ἐγχρίω

Pronunciation Guide: eng-khree’-o (with the ‘ch’ pronounced as in the Scottish ‘loch’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1472: The Greek verb ἐγχρίω (egchriō) literally means “to rub in” or “to anoint by rubbing in,” specifically referring to the application of a salve or ointment into the eyes. In biblical context, it appears only once in Revelation 3:18, where it carries profound spiritual significance of divine healing for spiritual blindness. It conveys the action of thoroughly applying a medicinal substance directly into the affected area, emphasizing both the thoroughness of application and its healing purpose.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Components: Combination of ἐν (en, “in/into”) + χρίω (chriō, “to anoint”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek, with classical Greek medical usage
• Primary Usage: Medical terminology in instructional contexts
• Biblical Occurrence: Single instance in prophetic literature (Revelation 3:18)
• Voice and Mood: Middle voice, aorist tense, imperative mood

ἐγχρίω Morphology:

• ἐγχρίω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I rub in/anoint
• ἐγχρῖσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to rub in/anoint
• ἐγχρῖσον (aorist active imperative, 2nd person singular) – rub in!/anoint! (command)
• ἔγχρισαι (aorist middle imperative, 2nd person singular) – anoint yourself! (the form used in Revelation 3:18)

Origin & History

The verb ἐγχρίω has a specialized history in ancient Greek medical literature. Hippocrates (460-370 BCE) used this term in his medical treatises to describe the application of medicinal salves, particularly for eye ailments. In his work “On Diseases,” he prescribes various eye ointments to be “rubbed in” (ἐγχρίω) for specific ocular conditions. The precision of this term is notable—it doesn’t simply mean “to apply” but connotes a careful, thorough rubbing motion that ensures the medicine penetrates the affected area.

The Septuagint (LXX) does not employ this specific compound verb, though the root verb χρίω appears frequently in ceremonial and royal anointing contexts. This makes the New Testament usage in Revelation particularly striking, as it draws on established medical terminology rather than ceremonial language. Galen (129-210 CE), the influential Greek physician, later continued using ἐγχρίω in his medical texts, confirming its technical specificity in ancient ophthalmology. This medical context provides crucial background for understanding Christ’s prescription to the Laodicean church.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Medical Application – The methodical rubbing of medicinal salve into the eyes to treat blindness or visual impairment
• Spiritual Application – The divine remedy applied to cure spiritual blindness, restoring discernment and spiritual perception
• Transformative Action – A deliberate, participatory healing process requiring the recipient’s active involvement

ἐγχρίω Translation Options:

• “Anoint your eyes” – Captures the ceremonial aspect but may miss the specific medical nuance of rubbing in
• “Apply eye salve” – Communicates the medical context but loses some of the intensive sense of the Greek prefix ἐν (en)
• “Rub ointment into your eyes” – Most precisely conveys both the action and intensity implied in the original Greek
• “Treat your eyes with salve” – Emphasizes the medicinal purpose while implying the application method

Biblical Usage

The verb ἐγχρίω appears only once in the entire New Testament, making it a hapax legomenon (single occurrence word). Its solitary appearance in Revelation 3:18 occurs in Christ’s message to the lukewarm Laodicean church. This specificity is significant when we consider that Laodicea was renowned in the ancient world for its medical school that specialized in ophthalmology and for producing a famous eye salve called “Phrygian powder.” The Laodiceans would have immediately recognized this reference to their famous local product.

The context of this single usage is Christ’s counsel to a spiritually blind church that ironically prided itself on its vision and insight. The Lord’s command to “anoint your eyes with eye salve so that you may see” employs deliberate irony—the city known for healing others’ physical eyes is itself spiritually blind. This medical metaphor serves as a powerful rebuke and invitation to spiritual healing that would have resonated deeply with the original audience.

• “I advise you to buy from Me… eye salve to anoint [ἐγχρῖσαι] your eyes so that you may see.” Revelation 3:18

Cultural Insights

Laodicea was situated in the Lycus Valley of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and was famous for three primary industries: banking, textiles (particularly black wool), and medicine. The city’s medical school was renowned throughout the Roman Empire, particularly for its eye treatments. Archaeological evidence has revealed that Laodicean physicians created a special eye salve from a mixture of minerals and herbs, pressed into small tablets that were dissolved and applied to the eyes. This salve, known as “kollyrium” (κολλύριον) or “Phrygian powder,” was exported throughout the Mediterranean world.

What makes Christ’s use of ἐγχρίω particularly striking is that He recommends His divine eye salve to a community that prided itself on treating others’ eye conditions. This creates a powerful cultural irony: the “physicians” themselves need healing. Furthermore, the application method described by ἐγχρίω was quite uncomfortable—rubbing medicine directly into the eyes caused temporary stinging and blurred vision before eventual healing occurred. This physical discomfort parallels the spiritual process Christ was prescribing: the painful recognition of one’s true condition before restoration could take place. The Laodiceans, who were accustomed to administering this uncomfortable treatment to others, were now being told they needed to experience it themselves.

Theological Significance

The appearance of ἐγχρίω in Revelation 3:18 carries profound theological implications regarding spiritual discernment and divine healing. Christ’s prescription of eye salve reveals that spiritual blindness is a medical condition requiring treatment, not merely ignorance requiring information. This diagnosis challenges our tendency to intellectualize faith—true spiritual vision isn’t achieved through mere knowledge acquisition but through a healing encounter with the Great Physician Himself.

The middle voice imperative form ἔγχρισαι (“anoint yourself”) is particularly significant theologically. It indicates that while Christ provides the remedy, He invites our participation in the healing process. This reflects the divine-human partnership in sanctification—Yahweh provides everything necessary for spiritual transformation, yet calls us to actively apply these resources. This grammatical nuance beautifully illustrates the balance between divine provision and human responsibility in spiritual growth, showing that the Messiah respects our agency while offering His transformative power.

Furthermore, the connection between anointing (χρίω) and Christ (Χριστός, “the Anointed One”) creates a profound theological wordplay. The One who was anointed by the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) now offers a spiritual anointing to restore vision. This suggests that true spiritual perception comes through a deeper communion with the Messiah Himself, whose very identity as the Anointed One becomes the salve for our spiritual blindness.

Personal Application

When we consider the meaning of ἐγχρίω in our spiritual lives today, we’re invited to honestly assess where we might suffer from spiritual blindness despite our perceived insight. Like the Laodiceans, we may be skilled at diagnosing others’ spiritual conditions while remaining oblivious to our own need for divine treatment. The call to “rub in” Christ’s eye salve challenges us to move beyond comfortable religious knowledge to the sometimes uncomfortable process of allowing His truth to penetrate our deepest perceptions.

This process often begins with the painful recognition of our true condition before Yahweh—acknowledging areas where we’ve been lukewarm, self-sufficient, or deceived. Yet the discomfort of this spiritual eye treatment leads to true vision: seeing ourselves, others, and circumstances from God’s perspective. Consider asking today: “Lord, where have I been blind to my true spiritual condition? Apply Your divine eye salve to the areas where I lack discernment, that I might see as You see.”

Related Words

• χρίω (chriō) – “to anoint” (khree’-o) – The root verb from which ἐγχρίω derives, used for ceremonial and sacred anointing with oil, particularly for designation to special service. Unlike ἐγχρίω, it doesn’t specify rubbing into but anointing upon. See G5548
• ἀλείφω (aleiphō) – “to oil, anoint” (al-i’-fo) – Refers to a more common, everyday anointing for refreshment or regular use, as opposed to the sacred anointing of χρίω or the medicinal application of ἐγχρίω. See G218
• κολλύριον (kollyrion) – “eye salve” (kol-loo’-ree-on) – The actual medicinal substance mentioned in Revelation 3:18 that is applied using the action ἐγχρίω. It was a specific type of eye medication formed into a small, cylindrical cake. See G2854
• τυφλός (typhlos) – “blind” (toof-los’) – Describes the spiritual condition that necessitates the use of ἐγχρίω. In the New Testament, it often serves as a metaphor for spiritual blindness. See G5185
• βλέπω (blepō) – “to see” (blep’-o) – The intended result of applying the eye salve through the action of ἐγχρίω—restored vision and perception. See G991

Did You Know?

• Did you know that Laodicea’s famous eye salve was made from a mixture of mineral compounds containing zinc and was mixed with oil extracted from the local Phrygian stone? This mixture was formed into small rod-shaped tablets that were then dissolved as needed for application. Archaeological discoveries have unearthed actual containers used for storing this valuable medicinal product, confirming the historical accuracy of the Revelation reference. The salve’s effectiveness was so renowned that it continued to be referenced in medical literature for centuries after the biblical period.
• Did you know that the specific grammatical form of ἐγχρίω used in Revelation 3:18 (ἔγχρισαι) is in the middle voice, which in Greek indicates the subject both performs and receives the benefit of the action? This grammatical nuance conveys that the Laodiceans were to apply the treatment themselves but would also personally benefit from it. This subtlety reinforces the spiritual truth that while the Messiah provides the remedy for spiritual blindness, we must actively participate in applying it to our lives.
• Did you know that modern ophthalmology still uses techniques that echo the ancient practice described by ἐγχρίω? While today’s eye medications are typically administered as drops rather than salves, some treatments for specific eye conditions still require a similar “rubbing in” technique. For example, certain ointments for treating severe dry eye or corneal conditions must be applied with a gentle rubbing motion along the eye rim. This connection between ancient and modern medical practice highlights the precision of biblical language in describing medical procedures.

Remember This

ἐγχρίω reminds us that true spiritual vision comes not through self-sufficient knowledge but through the sometimes uncomfortable yet healing touch of the Messiah’s divine eye salve, thoroughly applied to the eyes of our hearts.