χρίω (chriō)
chriō
to anoint
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb chriō means to anoint, a physical act with deep spiritual significance in Scripture. In the New Testament, it primarily describes God’s act of setting apart Jesus as the Messiah, or Christ. This usage connects directly to the Old Testament tradition where kings, priests, and prophets were anointed to signify their divine appointment and empowerment for holy service.
The sources highlight that this anointing is not merely ceremonial but functional. In Luke 4:18, Jesus reads from Isaiah, declaring that God has anointed Him to preach good news, linking the physical act to the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Acts 4:27 and Acts 10:38 emphasize that this anointing equips Christ for His mission.
While most occurrences focus on Jesus, 2 Corinthians 1:21 extends the concept to believers. Here, Paul writes that God anoints Christians, marking them with the Holy Spirit as a seal of ownership and security. This shifts the term from a unique royal title to a shared identity for all followers, grounding their spiritual authority in divine selection rather than human appointment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chriō means to set apart by pouring oil on someone. In the Old Testament, this act marked kings, priests, and prophets as chosen by God for specific tasks. It was a visible sign of a divine call that carried real authority and responsibility.
In the New Testament, this term points directly to Jesus as the Messiah. Acts 10:38 shows how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and power to heal and help others. This was not just a ceremony but the start of His mission to bring hope to those suffering under oppression.
Paul also reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:21 that God anoints believers too. This means we share in Christ’s identity and are marked by the Spirit for our own service. It is a gentle reminder that your life has purpose because God has set you apart for good works.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having anointed1×
- has anointed1×
- anointed1×
- You anointed,1×
- He has anointed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔχρισέν2×
- ἔχρισεν1×
- ἔχρισας,1×
- χρίσας1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,
Jesus quotes Isaiah to show that His anointing empowers Him to preach good news and heal the brokenhearted.
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Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Peter describes how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power, linking the act directly to His ministry of healing.
-
II Corinthians 1:21
Now he who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
Paul extends the concept of anointing to believers, showing that God establishes us in Christ and marks us with the Spirit.