Commandment Details

Mishneh Torah #: 308
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 30:32-33
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 #: 109
Sef. Hach. Command: Not to make anointing oil according to the scriptural formula
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 commandment is for the sons of Israel (Ex 30:31) and provides a prohibition for them to make any anointing oil in the same proportions as the holy oil described earlier in the chapter (Ex 30:23-24) that is supposed to be made explicitly for the purpose of anointing the Levitical priests, the tabernacle and its furnishings.

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 commandment is for the sons of Israel (Ex 30:31) and provides a prohibition for them to make any anointing oil in the same proportions as the holy oil described earlier in the chapter (Ex 30:23-24) that is supposed to be made explicitly for the purpose of anointing the Levitical priests, the tabernacle and its furnishings.

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

All of the furnishings in the tabernacle pictured Messiah. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Oil anointing the furnishings is symbolic of G-d's anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the flesh of Messiah. (John 1:32)

Just as the tabernacle and its furnishings were holy so, too, was Messiah holy in a very special and unique way. The oil was only supposed to be used to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings.

The Holy Spirit is only supposed anoint believers by the work of our Great High Priest: Messiah. (John 16:7) We should not attempt to duplicate this work of G-d. Simon the magician attempted to buy the power to anoint people with the Holy Spirit from the apostles and was condemned. (Acts 8:9-24)

How Messiah Fulfilled

This prohibition is given to the sons of Israel. As a son of Israel Messiah fulfills this commandment by not preparing the anointing oil nor using it in any prohibited manner.

If Yeshua were to have violated this commandment 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 not making anointing oil in the same proportions as G-d commanded.

Other Notes

The details of the commandment regarding the anointing oil are found in verses 23-33:

Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin.

You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me.

You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. '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 30:23-33)

This negative commandment can be observed by everyone today by abstaining from making an anointing oil in the same proportions that G-d has commanded.

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Do not reproduce the anointing oil