μῠρίζω G3462
to anoint with perfumed oil or myrrh, especially for burial preparation
This verb means to rub with ointment or perfumed oil, to anoint. In Mark 14:8, Jesus defends the woman who anointed him, declaring she has anointed his body beforehand for burial. The multilingual glosses identify anointing (Spanish ungir, French oindre, German salben). Classical usage includes both cosmetic anointing and ceremonial applications. Jesus reinterprets the woman's lavish act as prophetic preparation for his burial, though she likely intended honor for the living king.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Mark 14:8 presents Jesus's interpretation of the woman's anointing as burial preparation. The cross-linguistic evidence uniformly identifies the anointing action. The woman's original intent was likely to honor Jesus as Messiah, pouring out precious nard in extravagant devotion. But Jesus prophetically reframes the act: she has anointed his body beforehand for burial, unknowingly performing the service that circumstances would prevent after crucifixion. The anointing becomes both worship and prophetic preparation. 1×
AR["أَنْ-تُطَيِّبَ"]·ben["মাখতে"]·DE["salben"]·EN["to-anoint"]·FR["oindre"]·heb["לִ-מְשֹׁחַ"]·HI["मलना"]·ID["mengurapi"]·IT["murisai"]·jav["njebadi"]·KO["기름-붓기를"]·PT["ungir"]·RU["помазать"]·ES["a-ungir"]·SW["kupaka-manukato"]·TR["yağlamaya"]·urd["خوشبو-لگانا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μῠρίζω, rub with ointment or unguent, anoint, Refs 7th c.BC+:—middle, anoint oneself, Refs 4th c.BC+:—passive, μεμυρις μένοι τὸ σῶμα Refs 5th c.BC+ 2.142a. __II in passive also, μ. τινί to be fragrant with.., Refs 3rd c.AD+