“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While it seems like a straightforward instruction, notice that the oil is used to anoint the entire tabernacle and everything within it, not just specific items. This anointing signifies that the whole structure and all its contents are set apart, becoming holy and designated for God's presence.
“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This instruction to anoint the Tabernacle follows immediately after its physical construction and setting up, a monumental task that took months. God is giving Moses the final steps to dedicate this sacred space and all its contents for His presence and service. While the text mentions anointing, commentators note that the actual ceremony, along with consecrating the priests, was likely deferred to a later date, as detailed in Leviticus 8, to allow time for all the prescribed rituals.
Why was special oil poured on the Tabernacle and its contents? What made these items set apart?
In Exodus 40:9, God instructs Moses to anoint the Tabernacle and everything within it with a special oil. This act wasn't just symbolic; it was a divine command that officially consecrated these items, making them holy and fit for God's presence.
A Holy Space
Think of it like this: the anointing oil acted as a seal of ownership. By pouring it, Moses declared, 'This place, and everything in it, now belongs entirely to God.' This transformation from ordinary materials to a sacred dwelling was crucial because the God of Israel, who is perfectly holy, would soon dwell there.
Distinction from the Ordinary
The oil physically separated the Tabernacle and its furnishings from everything else in the world, setting them apart for God's unique service. This consecration was not optional; it was a necessary step before God's glory could fully inhabit the space.
The text mentions 'holy' and 'most holy.' What's the difference, and why does it matter?
The consecration through anointing wasn't just about making things clean; it was about making them holy – set apart for God. Exodus 40:9 says the Tabernacle and its contents are to become 'holy,' while other passages (like Exodus 30:29) refer to certain items as 'most holy.'
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Different Levels of Sacredness
This distinction might seem subtle, but it reflects the profound nature of God's holiness. The altar, for instance, was designated 'most holy' (Exodus 40:10) perhaps because it was the focal point for sacrifices and was more exposed to people's interactions than the inner sanctuary.
God's Dwelling, God's Standards
Regardless of the specific designation, the core idea is that these objects were now under God's ownership and subject to His divine standards. Everything connected to the Tabernacle's function—from the grand structure to the smallest utensil—was now holy ground because God's presence resided there. This was a tangible reminder that His presence demands reverence and separation from the profane.
Understand the original words
shemen hamishchah · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The perfumed oil used in the Old Testament to mark people or objects as set apart specifically for God's use, symbolizing the presence and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
qadash · Hebrew Verb
To declare or set something apart as holy for God’s exclusive use; it involves a formal process of purification and dedication to remove it from common or profane use.
qodesh · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
The state of being set apart for God, characterized by moral purity and separation from sin. It describes God's nature and anything that belongs to Him.
This passage directly follows the instructions for anointing the Tabernacle, detailing the anointing of Aaron and his sons, highlighting how the oil consecrated individuals for sacred service alongside the Tabernacle itself.
Hebrews 9:23The New Testament reflects on the Old Testament Tabernacle's consecration, stating that its earthly copies needed purification with blood and 'better sacrifices,' echoing the original anointing's purpose of setting apart for holiness.
1 Samuel 10:1This passage describes the anointing of Saul as king, showing a parallel use of anointing oil to set apart and consecrate a person for a specific divine commission, similar to how the Tabernacle was consecrated.
John 1:14The concept of God's dwelling among His people finds its ultimate fulfillment here, as the 'Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' mirroring the Tabernacle's consecration as a place for God's presence to reside.
cambridgeExodus 40:9: "And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy."
9, 10 . It is remarkable that, while in Exodus 30:29 (see vv. 26–28), the Tent of Meeting with all the vessels belonging to it, are, by anointing, made ‘most holy’ (see for this term on Exodus 29:37 ), here the altar only is ‘most holy,’ and the Tent of Meeting and all its contents are only ‘holy.’ 9–11 . The Dwelling,…
calvinExodus 40:1-35: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
Ungesque filius, quemadmodum unxeris patrem eorum: et sacerdotio fungentur mihi, eritque unctio eorum ut sit els in sacerdotium perpetuum per generationes suas.
Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded…
While it seems like a straightforward instruction, notice that the oil is used to anoint the entire tabernacle and everything within it, not just specific items. This anointing signifies that the whole structure and all its contents are set apart, becoming holy and designated for God's presence.
This instruction to anoint the Tabernacle follows immediately after its physical construction and setting up, a monumental task that took months. God is giving Moses the final steps to dedicate this sacred space and all its contents for His presence and service. While the text mentions anointing, commentators note that the actual ceremony, along with consecrating the priests, was likely deferred to a later date, as detailed in Leviticus 8, to allow time for all the prescribed rituals.
This instruction to anoint the Tabernacle follows immediately after its physical construction and setting up, a monumental task that took months. God is giving Moses the final steps to dedicate this sacred space and all its contents for His presence and service. While the text mentions anointing, commentators note that the actual ceremony, along with consecrating the priests, was likely deferred to a later date, as detailed in Leviticus 8, to allow time for all the prescribed rituals.
"“Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy." — While it seems like a straightforward instruction, notice that the oil is used to anoint the entire tabernacle and everything within it, not just specific items. This anointing signifies that the w…
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Last reviewed October 2026