Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 309
Mishneh Torah Book #: 8
Mishneh Torah Book: Service
Mishneh Torah Category: 40- The Vessels of the Temple and Those Who Serve in It
Reference: Exodus 30:32
Scripture Book: Exodus
Scripture Chapter: 30
Scripture Verse: 32
English: It shall not be poured on anyone's body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.
Hebrew: לב עַל-בְּשַׂר אָדָם, לֹא יִיסָךְ, וּבְמַתְכֻּנְתּוֹ, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ כָּמֹהוּ; קֹדֶשׁ הוּא, קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם.
Greek: 32 ἐπὶ σάρκα ἀνθρώπου οὐ χρισθήσεται, καὶ κατὰ τὴν σύνθεσιν ταύτην οὐ ποιήσετε ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς ὡσαύτως· ἅγιόν ἐστιν καὶ ἁγίασμα ἔσται ὑμῖν.
Parashah: 21- Ki Tisa
Sefer Hachinuch #: 108
Sef. Hach. Command: That an outsider should not have anointing oil applied to himself
Category: Temple and Sacred Objects
We can perform today: Yes

"'It shall not be poured on anyone's body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.'" (Exodus 30:32-33) This passage provides a prohibition against anointing anyone other than the Aaronic priests (Ex 30:30) with an anointing oil made with a specific mixture of spices and specifically prohibits putting any of it on "a layman" [Hebrew: tzur- a stranger or foreigner{footnote}Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions{/footnote}].

The Literal Commandment

'It shall not be poured on anyone's body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people.' (Exodus 30:32-33)

This passage provides a prohibition against anointing anyone other than the Aaronic priests (Ex 30:30) with an anointing oil made with a specific mixture of spices and specifically prohibits putting any of it on "a layman" [Hebrew: tzur- a stranger or foreigner¹].

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment prohibits anointing anyone (including foreigners) with the oil that is reserved for the Aaronic priesthood.

Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Messiah anoints believers who are made a part of Israel by His work (grafted in: Romans 11:17-23; adopted: Romans 9:4; included in the commonwealth of Israel: Ephesians 2:12).

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not anointing foreigner with the anointing oil intended for the Aaronic priesthood. If Yeshua were to have done so then He would have been breaking the Law and sinning. Since He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15) we know that He did not break this commandment in any way.

Traditional Observance

Traditional observance of this negative commandment is performed by abstaining from anointing foreigners with the anointing oil intended for the Aaronic priests.

Other Notes

This negative commandment can be observed by everyone today by abstaining from anointing foreigners with the anointing oil intended for the Aaronic priests.

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Footnotes

1. Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions [back]

Do not anoint a foreigner with anointing oil