Job 29:6 — Word Study
WLCבִּרְחֹ֣ץ הֲלִיכַ֣י בְּחֵמָ֑ה וְצ֥וּר יָצ֥וּק עִ֝מָּדִ֗י פַּלְגֵי־ שָֽׁמֶן׃
BSAwhen my stepshâlîyk△ [walks, journeys] were bathedrâchats [washed, cleansed] in creamchemʼâh [butter, curd, richness] ◂and the rocktsûwr [firm foundation, refuge] poured outtsûwq▸ [uttered, flowed] for meʻimmâd streamspeleg [rivers, channels] of oilshemen [olive oil]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| בִּרְחֹ֣ץ | when bathed | Preposition, verb qal infinitive construct common |
| הֲלִיכַ֣י | steps my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| בְּחֵמָ֑ה | in curd | Preposition, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְצ֥וּר | and a rock | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| יָצ֥וּק | it poured out | Verb, Qal, participle (passive) masculine singular |
| עִ֝מָּדִ֗י | beside me | Preposition, suffix |
| פַּלְגֵי־ | streams of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| שָֽׁמֶן׃ | oil | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! |
| KJV | When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; |
| ASV | When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil! |
| YLT | When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me rivulets of oil. |
| WEB | when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me, |
| BBE | When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me. |
Where they part company is in the specific imagery used, but all translations convey the richness of Job's experience.
The verse contains two main clauses connected by a conjunction, emphasizing the richness of Job's experience.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectוְ
verbצוּק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 8 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 29:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on His Former Glorygenerated
Job 29:6 captures Job's nostalgic remembrance of a time when he experienced great favor from God, symbolized by his steps being bathed in cream and the rock pouring out streams of oil for him. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job contrasts his past blessings with his current suffering, emphasizing the stark difference in his circumstances.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 20:17 | He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. |
| 2 | Genesis 49:11 | He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 32:13 | He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag, |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 33:24 | And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil. |
| 5 | Psalm 81:16 | But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בִּרְחֹ֣ץ, bir.Chotzgenerated
The Hebrew word רָחַץ (rachatz) means to wash or bathe, indicating a thorough cleansing. It is used in various forms throughout the Old Testament, often in the context of ritual purity, such as in Exodus 30:19, where priests must wash before entering the temple.
In this verse, it conveys the idea of Job's steps being not just physically clean but also symbolically enriched, suggesting a life of abundance and divine favor. The use of the infinitive construct emphasizes the action of washing as a continuous state of being.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the imagery of Job's steps being bathed in cream, with all versions using similar phrases.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb יָצ֥וּק, it poured out, which describes the action of the rock. The structure includes a prepositional phrase indicating the state of Job's steps and a noun phrase that serves as the subject, emphasizing the richness of the imagery.
The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the abundance Job experienced, with the verb coming towards the end, highlighting the outcome of the actions described.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בִּרְחֹ֣ץ as ἐξέοντό, which conveys a similar sense of pouring out or flowing. This choice reflects a continuity in the imagery of abundance, though the Greek may not carry the same connotations of washing as the Hebrew.
This translation choice shows a slight narrowing of the focus from the act of washing to the result of abundance, indicating a shift in emphasis from personal purity to divine provision.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 29:6 describes a time when Job felt blessed, with his steps being bathed in cream and the rock pouring out streams of oil for him. This imagery represents a life of abundance and divine favor, contrasting sharply with his current suffering.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing a time of prosperity and abundance, where even his movements were accompanied by richness and favor.
Oil symbolizes richness and blessing in the ancient context, indicating that Job experienced divine favor and provision during that time.
The rock represents a firm foundation and refuge, suggesting that Job's security and blessings came from God, who is often referred to as a rock in the Scriptures.
Job's reflection serves as a reminder of the highs and lows of life, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and remembering times of blessing even amidst current struggles.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are some moments in my life when I felt abundant blessings, similar to Job's experience?
- How can I recognize and appreciate the 'streams of oil' in my life today?
- In what ways can I find comfort in the idea of God as my rock during difficult times?
- How does remembering past blessings help me navigate current challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Gregory the Dialogist comments on this verse, interpreting it in relation to Christ and the Church, highlighting the unity of Christ as the Head and the Church as the Body.
When I washed my feet with butter. And the rock poured me out rivers of oil. Whereas we have already frequently said that Christ and the Church are one person, He, that is to say, the Head of that Body, and She the Body of that Head;Early Church Fathers on Job 29 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 29:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhen I washed my steps with butter,.... Not the steps of his house or palace; for to have done this, or his servants by his orders, as it would have been a very great impropriety, so a piece of great
Read John Gill on Job 29 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhen I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; Butter - rather, cream-literally, thick milk. Wherever I turned my steps the richest milk and oil flowed in to me abundantly. Image from pastoral life.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 29 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. When I abounded in all sorts of blessings; which is oft signified by this or the like phrases, as ; when I had such numerous herds of cattle, and consequently such plenty of butter, that if I had needed it, or been pleased so to use it, I might have washed my feet with it; when not only fruitful fields, but even barren and rocky places, (such as that part of Arabia was where Job lived,) yielded me olive trees and oil in great plenty. See Poole "".
Read Matthew Poole on Job 29 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;Ver. 6. When I washed my steps with butter] When I had of everything God’ s plenty, as they call it. Butter enough to have washed my feet in, had I been so proud and profuse. And oil great store, insomuch as that rivers thereof seemed to flow for me from those rocks and craggy mountains in Arabia Petraea, where some say Job dwelt. Lavater, upon the text, tells us of rocks that yield oil, and of petroleum or petrelaeum , a sovereign ointment (very good against various diseases) that issueth out of rocks, whence also it hath its name (not unlike that berry which the French call, Uva de Spine, the grape of a…
Read John Trapp on Job 29 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 6. Washed my steps with butter] See Clarke on Job 20:17.
Read AdamClarke on Job 29 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges6. The second, though a less, element of his happiness was his overflowing abundance. when I washed my steps] Or, when my steps were washed in butter, i. e. bathed—a figure for the overflowing abundance amidst which he walked. the rock poured me out] As marg., poured out with me or beside me. The unfruitful rock poured out rivers of oil beside him; his blessings were so abundant that they came unsought and seemed above nature.
Read Cambridge on Job 29 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhen I washed my steps with butter - On the word rendered “butter,” see the notes at Isaiah 7:15. It properly means curdled milk. Umbreit renders it, Sahne; cream. Noyes, milk, and so Wemyss.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 29 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible6. When I washed, etc. — Rather, when my steps were bathed in cream.Butter — Milk, probably curdled; according to others, cream. See note Job 20:17.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 29 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
when my steps were bathed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil!
Tyndale line
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!
When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
Strictly literal
When my steps were bathed in milk, and the rock poured out beside me rivers of oil! ...
When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me rivulets of oil.
When washing my goings with butter, || And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
From the Latin
When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
Simplified
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text aligns with the Septuagint in general meaning, though the word order differs. The Septuagint matches 6 of the 8 words in the Hebrew text, indicating a close relationship between the two versions, despite the variations in structure.
בִּרְחֹ֣ץ הֲלִיכַ֣י בְּחֵמָ֑ה וְצ֥וּר יָצ֥וּק עִ֝מָּדִ֗י פַּלְגֵי־ שָֽׁמֶן׃
6 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 29:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רָחַץ (rachats) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wash or bathe. It covers various forms of washing, including washing oneself and being washed. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical forms, such as Qal, Pual, and Hithpael, which reflect actions of washing and being washed. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreement.
רָחַץ 72 vb. wash, wash off, away, bathe
Qal 69
trans. wash (with water)
intrans. wash, bathe (oneself)
Pu. be washed
Hithp. if I washed myself in snow
base
H7364 רָחַץ wash, wash off, away, bathe
7364 rachats raw-khats'
a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a
thing):--bathe (self), wash (self).
רָחַץ (ra.chats) — to wash: wash.
: wash
1) to wash, wash off, wash away, bathe
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to wash, wash off, wash away
1a2) to wash, bathe (oneself)
1b) (Pual) to be washed
1c) (Hithpael) to wash oneself
2a) (Hithpael Passive) to be regarded clean, trustworthy
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a — Preposition · verb qal infinitive construct commonHR/Vqcc
הָלִיךְ (*haliyk*) means 'step' and is derived from the root word for walking. It primarily refers to a step, as noted in Job 29:6, where it appears in the plural form.
[הָלִיךְ] n.[m.] step, only pl. sf. Jb 29:6
ref
H1978 הָלִיךְ
1978 haliyk haw-leek'
from 1980; a walk, i.e. (by implication) a step:--step.
see HEBREW for 01980
הָלִיךְ (ha.likh) — step.
step
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
חֶמְאָה (chem'ah) refers to curd or butter, while חֵמָה (chemah) encompasses a range of meanings including heat, fever, venom, and burning anger, applicable to both humans and divine contexts. The entries highlight its use in describing emotional states and physical conditions, with specific mention of its appearance in Daniel's vision.
חֶמְאָה n.f. curd
base
חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) 121 n.f. heat, rage
heat:
fever
venom, poison
burning anger, rage:
of man
of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
of God
base
H2529a חֶמְאָה curd H2529b חֵמָה, (once חֵמָא) heat, rage . heat: . fever
. venom, poison
. burning anger, rage: . of man
. of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
. of God
2529 chem'ah khem-aw'
or (shortened) chemah {khay-maw'}; from the same root as
2346; curdled milk or cheese:--butter.
see HEBREW for 02346
חֶמְאָה (chem.ah) — curd.
curd, butter
חֵמָה (che.mah) — heat.
1) heat
1a) fever
1b) venom, poison
2) burning anger, rage
2a) of man
2b) of the he-goat in Daniel's vision
2a) of God
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absoluteHR/Ncfsa
צוּר (tsur) means rock or cliff, often referring to a sharp rock or boulder. It can also signify a refuge or an edge, and is used in various contexts, including references to God as a rock. The word is built from the root associated with strong, compressed formations, and it appears in different forms, such as in the phrase 'rock of God.'
צוּר n.m. rock, cliff
base
H6697 צוּר rock, cliff
6697 tsuwr tsoor
or tsur {tsoor}; from 6696; properly, a cliff (or sharp rock,
as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a
refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God
(one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong. See also
1049.
see HEBREW for 06696
see HEBREW for 01049
צוּר (tsur) — Rocks (of Goats).
Combined with ya.el (יָעֵל "Wildgoats'" H3277)
This name means rock, cliff
צוּר (tsur) — rock.
1) rock, cliff
1a) rocky wall, cliff
1b) rock (with flat surface)
1c) block of stone, boulder
1d) rock (specific)
1e) rock (of God)
1f) rock (of heathen gods) n pr dei
1g) Rock
Aramaic equivalent: tur (טוּר "mountain" H2906)
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
rok ((1) cela`; (2) tsur (3) challamish, "flint"; compare Arabic khalanbus, "flint"; (4) kephim (Job 30:6; Jer 4:29); compare Kephas, "Cephas" = Petros, "Peter" (Joh 1:42 the King James Version and the Revised Version margin); (5) petra):
1. Names:
Tsur and cela` are the words most often found, and there is no well-defined distinction between them. They are frequently coupled together in the parallelism which is characteristic of the Hebrew writers: e.g.
"Be thou to me a strong rock (tsur),
A house of defense to save me.
For thou art my rock (tsela) and my fortress"
(Ps 31:2,3).
"He clave rocks (tsur) in the wilderness,
And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Rock
(Heb. tsur), employed as a symbol of God in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 2:2; 2 Sam. 22:3; Isa. 17:10; Ps. 28:1; 31:2,3; 89:26; 95:1); also in the New Testament (Matt. 16:18; Rom. 9:33; 1 Cor. 10:4). In Dan. 2:45 the Chaldaic form of the Hebrew word is translated “mountain.” It ought to be translated “rock,” as in Hab. 1:12 in the Revised Version. The “rock” from which the stone is cut there signifies the…
צוּק (tsuq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to pour out or melt. It is derived from a primitive root that suggests the idea of narrowness, often used in contexts of smelting or pouring. The entries consistently emphasize its application in both literal and figurative senses.
[צוּק] vb. pour out, melt
base
H6694 [צוּק] pour out, melt
6694 tsuwq tsook
a primitive root (identical with 6693 through the idea of
narrowness (of orifice)); to pour out, i.e. (figuratively)
smelt, utter:--be molten, pour.
see HEBREW for 06693
צוּק (tsuq) — to pour.
(Qal) to pour out, melt
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · participle (passive) masculine singularHVqsmsa
The Hebrew word עִם (*im*) means 'with' and is used to indicate companionship, aid, or joint actions. It can also imply opposition in contexts of contest or combat. The entries suggest a range of meanings, including proximity, possession, and metaphorical uses, such as 'in spite of.' There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons.
עִם prep. with
of fellowship and companionship
of aid
Of actions done jointly with another
If the common action be of the nature of a contest or combat, with in the sense of against
Of dealing with a person, or of the relation in which one stands with, or towards, another
Of a common lot together with the wicked
Of equality or resemblance generally aid
Of time, as long as
Of a locality, close to, beside
Of persons, עִם is spec.
in the house or family or service of
In possession of
In the custody or care of
Beside = except
With = friendly with
Idiom. of a thought or purpose present with one
Metaph. together with = in spite of, notwithstanding
base
H5978 עִם with
5978 `immad im-mawd'
prol. for 5973; along with:--against, by, from, + me, +
mine, of, + that I take, unto, upon, with(-in.)
see HEBREW for 05973
עִמָּדִי (im.mad) — with me.
with
A grammatical form of im (עִם "with" H5973A)
§ 1) with
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
פֶּ֫לֶג (peleg) refers to a small channel of water, such as a stream or canal. It is built from the root meaning 'to cleave' or 'split.' The term is used in contexts related to irrigation and water flow.
פֶּ֫לֶג n.m. (cleft) channel, (artif.) canal
base
H6388 פֶּ֫לֶג (cleft) channel, (artif.) canal
6388 peleg peh'-leg
from 6385; a rill (i.e. small channel of water, as in
irrigation):--river, stream.
see HEBREW for 06385
פֶּ֫לֶג (pe.leg) — stream.
channel, canal
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
שֶׁ֫מֶן (shemen) refers to fat or oil, particularly olive oil, and includes meanings related to richness and anointing. It is derived from the root word for grease and can also metaphorically describe fertile land. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts like medicinal applications and anointing.
שֶׁ֫מֶן 192 n.m. fat, oil
base
H8081 שֶׁ֫מֶן fat, oil
8081 shemen sheh'-men
from 8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive,
often perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat
(things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, + pine.
see HEBREW for 08080
שֶׁ֫מֶן (she.men) — oil.
1) fat, oil
1a) fat, fatness
1b) oil, olive oil
1b1) as staple, medicament or unguent
1b2) for anointing
1c) fat (of fruitful land, valleys) (metaph)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
oil (shemen; elaion):
1. Terms
2. Production and Storage
3. Uses
(1) As a Commodity of Exchange
(2) As a Cosmetic
(3) As a Medicine
(4) As a Food
(5) As an Illuminant
(6) In Religious Rites
(a) Consecration
(b) Offerings
(c) Burials
4. Figurative Uses
Shemen, literally, "fat," corresponds to the common Arabic senin of similar meaning, although now applied to boiled butter fat.
1. Terms:
Another Hebrew word, zayith (zeth), "olive," occurs with shemen in several passages (Ex 27:20; 30:24; Le 24:2). The corresponding Arabic zeit, a contraction of zeitun, which is the name for the olive tree as well as the fruit, is now applied to oils in general, to distinguish them from solid fats. Zeit usually means olive oil, unless some qualifying name indicates another oil. A corresponding use was made of…
Oil
Only olive oil seems to have been used among the Hebrews. It was used for many purposes: for anointing the body or the hair (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (
Of the numerous substances, animal and vegetable, which were known to the ancients as yielding oil, the olive berry is the one of which most frequent mention is made in the Scriptures. Gathering , --The olive berry was either gathered by hand or shaken off carefully with a light reed or stick. Pressing . --In order to make oil the fruit, was either bruised in a mortar crushed in a press loaded with wood or stones, ground in a mill, or trodden with the feet. The "beaten" oil of (Exodus 27:20; 29:40; Leviticus 24:2; Numbers 28:6) was probably made by bruising in a mortar, It was used-- (1) As food. Dried wheat, boiled with either butter or oil, but generally the former, is a common dish for all classes in Syria. (
Was employed from the earliest periods in the east, not only for the purpose of consecration, but to anoint the head, the beard, and the whole person in daily life, Ge 28:18. See ANOINTING. It was also universally used for food, Eze 16:13. Fresh and sweet olive oil was greatly preferred to butter and animal fat as a seasoning for food, and to this day in Syria almost every kind of food is cooked with oil. It had a place also among the meat-offerings in the temple, being usually mixed with the meal of the oblation, Le 5:11 6:21. For lamps, also, pure olive oil was regarded as the best, and was used in illuminating the tabernacle. These many uses for oil made the culture of the olive-tree an extensive and lucrative business,