Are Essential Oils Mentioned In The Bible?

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Essential Oils Mentioned In The Bible?

Are essential oils mentioned in the bible? This is the question I am asking after mentioning the use of essential oils whilst speaking in a video. A couple of people came out with assertions that there was something wrong with using these oils.

No Biblical Mention Of High Concentration Oils/Essential Oils?

So, did the Most High telling us that we should not make essential oils? Let us begin with one of these claims.

I have looked at scripture and I don’t find anything that specifically mentions “high concentration oils/ESSENTIAL oils. Mostly I find that herbs, spices and olive oils are used.

Of course there is somewhere in the bible that mentions high concentration oils. They simply are not called essential oils!

Exo 30:22  Moreover YAHUAH spake unto Moses, saying,
Exo 30:23  Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
Exo 30:24  And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
Exo 30:25  And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

So the combination of spices in this anointing oil is what today we refer to as “essential oil.”

What Are Essential Oils?

But first, let us define essential oils so you see what I mean. This definition below was taken from Wikipedia.

An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove. An essential oil is essential in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant’s fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.[

Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation, often by using steam. Other processes include expression, solvent extraction, sfumatura, absolute oil extraction, resin tapping, wax embedding, and cold pressing. They are used in perfumes, cosmetics, soaps, air fresheners and other products, for flavoring food and drink, and for adding scents to incense and household cleaning products. Source.

So the name “essential oils” is a modern name for oil that is extracted from plants. These are oils that are necessary for the plant’s health. Inside the plant, essential oils act as protectors and attractors. These oils protect the plant against things that could kill it. They also help attract pollinators that help it to grow.

Hence even though the name “essential oils” is a relatively new one, we will show that these oils are used in the scriptures as both medicine and doing service to in the worship of the Most High.

In It For The Money?

But let me start with the simplest claim against the use of essential oils. One person said that he found that the companies who produced them were all in it for the money. but what is Babylon all about? Isn’t the entire world built on “being in it for the money?”

So something is now wrong because the persons who produce it are in it for the money? But that is just the beginning.

Essential Oils Came From Pagan Nations?

Are essential oils found in the bible? Another claim is that essential oils came from pagan nations through their religious and occultic applications. That too is a false claim.

Why?

Incense was burned to the gods of the nations.

Jer 7:9  Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

But incense was also burned to YAHUAH.

Exo 30:1  And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.

What was the incense for the worship of YAHUAH made of? Spices.

Exo 25:6  Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

As you can see from Exodus 25:6, spices were also used to make oils (spices for anointing oil).

So the use of oils for incense alone debunks this pagan origin of essential oils. Bear in mind though, we are not here to debunk, but to share the truth as to the question: “are essential oils mentioned in the bible?”

Essential Oils As Medicine

Now I personally use essential oils as medicine. Realizing how polluted lotions, hair oils and skin creams are, I struggled to find products that were void of harmful and polluted ingredients. Hence I found essential oils a perfect replacement. I could now make my own hair oil and my own skin ointments.

I found immediate results, as my hair was now moisturized and some times I don’t oil it for days, and still no dry scalp. Previously, even when using commercial oils daily, I still encountered dry scalp problems.

My skin was no longer dried out.

Remember, the skin is the largest organ. If it is shown to be unhealthy, this unhealthiness will impact our entire body. Indeed, we tend to pay greater emphasis on what we would call our more important organs. This includes for example, our heart, kidney, liver. But?

1Co 12:21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24  For our comely parts have no need: but Aluah hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Health Benefits Of Essential Oils

Now officially, essential oils have numerous uses. In addition to skin and scalp care, here is a list of some of the multiple health benefits.

1. Help with sleep
2. Relieve stress and anxiety
3. Use in massage therapies
4. Natural deodorants and air fresheners
5. Cleaning agent
6. Pain reliever
7. Weight loss
8. Anti-cancer
9. Aid in Digestion
10. Nails
11. Detoxify
12. Allergies
13. Depression
14. Healthy joints and bones
15. Respiratory Illnesses
16. Mental alertness
17. PMS
18. Circulation
19. Hormones
20. Heart Diseases
21. For babies
22. Motion sickness
23. Burns and wounds
24. Teeth
25. Hair
26. Stretch marks
27. Face
28. Muscles
29. Blood Pressure
30. Uterine conditions

Source: 30 Essential Oil Benefits and Uses.

Essential Oils As Sorcery Of Babylon?

Now in the bible, in Revelation 18:23, it tells us that all nations will be deceived through sorcery.

Rev 18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

G5331
φαρμακεία
pharmakeia
far-mak-i’-ah
From G5332; medication (“pharmacy”), that is, (by extension) magic (literal or figurative): – sorcery, witchcraft.
Total KJV occurrences: 3

It is therefore interesting that someone claimed that essential oils are just another manifestation of the sorceries of Babylon. Here is a statement from this person.

Think on this, why are the BIG GUNS doing this, and as a means of healing? It all boils down to sorcery from Babylon.

We will see what the bible says about this.

Healing Medicines

In the book of Jeremiah, we read of “healing medicines.” What were these medicines? Let us look at an example of what the bible says are for medicines.

Ezk 47:12  And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

The leaf therof for medicine. But how is this medicine derived? From the art of the apothecary.

The Art Of The Apothecary

The Bible speaks of the art of the apothecary. What is that?

Apothecary (/ əˈpɒθəkəri /) is an archaic English term for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms pharmacist and chemist (British English) have taken over this role.

This is the ancient word for physician. Remember, the doctors of those days did not go to UCLA medical school. They were trained in herbs and making concoctions from plants. These are some of the same oils we use today that are called essential oils.

So here is the apothecary making their confections (a complicated creation).

Sir 38:3  The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: and in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.
Sir 38:4  YAHUAH hath created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them.
Sir 38:5  Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?
Sir 38:6  And he hath given men skill, that he might be honoured in his marvellous works.
Sir 38:7  With such doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains.
Sir 38:8  Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; and of his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth,

Bear in mind that a confection is a complicated creation, something put together from varied materials.

Holy Anointing Oil

What is the importance of the art of the apothecary? The Most High mentioned this “art” in his torah…

Exo 30:25  And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.

After the art of the apothecary? The Most High was giving instructions for his people to extract oils for use in his most holy oil!

Lack Of Faith To Use Essential Oils For Medicine?

Now I was told to have faith in the Most High, to not use these oils. Here is the statement.

Ultimately, YHUA is our healer, deliverer, strong tower, our everything. HAVE FAITH!!

But YAHUAH heals us by sending us medicines or providing a physician for us. It could even be someone simply recommending an herbal remedy. Faith without works is dead!

Mat 9:12  But when Yahusha heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Sir 38:9  My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: but pray unto YAHUAH, and he will make thee whole.
Sir 38:10  Leave off from sin, and order thine hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
Sir 38:11  Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour; and make a fat offering, as not being.
Sir 38:12  Then give place to the physician, for YAHUAH hath created him: let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
Sir 38:13  There is a time when in their hands there is good success.

The physician then, was what is called “apothecary.” He used the art of the apothecary, which includes what we today call “essential oils.”

Wrong to Destroy The Plant To Make Oil?

Now one person told me that the destruction of the plant was wrong. Here is the statement sent to me.

The menorah used only the purest of pure olive oil cold pressed by man (essential oils are extracted by distillation, high heat and pressure), sounds like a stressfull process on a plant, similar to adrenechrome extraction. YHUH has given us the plants and leaves for healing, this is so. There are ways which one can use these natural gifts in a righteous way which does not defile the source or product.

Beaten Very Small

But how were they to make the holy anointing oil? Beaten very small.

Exo 30:36  And thou shalt beat (H7833) some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

beaten
H7833
שָׁחַק
shâchaq
shaw-khak’
A primitive root; to comminute (by trituration or attrition): – beat, wear.
Total KJV occurrences: 4

Meaning Of Attrition?
– gradually making something weaker and destroying it, especially the strength or confidence of an enemy by repeatedly attacking it:

So the instruction from Aluah was that it was gradually to make it weaker by beating it!

Make It A Perfume

Additionally, it shall be made a perfume. And how was the perfume to be made?

Tempered together.

Below you will see what this means.

Exo 30:35  And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:

tempered together
H4414
מָלַח
mâlach
maw-lakh’
A primitive root; properly to rub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively to disappear as dust; also (as denominative from H4417) to salt whether internally (to season with salt) or externally (to rub with salt): –    X at all, salt, season, temper together, vanish away.
Total KJV occurrences: 5

Tempered together means being rubbed together, to pulverize it. Now, if that is not plain instructions from the Most high for the destruction of the plant to receive of its oil, I do not know what that is.

By the way, the most popular means of extracting essential oils is through water or steam distillation. That is not even a destruction.

The Word Ointment

Another way to answer the question, “are essential oils found in the bible?” is to look at the word “ointment.” This word gives more validity to the use of essential oils.

Mat 26:7  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment (G3464), and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

ointment
G3464
μύρον
muron
moo’-ron
Probably of foreign origin (compare [H4753] and G4666); “myrrh”, that is, (by implication) perfumed oil: – ointment.
Total KJV occurrences: 14

Did Yahusha Reprimand The Woman For The Use Of The Oil On His Skin (As We Use Also Essential Oils To Do)?

Mat 26:8  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
Mat 26:9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
Mat 26:10  When Yahusha understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

Therefore, there was nothing wrong with these ointments, which are what are called essential oils today. These were precious valuable extractions used in the temple, used  also by individuals as well as doctors for medicine.

Do Not Make It After The Composition Of It

Now here is another statement from one of our viewers. Remember, we are looking at the question; “are essential oils found in the bible?”

The temple oil was also a recipe from YHUH, never to be made by man.

So the assertion here is, that since YAHUAH said the children of Yasharal should not make anything like the holy anointing oil, he was saying do not use essential oils at all?

Exo 30:31  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
Exo 30:32  Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
Exo 30:33  Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.

Look at the scriptures.

He did not say we must not make oils. He said we must not make anything of its composition, to compound nothing like it. That means we can combine oils, but not of the same composition as the holy anointing oil.

So to claim that essential oils are not mentioned in the bible is a false claim. Essential oils simply was not called by that name. However, making oil after the art of the apothecary (as stated in scripture) would be what are called essential oils today.

The Dangers Of Essential Oils

The dialogue we should be having is in regards to the danger of essential oils. What if there is a company that has evil intent beyond just making money?

For example. Some people believe companies may be using hidden ingredients in their oils. That now can be a valid point of discussion.

For me, the safest thing in this regard is not to buy oils that are already mixed. I buy the carrier oil (the base oil that takes up the largest volume, such as olive oil, grapeseed oil or jojoba oil) and add drops of other oils, such as lavender, peppermint, tea tree, citronella or rose oil, for example.

Additionally, it is best to research companies to see where they source their oils. One person told me about a certain company that sources from China. Like them, I have no confidence in using essential oils from China. I do not trust them.

Health Dangers Of Essential Oil Toxicity

Additionally, essential oils can be toxic if swallowed or if we are overexposed to them. Although they have numerous health benefits, some persons may be allergic to some oils, so it is recommended to do a test on a small portion of the skin. Leave it for several hgours and see if there is a rash or other itrritation before using a particular oil.

The symptoms of essential oil toxicity are:

• Seizure (uncontrolled sudden electrical disturbance in the brain).
• Drowsiness (refers to the feeling of sleepiness).
• Coma (refers to a medical condition with prolonged unconsciousness due to any injury).
• Coughing.
• Wheezing (high-pitched sound while breathing).
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea (watery loose stool that occurs more frequently than usual).
• Eye irritation, redness, and pain.

Source.

So it is not about essential oils being unbiblical. It is about trying to avoid the evil of Babylon in these end times. Essential oils are medicines, and like all medicines today, we have to be vigilant to ensure man is not polluting it.

Just as there are companies selling polluted food, there are also companies selling good food. At the same time, we have to ensure that our body does not reject it.

Our task is to find the good oils. That is, until we learn to make our own essential oils. But that is another story.

Are Essential Oils Mentioned In The Bible? A Priori vs A Posteriori

The essential error of the person making these claims is from drawing a conclusion, and then finding things to justify that conclusion. That is called the a priori approach. Here at Just a Word, we use the opposite approach, which is called a posteriori.

We assume no conclusion, but only arrive at one by using scriptures to lead us to the truth. The a priori approach is why there are so many conflicting belifes: every man doing what is right in his own eyes (Deut 12:8).

For more on a priori vs a posteriori, go to our teaching entitled: “How to Properly Interpret Scripture (Precept Upon Precept) : Understanding the Bible 3.”