Long before olive oil became a kitchen staple, it held a far more sacred role in the ancient world. In Scripture, olive oil is the very substance God chose for the anointing of kings, priests, and prophets. It is not merely a carrier oil or a practical choice — it is woven into the fabric of God's covenant with His people.
Olive Oil in the Tabernacle
When God instructed Moses to prepare the holy anointing oil, the base was pure olive oil. Exodus 30:22-25 describes the recipe: myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia — all blended with olive oil. This sacred oil was used to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, and Aaron and his sons as priests before the Lord.
The Hebrew word for anoint, mashach, is the root of the word Mashiach — Messiah, the Anointed One. Every time olive oil was poured over a person or object in Scripture, it pointed forward to the ultimate Anointed One: Jesus Christ.
The Olive Tree as a Symbol of God's People
Throughout the Bible, the olive tree represents peace, prosperity, and the presence of God. In Romans 11, Paul uses the olive tree as a metaphor for God's covenant people, with believers being grafted into this ancient, rooted tree of faith.
The olive branch carried by the dove back to Noah's ark (Genesis 8:11) signaled that God's judgment had passed and new life was beginning. The Mount of Olives, where Jesus prayed before His crucifixion, takes its name from the olive groves that covered its slopes — a garden where oil and prayer converged in the most significant night in human history.
Why Pure Olive Oil Matters
God did not choose olive oil arbitrarily. The process of producing olive oil mirrors the spiritual life: olives must be crushed, pressed, and refined before they yield their precious oil. This process of pressing echoes in the name Gethsemane itself, which means "oil press."
Just as olives are pressed to release oil, believers are often refined through trials that draw out the deepest expressions of faith, prayer, and trust in God. There is a beauty in knowing that the oil you use in prayer has gone through its own process of pressing and purification.
At My Cup Runneth Over, we use only 100% pure olive oil as the foundation for all our anointing blends. Our Classic Unscented Anointing Oil is pure olive oil with no added fragrances — the simplest, most biblical form of anointing oil available, just as it would have been used in ancient times.
Using Pure Olive Oil in Your Prayer Life
Whether you prefer a scented blend or pure, unscented olive oil, the act of anointing connects you to thousands of years of biblical tradition. Here are a few ways to incorporate olive oil anointing into your spiritual practice:
Morning prayer: Begin your day by applying a small amount of anointing oil to your forehead, asking God to consecrate your thoughts and guide your steps.
Family blessing: Anoint your children before bed or before school, speaking blessings and Scripture over them.
Communion and worship: Use anointing oil alongside communion as a way of remembering Christ's sacrifice and inviting His presence.
When you hold a bottle of pure anointing oil, you hold something ancient, something sacred, something that connects your prayers today to the prayers of Abraham, David, and the early church.
Discover our full collection of handcrafted anointing oils, each made with pure olive oil, prayer, and purpose.