The anointing at Bethany

Question

In all four gospel accounts we can read that Jesus visited Simon the leper's house in Bethany, in Matthew 26:6-13. Beside Matthew in the three other accounts Mark 14:2-9, Luke 7:36-50 & John 11:2, John 12:1-7 it states that he was anointed.

Mark 14:8 She has done what she could; she has anointed (μυρίζω murizó G3462) My body beforehand for the burial.

Luke 7:46 You did not anoint (ἀλείφω aleipho G218) My head with oil, but she anointed (ἀλείφω aleipho G218) My feet with perfume.

John 11:2 And it was the Mary who anointed (ἀλείφω aleipho G218) the Lord with ointment, and wiped His

John 12:3 Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed (ἀλείφω aleipho G218) the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

The other times in the New Testament the word Anointed has been translated is from this word (χρίω chrio G5548)

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed (χρίω chrio G5548) Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,

Acts 4:27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed(χρίω chrio G5548), both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

Acts 10:38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed (χρίω chrio G5548) Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed (χρίω chrio G5548) us is God,

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed (χρίω chrio G5548) You With the oil of joy above Your companions.”

• What's the difference between the wording μυρίζω G3462 and ἀλείφω G218 then χρίω chrio G5548.
• In what context was he anointed?

Answer 1

1. μυρίζω is a verb meaning to apply myrrh as ointment, especially for burial. It occurs only in Mark 14:8.
2. ἀλείφω is a verb meaning to apply oil for the purpose of anointing festively or medicinally. It occurs nine times in the NT: Matt 6:17, Mark 6:13, 16:1, Luke 7:38, 46, John 11:2, 12:3, James 5:14.
3. ἔλαιον is a noun meaning either oil generally or olive oil in particular. It occurs 11 times in the NT: Matt 25:3, 4, 8, Mark 6:13, Luke 7:46, 10:34, 16:6, Heb 1:9, James 5:14, Rev 6:6, 18:13.
4. χρίω is a verb meaning to anoint or consecrate by anointing (hence "Christ" the anointed). It occurs only five times in the NT: Luke 4:18, 27, Acts 10:38, 2 Cor 1:21, Heb 1:9. The verb is always applied to Christ as the anointed.

Note that the meaning of #2 & #4 overlap somewhat.