In biblical times, the term "grease" is not explicitly mentioned in the Scriptures; however, the concept and use of oils and fats, which can be related to grease, are prevalent throughout the Bible. These substances were integral to daily life in ancient Israel and held both practical and symbolic significance.

Biblical Context and Usage

1. Anointing and Consecration: Oils, which can be likened to grease in their consistency and use, were essential in religious rituals. Anointing with oil was a common practice for consecrating priests, kings, and sacred objects. In Exodus 30:25, God instructs Moses to make a sacred anointing oil, a blend of olive oil and spices, for consecrating the Tabernacle and its furnishings: "Prepare from these a holy anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer; it will be a holy anointing oil."

2. Healing and Medicinal Use: Oils were also used for their healing properties. In the New Testament, James 5:14 advises, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord." This practice underscores the belief in the restorative power of oil, akin to the soothing and protective qualities of grease.

3. Symbol of Abundance and Blessing: Oil is frequently associated with prosperity and divine blessing. In Psalm 23:5, the psalmist declares, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Here, the anointing with oil symbolizes God's abundant provision and favor.

4. Lighting and Illumination: Oils were used as fuel for lamps, providing light in homes and places of worship. The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 highlights the importance of oil for keeping lamps burning, symbolizing readiness and spiritual vigilance.

5. Culinary and Domestic Use: In daily life, oils and fats were used in cooking and food preparation. They were essential ingredients in bread-making and other culinary practices, reflecting their role in sustenance and hospitality.

Symbolic and Theological Significance

In a broader theological context, oil often represents the Holy Spirit's presence and work. The anointing with oil is a physical manifestation of spiritual truths, signifying empowerment, purification, and sanctification. The use of oil in various biblical narratives points to God's provision, care, and the anointing of His chosen servants.

While the Bible does not specifically mention "grease," the related concept of oil permeates the Scriptures, illustrating its multifaceted role in ancient life and its enduring spiritual symbolism.1. (n.) Animal fat, as tallow or lard, especially when in a soft state; oily or unctuous matter of any kind.

2. (n.) An inflammation of a horse's heels, suspending the ordinary greasy secretion of the part, and producing dryness and scruffiness, followed by cracks, ulceration, and fungous excrescences.

3. (v. t.) To smear, anoint, or daub, with grease or fat; to lubricate; as, to grease the wheels of a wagon.

4. (v. t.) To bribe; to corrupt with presents.

5. (v. t.) To cheat or cozen; to overreach.

6. (v. t.) To affect (a horse) with grease, the disease.

GREASE

gres (chelebh, "fat," "suet"): The word occurs once in the metaphorical sense "prosperous," then dull, gross, brutal: "Their heart is as fat as grease" (Psalm 119:70; compare Isaiah 6:10, and see FAT).

3045. liparos -- oily, fatty, fig. rich
... rich NASB Word Usage luxurious (1). dainty, luxurious. From lipos (grease); fat,
ie (figuratively) sumptuous -- dainty. (lipara) -- 1 Occurrence. 3044, 3045. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3045.htm - 6k

4509. rhupos -- filth
... 4509 (a masculine noun) -- properly, "grease-filth," soiling all it touches;
(figuratively) uncleanness that results from doing what is morally unfit, ie what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4509.htm - 6k

2459. cheleb -- fat
... best, fatness, finest, grease, marrow. Or cheleb {khay'-leb}; from an unused
root meaning to be fat; fat, whether literally or figuratively ...
/hebrew/2459.htm - 6k

8081. shemen -- fat, oil
... From shaman; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed);
figuratively, richness -- anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil((-ed ...
/hebrew/8081.htm - 6k

4229. machah -- to wipe, wipe out
... A primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to
smooth (as if with oil), ie Grease or make fat; also to touch, ie Reach to ...
/hebrew/4229.htm - 5k

Incidents of Childhood
... As soon as the tallow cooled, we had candles. Sometimes when we had no
candles, we used what was called a grease lamp. This was ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter iii incidents of childhood.htm

It was Friday Night, and Diamond, Like the Rest of the Household.. ...
... "I'm not denying there was a puffy look about your off-pastern. But my belief is,
it wasn't even grease"-it was fat.". ... "You grease-tub! Oh! my teeth and tail! ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 32 it was friday.htm

The Invitation: to Tom Hughes
... Eat our bread and bacon, Smoke the pipe of peace, And, ere we be drowsy, Give
our boots a grease. Homer's heroes did so, Why not such as we? ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the invitation to tom hughes.htm

The Red King
... wherever he rode. They roused a hart, that grimly brace, A hart of ten, a
hart of grease, Fled over against the kinges place. The sun ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the red king.htm

Psalm 119 Teth, the 9Th Part.
... with my whole heart will I. ^70Their hearts, through worldly ease and wealth,. as
fat as grease they be: But in thy holy law I take. delight continually. ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 119 teth the 9th.htm

The Power of the Holy Ghost
... Can he touch the heart? David said, "Your hearts are as fat as grease." Aye, that
is quite true; and we cannot get through so much grease at all. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the power of the holy.htm

The Heart: a Gift for God
... I have heard mistresses tell servants when polishing tables that elbow-grease was
a fine thing for such work; and so it is. Hard work is a splendid thing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the heart a gift for.htm

Pagans.
... earth, between which was first laid fire-wood, very dry and combustible; upon this
was put a quantity of dry straw, or reeds, besmeared with grease: this was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/pagans.htm

The Apostle of the Gentiles.
... Many Christians likewise perished; thrown to wild beasts, or smeared with grease,
and then slowly burnt, to light the Romans at their horrible sports; but to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxii the apostle of.htm

The City of God
... on the contrary, the gods are unclean devils who fill their bellies with lust and
obscenities, as if they were hankering for the blood and grease of sacrifices ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/ii the city of god.htm

Grease (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To smear, anoint, or daub, with grease or fat; to lubricate; as, to grease
the wheels of a wagon. ... 6. (vt) To affect (a horse) with grease, the disease. ...
/g/grease.htm - 7k

Greasy (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (superl.) Composed of, or characterized by, grease; oily; unctuous; as,
a greasy dish. 2. (superl.) Smeared or defiled with grease. ...
/g/greasy.htm - 7k

Gross (12 Occurrences)
... See GREASE. Multi-Version Concordance Gross (12 Occurrences). ... (See JPS). Psalms
119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law. ...
/g/gross.htm - 11k

Grazing (6 Occurrences)

/g/grazing.htm - 8k

Liquor (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A solution of a medicinal substance in water; -- distinguished from tincture
and aqua. 3. (vt) To supply with liquor. 4. (vt) To grease. Int. ...
/l/liquor.htm - 9k

Marrow (5 Occurrences)
... mar'-o (moach, chelebh, shiqquy, machah, "to make fat," "to grease"; muelos): Marrow
is the nourisher and strengthener of the bones; it is said to moisten the ...
/m/marrow.htm - 9k

Anoint (59 Occurrences)
... East. It originated from the relief from the effect of the sun that was
experienced in rubbing the body with oil or grease. Among ...
/a/anoint.htm - 31k

Anointed (132 Occurrences)
... East. It originated from the relief from the effect of the sun that was
experienced in rubbing the body with oil or grease. Among ...
/a/anointed.htm - 41k

Bottle (28 Occurrences)
... When leather bags are sewed up the joinings are smeared with grease, as the
skin-bottles of all sorts are, as they grow older, lest the water, or other liquid ...
/b/bottle.htm - 23k

Seam (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Grease; tallow; lard. 2. (n.) The fold or
line formed by sewing together two pieces of cloth or leather. ...
/s/seam.htm - 8k

Grease: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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