In biblical contexts, the term "smear" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often associated with the act of spreading or applying a substance, as well as with the act of defamation or slander. The concept of smearing is present in various forms throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both physical actions and moral implications.

Literal Use:

1. Anointing and Consecration: In the Old Testament, smearing is often related to the anointing process, where oil is applied to individuals or objects as a sign of consecration and sanctification. For instance, in Exodus 29:7, God instructs Moses regarding the consecration of Aaron and his sons: "Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head." The act of smearing oil symbolizes the setting apart of priests for holy service.

2. Ritual Purity: The application of substances for purification purposes is another literal use of smearing. In Leviticus 14:15-18, the priest is instructed to use oil in the cleansing ritual for a person healed of a skin disease: "The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it into his left palm, dip his right finger into the oil in his left palm, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD."

Metaphorical Use:

1. Slander and Defamation: The metaphorical use of "smear" is often associated with false accusations and slander. In Psalm 109:3, the psalmist laments the actions of his adversaries: "They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause." This reflects the destructive power of words used to tarnish a person's reputation unjustly.

2. Moral Corruption: Smearing can also symbolize moral corruption or the tainting of one's character. In the prophetic literature, the imagery of smearing is used to describe the spiritual and moral decay of Israel. For example, in Ezekiel 22:28, the false prophets are criticized: "Her prophets whitewash these deeds with false visions and lying divinations, saying, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says’—when the LORD has not spoken."

Theological Implications:

The concept of smearing, whether through anointing or slander, carries significant theological implications. Anointing with oil represents the Holy Spirit's work in setting apart individuals for God's purposes, highlighting themes of holiness and divine calling. Conversely, the metaphorical use of smearing as slander underscores the destructive nature of sin and the importance of truth and integrity in the life of a believer.

In the New Testament, the call to live a life free from slander and deceit is emphasized. Believers are encouraged to speak truthfully and to build one another up, as seen in Ephesians 4:29: "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen."

Overall, the biblical understanding of "smear" encompasses both the sacred act of anointing and the sinful act of defamation, each carrying profound spiritual significance.1. (n.) To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil.

2. (n.) To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, to be smeared with infamy.

3. (n.) A fat, oily substance; ointment.

4. (n.) Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.

1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate
... 1813 (from 1537 , "wholly out from," intensifying 218 , "smear") -- properly, to
rub (smear) , ie remove (wipe away); obliterate; remove from a previous state ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1813.htm - 7k

218. aleipho -- anoint.
... 218 -- properly, to rub or smear olive oil on the body. 218 () is the ordinary
term used for anointing the body with (olive) oil. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/218.htm - 7k

5548. chrio -- to anoint
... Probably akin to chraomai through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil,
ie (by implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service -- anoint. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5548.htm - 7k

631. apomasso -- to wipe off
... wipe off. Middle voice from apo and masso (to squeeze, knead, smear); to scrape
away -- wipe off. see GREEK apo. (apomassometha) -- 1 Occurrence. 630, 631. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/631.htm - 6k

1908. epereazo -- to revile
... to intimidate by using threats and false accusations "tailor-made" to the situation,
ie under-handed tactics "customized" to smear someone's reputation (revile ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1908.htm - 7k

2025. epichrio -- to spread on, ie to anoint
... anoint. From epi and chrio; to smear over -- anoint. see GREEK epi. see GREEK chrio.
(epechrisen) -- 2 Occurrences. 2024, 2025. epichrio. 2026 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2025.htm - 6k

2950. taphal -- to smear, plaster over, stick, glue
... taphal. 2951 . to smear, plaster over, stick, glue. Transliteration: taphal Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-fal') Short Definition: forged. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2950.htm - 6k

4886. mashach -- to smear, anoint
... 4885, 4886. mashach. 4887 . to smear, anoint. Transliteration: mashach Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-shakh') Short Definition: anointed. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4886.htm - 6k

2560b. chamar -- to cover or smear with asphalt
... 2560a, 2560b. chamar. 2560c . to cover or smear with asphalt. Transliteration:
chamar Short Definition: covered. Word Origin denominative ...
/hebrew/2560b.htm - 5k

8602. taphel -- tasteless, unseasoned
... From an unused root meaning to smear; plaster (as gummy) or slime; (figuratively)
frivolity -- foolish things, unsavoury, untempered. 8601, 8602. ...
/hebrew/8602.htm - 5k

5480. cuwk -- to pour (in anointing), anoint
... anoint self, at all A primitive root; properly, to smear over (with oil), ie Anoint --
anoint (self), X at all. 5479, 5480. cuwk. 5480a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5480.htm - 5k

2902. tuach -- to overspread, overlay, coat, besmear
... daub, overlay, plaster, smut. A primitive root; to smear, especially with lime --
daub, overlay, plaister, smut. 2901, 2902. tuach. 2903 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/2902.htm - 6k

2560. chamar -- to ferment, boil or foam up
... A primitive root; properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow
(with redness); as denominative (from chemar) to smear with pitch -- daub, befoul ...
/hebrew/2560.htm - 5k

The Burning ??sculapius; Tricks with Fire.
... 251] and nitre and myrrh, along with vinegar, he wash them in brine frequently,
he is not scorched: and he does not burn his feet, provided he smear them with ...
/.../chapter xxxiii the burning aesculapius tricks.htm

Method of Poisoning Goats.
... And if one smear [243] the ears of goats over with cerate, they say that they expire
a little afterwards, by having their breathing obstructed. ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxxi method of poisoning goats.htm

Roots
... "How could I possibly break my Caste?". "And continue to smear Siva's sign
on your forehead?". "That is indeed part of my Caste.". ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter viii roots.htm

Christ's Flesh Perfectly Natural, Like Our Own None of the ...
... Would any man have dared to touch even with his little finger, the body of Christ,
if it had been of an unusual nature; [7076] or to smear His face with ...
/.../ on the flesh of christ/chapter ix christs flesh perfectly natural.htm

Heretics Appeal to Scripture that they May More Easily Succeed in ...
... They do, in fact, what nurses do when they would prepare some bitter draught for
children; they smear the edge of the cup all round with honey, that the ...
/.../vincent/the commonitory of vincent of lerins/chapter xxv heretics appeal to.htm

He Refutes Another Argument of Nestorius, in which He Tried to ...
... the Divine nature, and that the devil dragged this down and shattered it, and that
God grieved over His image as an Emperor over his statue, you smear (so to ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter vi he refutes another.htm

Hebrews xi. 28-31
... posts. Moses said, Smear, and they smeared, and were confident. And you,
having the Blood of the Lamb Himself, are ye not confident? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvii hebrews xi 28-31.htm

Heresy Compared to -1 the Stormy Ocean, -2 the Rocks of the Sirens ...
... And my advice to my readers is to adopt a similar expedient, viz., either on account
of their infirmity to smear their ears with wax, and sail (straight on ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter i heresy compared to -1.htm

Letter x. To a Widow.
... make it feed with them. Then they smear its wings with sweet oil, and let
it go and join the rest outside. Then the scent of that ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter x to a widow.htm

Pythagoras; his Cosmogony; Rules of his Sect; Discoverer of ...
... mentions also another clearer instance to be this: if, when the bean is blossoming,
we take the bean and its flower, and deposit them in a jar, smear this over ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter ii pythagoras his cosmogony rules.htm

Smear (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous,
or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. ...Smear (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/smear.htm - 7k

Daub (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud, etc.; to plaster;
to bedaub; to besmear. ... 6. (vi) To smear; to play the flatterer. ...
/d/daub.htm - 8k

Paint (3 Occurrences)
... PAINT. pant (from Old French peinctre, frequentative of peindre, Latin pingo, "to
paint"): (1) From Hebrew verb mashach, "to smear," "to anoint," "to paint ...
/p/paint.htm - 10k

Smashing (9 Occurrences)

/s/smashing.htm - 9k

Oil (281 Occurrences)
... By extension, any substance of an oily consistency; as, oil of vitriol. 2. (vt)
To smear or rub over with oil; to lubricate with oil; to anoint with oil. Int. ...
/o/oil.htm - 60k

Latch (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To smear; to anoint. 2. (n.) That which
fastens or holds; a lace; a snare. 3. (n.) A movable piece ...
/l/latch.htm - 7k

Lime (4 Occurrences)
... cement, plastering, mortar, etc. 6. (vt) To smear with a viscous substance,
as birdlime. 7. (vt) To entangle; to ensnare. 8. (vt) To ...
/l/lime.htm - 11k

Gum (3 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To smear with gum; to close with gum; to unite or stiffen by gum or
a gumlike substance; to make sticky with a gumlike substance. ...
/g/gum.htm - 8k

Grease (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To smear, anoint, or daub, with grease or fat; to lubricate; as, to grease
the wheels of a wagon. 4. (vt) To bribe; to corrupt with presents. ...
/g/grease.htm - 7k

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... cooling. 12. (vt) To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax
a thread or a table. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WAX. ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

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