G5548

χρίω

chríō /khree'-o/ Ask about this word
Rootprobably akin to χράομαι through the idea of contact
Meaningto smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service
KJV usageanoint.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chríō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word chríō, represented by G5548, means to anoint. Its base definition is to smear or rub with oil, which by implication means to consecrate to an office or religious service. This specific term appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G5548 is consistently used to describe a divine action of setting someone apart for a special purpose. God is shown as the one who anoints Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10:38. This anointing commissions Jesus for His ministry, which includes preaching the gospel to the poor and healing the brokenhearted Luke 4:18. The act is not limited to Jesus; God is also the one who anoints believers, establishing them in Christ 2 Corinthians 1:21. In one instance, the anointing is explicitly connected to a substance, the oil of gladness Hebrews 1:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context for the act of anointing:

  • G5547 Christós (anointed): This word is derived directly from chríō and is used as an epithet for Jesus, the Messiah. It signifies his status as the divinely Anointed One, as seen in the statement that God anoints believers in Christ 2 Corinthians 1:21.
  • G1637 élaion (olive oil): This is the physical substance often used in anointing. Its symbolic importance is highlighted when God is said to have anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness, setting him above his fellows Hebrews 1:9.
  • G4151 pneûma (spirit): The anointing is frequently associated with the empowerment of the Spirit. Jesus declares, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me" Luke 4:18, and He was anointed by God with the Holy Ghost and with power Acts 10:38.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G5548 is significant and points to several core truths.

  • Divine Commissioning: To be anointed by God is to be chosen and consecrated for a divine task. Jesus was anointed to preach the gospel and heal the brokenhearted Luke 4:18, and was set apart as God's "holy child" Acts 4:27.
  • Spiritual Empowerment: The anointing is not merely ceremonial but is linked to a transfer of spiritual ability. It is an anointing with the Holy Ghost and with power G1411 that enables the recipient to do good and heal Acts 10:38.
  • Identification with Christ: While Jesus is the primary Anointed One, the act is extended to believers. Paul states that God G2316 is the one who "hath anointed us," thereby establishing believers in their relationship with Christ 2 Corinthians 1:21.

Summary

In summary, G5548 chríō is a potent term that signifies far more than the physical act of applying oil. It represents a divine act of consecration, empowerment, and commissioning. It is fundamental to understanding the identity of Jesus as the Christós, the Anointed One, and it also defines the believer's standing as one set apart and established by God for His purposes.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 3×
  • Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
  • Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Nominative
The subject of the verb.
Singular
One.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist
Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active
The subject performs the action.
Indicative
A plain statement of fact.
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G5547 Χριστός from χρίω; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ. G1637 ἔλαιον neuter of the same as ἐλαία; olive oil:--oil. G4151 πνεῦμα from πνέω; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rat G1411 δύναμις from δύναμαι; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself): G2316 θεός of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (2 verses); never once in the other 23.

1
Luke
2
Acts
1
2 Corinthians
1
Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.