Tag Archives: Olive Oil

Essential Oils in the Bible: Leviticus 6:15

The Meaning of Oil and Frankincense in Worship

In the book of Leviticus, God gave instructions to Moses about how the Israelites should offer sacrifices and gifts as acts of worship. One of these offerings was the grain offering, which included fine flour, oil, and frankincense. A priest would take a handful of this mixture and burn it on the altar as a sweet-smelling offering to God. The oil represented God’s provision and blessing, while the frankincense, a valuable spice, was used for prayer and worship. Together, they symbolized the people’s gratitude and devotion.

The use of oil and frankincense had a deeper meaning in biblical times. Olive oil was used not just for cooking but also for anointing people as a sign of God’s presence. Frankincense, a fragrant resin, was burned as incense to represent prayers rising to heaven. These natural elements were considered sacred, often used in healing, prayer, and worship. In Leviticus 6:15, God asked for these items in the offering to show that true worship comes from a pure and grateful heart.

Even today, essential oils like frankincense are valued for their soothing and healing properties. While we may not offer grain sacrifices, we can still learn from this passage. It teaches us that worship is about giving our best to God, whether through prayer, gratitude, or acts of kindness. Just as the oil and frankincense created a pleasing aroma in the temple, our lives should be a pleasing offering to God, full of faith and thanksgiving.

Essential Oils in the Bible

Isaiah 41:19 is a beautiful verse where God promises to transform the wilderness into a flourishing land by planting various trees, including cedar, acacia (shittah tree), myrtle, the oil tree (possibly the olive tree), fir, pine, and box tree. This passage is part of a larger prophecy where God reassures His people that He will provide, restore, and renew even the most barren and lifeless places. In a spiritual sense, this symbolizes God’s ability to bring life, hope, and abundance to those who feel lost or dry in their faith. Just as trees provide shade, shelter, and resources, God provides strength, guidance, and blessings to His people.

This verse also has a strong connection to essential oils, as many of the trees mentioned produce valuable oils used for healing, anointing, and purification. For example, cedarwood oil was used in biblical times for purification and protecting against disease, while myrtle oil was known for its uplifting and cleansing properties. The oil tree likely refers to the olive tree, which produced olive oil—a sacred and essential substance in biblical times, used for anointing, cooking, and healing. These trees not only represent physical blessings but also symbolize spiritual nourishment and restoration that God provides.

For us today, Isaiah 41:19 reminds us that God is capable of bringing life and renewal even in the driest and most desolate places—whether in the land, in our lives, or in our hearts. Just as the trees in this verse provide essential oils and resources for healing, God’s presence in our lives brings spiritual healing, strength, and restoration. This verse is a promise that God can turn struggles into blessings, weakness into strength, and emptiness into abundance when we trust in Him.

Essential Oils in the Bible

In the Bible, God instructs Moses to create a special holy anointing oil using specific ingredients. This recipe is found in Exodus 30:23-25. Here’s a simplified explanation:

Take the following high-quality spices:

  • 500 shekels of liquid myrrh
  • 250 shekels of sweet-smelling cinnamon
  • 250 shekels of calamus (a fragrant cane)
  • 500 shekels of cassia (a spice similar to cinnamon)
  • A hin (about a gallon) of olive oil

These ingredients are combined by a skilled perfumer to create a sacred anointing oil. This oil was set apart as holy and used for special purposes in worship and dedication.

How to Use Carrier Oils: Olive

For thousands of years, olive oil has been a superstar, starting in ancient Greece and Crete. People loved it for cooking, medicine, and even religious ceremonies. As time went on, the Greeks and Romans perfected their olive oil game, creating massive farms and machines to press olives like pros. This liquid gold became a huge part of European trade and cooking. Fast forward to today, and olive oil is still a kitchen favorite, especially in Mediterranean dishes, where it adds flavor, health benefits, and a touch of history to meals everywhere. Olive oil truly stands the test of time!

Essential Oils in the Bible

Bible“Also take for yourself quality spices- five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane [calamus], five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.”     EXODUS 30:23-25

Essential Oils in the Bible

Bible“Also take for yourself quality spices- five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane [calamus], five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.” EXODUS 30:23-25

Essential Oils in the Bible

Bible“Also take for yourself quality spices- five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane [calamus], five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.”     EXODUS 30:23-25