Word associations: oil, menorah, oil of gladness

This is purely a word study.

As watchmen we all look for connections, associations, parallels, and meanings. I am inclined to believe that there is a special significance to the mentions of "oil" in the scriptures. The menorah could not be lit without oil. In another post, I showed the special relation of the nine branched menorah to the celebration of Hanukkah.

I think the oil used for the menorah might be the same as the oil of gladness. The oil of gladness appears in only two scripture passages and I show them both below with other connections.

Psalm 45:6-8

New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Your
                  throne, O God, is forever and ever;

                A scepter of righteousness is
                  the scepter of Your kingdom.

                7 You
                  love righteousness and hate wickedness;

                Therefore God, Your God, has
                  anointed You

                With the oil of gladness more
                  than Your companions.

                8 All
                  Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes
                  and cassia,

                Out of the ivory palaces, by
                  which they have made You glad.
 
"Oil" used in
                  this passage is "shemen" (Strong's 8081) meaning
                  "grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often
                  perfumed); figuratively, richness:--anointing, X fat
                  (things), X fruitful, oil((-ed)), ointment, olive, +
                  pine."  Same as used
                          in Psalm 23.  Also same as used in Exodus
                          27:20 and elsewhere.
 
"Gladness used
                  in this passage is  "sasown" (Strong's 8342)
                  meaning "cheerfulness; specifically,
                  welcome:--gladness, joy, mirth, rejoicing. It is from
                  the root (7797) "to be bright, i.e. cheerful:--be
                  glad, X greatly, joy, make mirth, rejoice."  Same as used in
                    Esther 8:16.  Also used elsewhere in Esther.
 
Hebrews 1:8-10New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But
                      to the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, is
                        forever and ever;

                      A
                          scepter of righteousness is the
                          scepter of Your kingdom.

                      9 You have loved righteousness
                          and hated lawlessness;

                      Therefore
                          God, Your God, has anointed You

                      With
                          the oil
                            of gladness more than Your
                          companions.”
10 And:
“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the
                          foundation of the earth,

                      And
                          the heavens are the work of Your hands.
 
"Oil"
                            used in this passage is "elaion" (Strong's
                            1637) meaning "neuter of the same as 1636;
                            olive oil:--oil."  Same as
                              used in Matthew 25:4 in reference to the
                              oil the wise virgins had in the parable
                              that Jesus used.
 
"Gladness"

                            used in this passage is "agalliasis"
                            (Strong's 20) meaning "from 21; exultation;
                            specially, welcome:--gladness, (exceeding)
                            joy." 
 
I
                            have no doubt that there are better studies
                            than this short one that I've pieced
                            together.  I might have been too
                            presumptuous in searching for
                            connections here.  Nevertheless, I
                            think it is interesting... possibly
                            meaningful.
 
YBIC
Bruce
                            Baber