordain, prepare.
4270 prographo, to write previously: fig. to announce, prescribe: before ordain, evidently set forth, write (beforetime).
Ordination of "porters"
1 Chr. 9:22; 3245 "to set"
Ordination of "elders"
Titus 1:5, 2525 "to designate"
Acts 14:23, 5500 "to be a voter"
Ordination of "prophets"
Jer. 1:5, 5414 "to give"
Ordination of "apostles"
Mark 3:14, 4160 (by Christ) "to make"
Acts 1:22-26, 1096 (by "appointment" and by "lot") "to cause to be"
1 Tim. 2:7; 5087 (re: Paul) "to place" (properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from 2476 which denotes an upright and active position)
2 Tim. 4; (footnote) 5500 "to be a voter"
Titus 3; (footnote) 5500 "to be a voter"
Ordination of "Christians"
John 15:16 (with Mat. 28:20), 5087 "to place" (properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from 2476 which denotes an upright and active position)
Acts 13:48; 5021 "to arrange" (in a orderly manner)
Ordination of Christ
Acts 10:42, 3724 "to mark out or bound"
Acts 17:31; 3724
Ordaining "instructions"
1 Cor. 7:17, 1299 (Paul, re: divorce and separation)
2 Chr. 23:18, 5975 (David, re: singing)
2 Chr. 29:27, 5975 (David, re: music)
Acts 16:4, 2919, (apostles and elders, re: circumcision, food laws, fornication)
1 Cor. 9:14 (Christ, re: "take no thought for tomorrow") 1299
Ordination of "moon and stars"
Psa. 8:3, 3245
Ordination of "feast days"
Psa. 81:3-5, 7760
Ordination of "judgment" (punishment)
Hab. 1:12, 7760
Psa. 7:13, 6466
Ordination of "civil authority"
Rom. 13:1-7, 5021
Ordination of "high priest"
Heb. 5:1, 8:3; 2525 "to place down" (permanently)
Ordination of the "Tabernacle" and its rituals
Heb. 9:6, (1-5), 2680 "to prepare thoroughly"
Ordination of "the purpose of human life"
1 Cor. 2:7-9; 4304 "to premeditate" (plan in advance)
Ordination of "good works" (God's laws)
Eph. 2:10; 4282 "to prepare before"
"Ordination" of false prophets and false brethren
Jude 4; 4270 "to announce"
Conclusions to Part 3:
1. Ordination can have either positive or negative implications.
2. Ordination is usually thought of as a ritual performed by humans upon one another. But it can be direct from God, without the involvement of other humans or organizations.
3. Paul, who discussed ordination at length in his letter to Timothy, used the word tithemi in reference to his own ordination.
5087 tithemi, to place (in the widest application, lit. and fig.: prop. in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from 2476 which denotes an upright and active position): appoint, commit, give, lay (down), make, ordain, purpose, put. (+ more).
Paul's choice of word here indicates a position of servitude and humility, not one of domination and power of authority. This is consistent with Christ's instruction to the twelve disciples about the relationship of their ministry and the membership. In the context of a question about "church government" in Christ's kingdom (Mat. 20:21), Christ said to them, "You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: . . .". (Mat. 20:25-26). He then goes on to describe their job as one of service with an attitude of humility, in imitation of himself. The significance is that no other human, whether ordained or not, has dominion over your faith.
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