ma.shach denotes applying oil in acts that install rulers, commission people, consecrate priests and sacred objects, or treat other items.

The verb most often marks the installation of a king, leader, or other commissioned person, frequently in clauses that name the office to which that person is appointed. It also occurs in instructions and narratives where priests, sanctuary furnishings, and an altar are set apart, and in a smaller group of contexts involving oil on food, a pillar, a shield, persons, or a building treatment.

1. Installing or commissioning a person for office · dominant

   Qal forms occur where a person is named for a public role: in 1 Samuel 16:13 Samuel acts on David with oil, and the APB renders the clause "anointed him in the midst of his brothers." In 1 Kings 19:16 the action is directed toward Jehu as king and Elisha as prophet, while 1 Chronicles 29:22 places it alongside making Solomon leader and Zadok priest.

   1 Samuel 16:131 Kings 19:161 Chronicles 29:221 Samuel 10:12 Kings 23:30Isaiah 61:1
2. Setting apart priests for ministry · common

   The verb is used of Aaron and his sons in instructions that connect the action with their ministry. In Exodus 28:41 the APB renders the sequence "anoint them, fill their hands, consecrate them," followed by their ministry; Leviticus 16:32 describes the priest who is anointed and ministers in his father's place.

   Exodus 28:41Exodus 30:30Exodus 29:7Leviticus 16:32Numbers 35:25
3. Consecrating sanctuary furnishings and altar · common

   Qal sequential forms describe treating the tent, ark, altar, basin, and their articles. In Leviticus 8:10 the APB renders Moses' action on the tabernacle and everything in it before saying that he consecrated them; Exodus 40:10 similarly joins the action on the altar to its consecration.

   Leviticus 8:10Leviticus 8:11Exodus 30:26Exodus 40:10Exodus 40:11Exodus 29:36
4. Applying oil or a coating outside office rites · occasional

   The supplied clauses show oil or coating applied to varied things without naming an office: a pillar in Genesis 31:13, wafers and breads in Leviticus 2:4, a shield in Isaiah 21:5, and persons using fine oils in Amos 6:6. Jeremiah 22:14 places an infinitive-absolute form in a building description whose APB rendering says "paint it with vermilion."

   Genesis 31:13Leviticus 2:4Leviticus 7:12Isaiah 21:5Amos 6:6Jeremiah 22:14

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across office, priestly, and sanctuary contexts, the APB commonly uses "anoint" or "anointed" and often specifies oil. In food and treatment contexts it also uses "spread with oil," "anoint yourselves," and "paint"; These renderings indicate the verse context rather than fixed English equivalents.