What do you mean by symbol?
Noun. Something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
- Psalms 92:10
KJV Holy Bible
The first time OIL was mentioned in the bible
Genesis 28:16-19
[16]When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
[17]He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
[18]Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.
[19]He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
No other person in the old testament is recorded as anointing a sacred stone; Jacob would do it twice
Genesis 35:14
[14]Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it.
1 Samuel 7:12
[12]Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
2 Samuel 23:14-16
[14]At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.
[15]David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”
[16]So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord.
Philippians 2:17
[17]But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
[6]For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.
[7]I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
[8]Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Back to the subject matter what the symbol of the oil from our main text of scripture
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Psalms 92:10
To exalt a horn is figuratively expression denoting restored vitality and power
Psalm 89:17
[17]For you are their glory and strength,
And by your favour you exalt our horn.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
- Psalms 148:4
KJV Holy Bible
.And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiced in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
- 1 Samuel 2:1
KJV Holy Bible
On wild ox Job 39:9-12
[9]“Will the wild ox consent to serve you?
Will it stay by your manger at night?
[10]Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?
Will it till the valleys behind you?
[11]Will you rely on it for its great strength?
Will you leave your heavy work to it?
[12]Can you trust it to haul in your grain
and bring it to your threshing floor?
Only God can control the powerful wild ox . Unlike the domesticated ox, the wild ox cannot be harnessed to harvest man’s grain. The Assyrian king Sennacherib compared his indomitable courage and strength to that of the wild ox . Long horns were symbolic of strength
Numbers 23:22
[22]God brought them out of Egypt;
They have the strength of a wild ox.
Numbers 24:8
[8]“God brought them out of Egypt;
They have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
And break their bones in pieces;
With their arrows they pierce them.
Deuteronomy 33:17
[17]In majesty he is like a firstborn bull;
His horns are the horns of a wild ox.
With them he will gore the nations,
Even those at the ends of the earth.
Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim;
Such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Being anointed with oil can mean consecration for office as a priest or king in ancient Israel
Leviticus 8:10-12
[10]Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them.
[11]He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them.
[12]He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
But here probably refers to act of hospitality that symbolises favour
Psalm 23:5
[5]You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
The image shifts from shepherd to a friend. The identification of Yahweh with a shepherd emphasizes His care and protection, but He is much more than that for a person who is in close fellowship with Him. With protection from enemies is still implied , it is intensified with the image of a banquet ( table) that is served while enemies look on . In Jewish society oil was a symbol of rejoicing Psalm 104:15
[15]wine that gladdens human hearts,
Oil to make their faces shine,
And bread that sustains their hearts.
And was used in welcoming of guests Psalm 45:7
[7]You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
By anointing you with the oil of joy.
The king of Israel was often referred as God’s anointed Psalm 20:6
[6]Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
With the victorious power of his right hand.
Anointed has the sense of being chosen, a title often related to Israel’s King who was chosen by God Psalm 2:2
[2]The kings of the earth rise up
And the rulers band together
Against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
In Psalm 20:2
[2]May he send you help from the sanctuary
And grant you support from Zion.
Helps come from Zion , but here help comes from holy heaven. Although Yahweh dwelt among His people, His real domain from which he ruled was heaven Psalm 11:4
[4]The Lord is in his holy temple;
The Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
His eyes examine them.
Psalm 66:1
[1]Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Oil was a symbol of both gladness and God’s blessing
Psalm 36 : 8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
Psalm 92:10
[10]You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
Fine oils have been poured on me.
Luke 7:44-46
[44]Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
[45]You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
[46]You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet
James 5:13-14
[13]Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
[14]Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
James used a series of questions followed by commands as and effective way of exhorting the congregation to prayer and worship. Suffering in verse 13 is not a reference to physical illness; it indicates a spiritual burden caused by misfortune or poor choices. Elders functioned in various capacity in the early church. Olive oil was considered a cure-all ointment in the ancient world which has been processed into various medications in this present dispensation but for James the real healing power is in prayer. Take medications and back it up with prayer.
Finally the symbol of oil was symbolic of God’s spirit ( the holy spirit which can’t be controlled because you can’t hold oil in your hands)
1 Samuel 16:13 (NLT) So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.