What Is Eyesalve In The Bible? A Comprehensive Guide
Eyesalve is mentioned in a fascinating passage in the book of Revelation that has intrigued Bible scholars and readers for centuries. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Eyesalve in the Bible refers to a medicinal ointment believed to heal vision and provide spiritual insight.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the intriguing biblical background of eyesalve, examining what it is, its symbolic meaning, and its connection to themes of spiritual vision and discernment in Revelation 3.
We will look at the original Greek word, historical and cultural context, and theological significance of this unusual term. Whether you are simply curious about this unusual word or wanting to dig deep into its meaning, this article will provide a thorough examination of this rich biblical symbol.
The Biblical Source of Eyesalve
Revelation 3:18 – The Laodicean Church
The mention of eyesalve in the Bible is found in Revelation 3:18, which is part of Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea. In this verse, Jesus counsels the Laodicean believers to buy from Him “gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.”
The Laodicean church was lukewarm and lacking in spiritual fervor. They felt self-sufficient and unaware of their true spiritual state. Jesus challenged them to open their eyes to see their need for Him.
The eyesalve represents spiritual insight, discernment, and enlightenment that comes from Christ alone. Just as physical eyesalve was used to treat eye infections and improve vision, the spiritual eyesalve would heal their spiritual blindness and help them see clearly.
The Wider Context and Setting of Revelation
The Book of Revelation was written by the apostle John during his exile on the island of Patmos. He wrote this apocalyptic text around 95 AD as a circular letter to seven churches in Asia Minor. Revelation contains visions, prophecies, and messages from Jesus to encourage these churches undergoing persecution.
Though often thought of as a prophecy about the end times, Revelation was relevant to its first readers too. The major themes are the sovereignty of God, the lordship of Christ, and the triumph of good over evil.
The passage about the Laodicean church is part of seven messages Jesus gives to the churches in chapters 2-3. Each message includes commendation and/or condemnation from Jesus, a call to repentance, exhortation, and a promise to those who overcome.
The Laodicean message strongly rebukes them for their lukewarm faith and calls them to zealously repent. Only those who humbly respond to Christ’s rebuke and partake of His eyesalve will experience the blessings promised.
The Greek Word for Eyesalve
Definition and Usage of Kollourion
The Greek word “kollourion” (κολλούριον) is found in Revelation 3:18 where Jesus counsels the church of Laodicea to “anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” The word refers to a thick ointment or paste that was applied to the eyes to treat various eye disorders.
Evidence from ancient Greek medical texts indicates it was made of a mixture of ingredients like olive oil, spices, onion, rose petals or frankincense.[1]
Kollourion eye salves were very common in the ancient Greco-Roman world. The famous Greek physician Galen (129-216 AD) has several recipes for kollourion in his medical writings, indicating they were frequently used to treat common eye ailments like inflammation, eye pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or eye discharge.
Other ancient physicians like Celsus and Scribonius Largus also have records of eye salve recipes. So when Jesus tells the Laodiceans to anoint their eyes with salve to see better, his imagery would have been very familiar to them.
Metaphorical Meaning and Symbolism
While kollourion had a literal usage as an eye medicine, Jesus employs it metaphorically here to allude to the church’s spiritual blindness. Just as eye salve enabled better physical vision, Jesus prescribes spiritual insight to treat the church’s lack of spiritual perception.
His counsel mirrors texts like Psalm 119:18 where the psalmist prays, “Open my eyes that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. “ As Bible scholar Craig Keener notes, Jesus alludes to this verse by urging spiritual anointing for clearer spiritual vision.[2] Blindness was also seen as symbolic of lacking spiritual understanding (Deut 28:29; Isa.
29:18; 42:7). So Jesus’ eye salve recommendation is a powerful metaphor for spiritual sight and insight.
Eyesalve in Historical and Cultural Context
Medical Uses in the Ancient World
Eyesalves, also known as collyriums, have been used to treat eye infections and vision problems since ancient times. Archaeological evidence shows that several ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, employed medicinal eyewashes and salves to alleviate common eye ailments.
These primitive eyesalves contained various ingredients thought to possess healing properties, such as honey, herbs, animal fat, and metals. For example, the Greek physician Galen recommended mixing copper flakes with honey and plant extracts to make an eyesalve for treating “bloodshot eyes.”
The famous Roman encyclopedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus provided several eyesalve recipes in his medical treatise De Medicina.
Connections to Religion and Spirituality
In many ancient cultures, remedies for eye diseases often incorporated religious or spiritual elements. Eyewashes used by Egyptian priests contained extracts of medicinal plants mixed with temple water believed to be blessed by gods.
Ancient Mesopotamians attributed eye illnesses to demonic attacks and thus used amulets and incantations along with herbal salves to cure vision problems.
Similarly, the Laodicean eyesalve mentioned in the Bible’s Book of Revelation has connections to Phrygian moon god Men and local religious practices. Called “Phrygian powder” by ancient Greek physicians, this eyesalve gained fame as a panacea capable of healing all eye afflictions.
Laodicea and the Phrygian Powder
The city of Laodicea referenced in Revelation 3:18 was located near Hierapolis, an ancient Phrygian healing center known for its hot mineral springs and dedication to Men and other gods. As part of their worship, Phrygians used a special eyesalve made from locally-sourced ingredients to honor Men and treat eye diseases.
This Phrygian powder, also called “Phrygian stone” or “stone of Laodicea,” typically contained a mixture of various sulfurous minerals, herbs, and ointments. It gained a reputation across the Roman Empire as a remarkable cure for weak vision, eye inflammation, discharges, injuries, and more.
Thus, when the Book of Revelation urges the Laodicean church to symbolically apply heavenly eyesalve to see spiritual truths, it draws imagery from this famous Phrygian eyesalve.
Theological Significance and Interpretation
Eyesalve as a Symbol of Spiritual Discernment
In Revelation 3:18, Jesus counsels the lukewarm Laodicean church to “anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see”. This metaphorical eyesalve represents the spiritual discernment and wisdom needed to clearly perceive the truth of Christ.
Just as medical eyesalve heals physical blindness, spiritual eyesalve illuminates our inner blindness and restores spiritual sight. Through the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts, eyesalve allows us to cut through deception and recognize the glory of the gospel.
As 2 Corinthians 4:4 states, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ”. Eyesalve removes this blindness and enables us to “see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Healing Spiritual Blindness and Lukewarm Faith
The Laodicean church was blinded by their lukewarm faith and spiritual complacency. Though they believed themselves “rich, prosperous, and in need of nothing”, Christ assessed them as “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
Their severe spiritual blindness prevented them from recognizing their true desperate condition. They were neither hot nor cold, making Christ want to vomit them out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16). To remedy this disastrous state, Jesus prescribes eyesalve to finally open their eyes to see reality.
Likewise, eyesalve represents the Holy Spirit working to expose and heal our own spiritual blindness. Just as people rarely realize they are gradually going blind physically, we rarely perceive our growing spiritual blindness either.
We may confidently believe ourselves strong in faith while drifting into complacency, compromise, and spiritual atrophy. Eyesalve shocks us out of such deception, stirring our dulled faith and forcing us to confront our true spiritual state.
The illumination of eyesalve leads to revived faith, repentance and renewed spiritual fervor and obedience to Christ.
Seeing Clearly the Truth of Christ
Ultimately, eyesalve enables us to see Christ and his truth clearly. Without spiritual vision, we operate in shadows and uncertainty. With eyesalve, fuzzy silhouettes become sharply defined; we move from confusion into conviction.
As Ephesians 1:18 prays “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know…what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Eyesalve brings this enlightenment, enriching faith as we truly comprehend Christ’s grace and glory.
His supreme magnificence fills our vision, dwarfing all else. We fix our eyes on him alone (Hebrews 12:2), focused like a laser on the radiance of his perfect truth.
Eyesalve is indispensable for spiritual growth. We pray for eyesalve just as blind Bartimaeus pleaded, “let me receive my sight!” (Mark 10:51). Without it we stumble in darkness; with it we walk in noonday light with sure-footed confidence (Acts 26:18).
We gain 20/20 spiritual vision to better run “the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Ultimately, we long for that day when we “will see face to face” and know Christ fully (1 Corinthians 13:12). Until then, we rely on eyesalve to grant clarity of vision.
The Relevance of Eyesalve Today
Self-Examination and Spiritual Renewal
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be easy to become spiritually complacent and neglect our relationship with God. The concept of “eyesalve” reminds us of the importance of self-examination and renewing our spiritual vision.
Spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, fasting, and study of Scripture are like eyesalve – they help remove distractions and refocus our blurry vision on what is most important.
Just as eye drops can provide relief for tired or irritated eyes, intentional spiritual practices soothe our souls and give us clearer spiritual sight. Setting aside regular quiet time helps us see where we have wandered from God’s will and realign our priorities.
Serving others also applies eyesalve by getting us outside of ourselves and showing us how we can reflect God’s love. When our spiritual vision is clouded by a busy schedule, stress, or apathy, eyesalve in the form of spiritual disciplines and service renews and restores our souls.
Overcoming Spiritual Complacency
It’s easy for Christians today to become complacent and “lukewarm” in our faith as we get caught up in the busyness of life. The metaphor of eyesalve reminds us that ensuring vibrant spiritual health requires intentionality and perseverance.
We must be proactive about identifying and removing whatever might be clouding our spiritual vision.
Regularly examining our hearts and motives keeps us from drifting into spiritual mediocrity. It enables us to detect subtle sins or misplaced priorities that have dulled our passion for God. After self-examination, we must also take action – repenting of sin, adjusting our schedules to allow more time for spiritual disciplines, and serving others.
Like removing cataracts, overcoming complacency improves our vision of God and renews our zeal for Him. Eyesalve represents the continual spiritual maintenance required to avoid drifting into lukewarm faith.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the unusual mention of eyesalve in Revelation 3 opens up a fascinating discussion of spiritual metaphor and biblical symbolism. As we have seen, eyesalve represents a call to discernment, revival, and restored vision – a message as relevant today as ever.
While a precise medical identification of the ointment remains elusive, its symbolic meaning is clear: Jesus urgently desires for lukewarm believers to see their spiritual condition clearly and turn to Him in wholehearted devotion.
Just as eyesalve heals vision, Christ’s searching words offer the remedy to heal spiritual blindness. May this biblical image inspire us, like the Laodiceans, to open our eyes to see Jesus afresh today.
