"to anoint; in NT to anoint, by way of instituting to a dignity, function, or privilege, Lk. 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9*"
Definition and meaning
to anoint; in NT to anoint, by way of instituting to a dignity, function, or privilege, Lk. 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9*
In the original Greek the word is written: χρίω
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chrio (G5548) across the King James Bible.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
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Common questions
Strong's G5548 (chrio) is a Greek word that means: to anoint; in NT to anoint, by way of instituting to a dignity, function, or privilege, Lk. 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word chrio (G5548) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5548 is chrio, a Greek word defined as: to anoint; in NT to anoint, by way of instituting to a dignity, function, or privilege, Lk. 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Cor. 1:21; Heb. 1:9*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chrio is a Greek word found in the New Testament.