Exodus 29:7

29:7 You are to take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. ¹ 

Leviticus 4:3

For the Priest

4:3 “‘If the high priest ²  sins so that the people are guilty, ³  on account of the sin he has committed he must present a flawless young bull to the Lord ⁴  for a sin offering. ⁵ 

Leviticus 8:12

8:12 He then poured some of the anointing oil on the head of Aaron and anointed him to consecrate him.

Leviticus 21:10

Rules for the High Priest

21:10 “‘The high ⁶  priest – who is greater than his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, who has been ordained ⁷  to wear the priestly garments – must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments. ⁸ 

[29:7]  ¹ sn The act of anointing was meant to set him apart for this holy service within the house of Yahweh. The psalms indicate that no oil was spared in this ritual, for it ran down his beard and to the hem of his garment. Oil of anointing was used for all major offices (giving the label with the passive adjective “mashiah” (or “messiah”) to anyone anointed. In the further revelation of Scripture, the oil came to signify the enablement as well as the setting apart, and often the Holy Spirit came on the person at the anointing with oil. The olive oil was a symbol of the Spirit in the OT as well (Zech 4:4-6). And in the NT “anointing” signifies empowerment by the Holy Spirit for service.

[4:3]  ² tn Heb “the anointed priest” (so ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV). This refers to the high priest (cf. TEV, CEV, NLT).

[4:3]  ³ tn Heb “to the guilt of the people”; NRSV “thus bringing guilt on the people.”

[4:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he shall offer on his sin which he sinned, a bull, a son of the herd, flawless.”

[4:3]  ⁵ sn The word for “sin offering” (sometimes translated “purification offering”) is the same as the word for “sin” earlier in the verse. One can tell which rendering is intended only by the context. The primary purpose of the “sin offering” (חַטָּאת, khatta’t) was to “purge” (כִּפֶּר, kipper, “to make atonement,” see 4:20, 26, 31, 35, and the notes on Lev 1:4 and esp. Lev 16:20, 33) the sanctuary or its furniture in order to cleanse it from any impurities and/or (re)consecrate it for holy purposes (see, e.g., Lev 8:15; 16:19). By making this atonement the impurities of the person or community were cleansed and the people became clean. See R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 2:93-103.

[21:10]  ⁶ tn The adjective “high” has been supplied in the translation for clarity, as in many English versions.

[21:10]  ⁷ tn Heb “and he has filled his hand.” For this expression see the note on Lev 8:33.

[21:10]  ⁸ tn Regarding these signs of mourning see the note on Lev 10:6. His head had been anointed (v. 10a) so it must not be unkempt (v. 10b), and his garments were special priestly garments (v. 10a) so he must not tear them (v. 10b). In the translation “garments” has been employed rather than “clothes” to suggest that the special priestly garments are referred to here; cf. NRSV “nor tear his vestments.”