Anointing the feet / Care with devotion

Words Behind the Words

In Greek, there are multiple versions of the word “anoint” — all with different meanings. And depending on what verse you read in the Bible, the Greek word for anoint may vary. This is important context.

For example, chriō is a more formal version of anoint. It involves oils combined with spices (like myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, and cassia). It is designed for sacred ceremonies (like anointing a king or priest). These materials were expensive and near impossible to attain by the common person.

Then there is aleiphō, which is a more “everyday” version of anoint. It is designed for situations, such as cleaning, comforting, or healing and usually involves an oil (like olive oil) and everyday herbs (like rosemary and thyme).

There is also murizō. This version of anoint involves luxury perfumes (like spikenard and aloes) and is used for burials or showing honor or devotion.

A history lesson

Washing a person’s feet when they arrived at your house was a common courtesy. Feet were dirty; they needed washing. It was normal. It was also a sign of respect. For the woman in Luke 7, she took this a step further. Not only did she tend Jesus’s feet with her actual tears and hair, but she also cared for them with a luxury ointment known as myron. She was anointing Jesus’s feet on multiple levels — through physical care, ritual devotion, and prophetic gesture. And the fact that she used her hair was an even bigger deal. If a woman let down her hair around anyone besides her husband, it was considered scandalous (so it was typically covered in public). Letting down her hair AND using it to clean a man’s feet would have been considered extra scandalous. But in this context, it was considered a bolder, more extravagant form of devotion and honor. If structure and hierarchy weren’t involved, one might even say she was performing the chriō tradition.