| Hyssop A bitter herb.
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon HYSSOP, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:28-30) Hyssop(Heb. ezob.) The ezob was used for sprinkling in some of the sacrifices and purifications of the Jews. In consequence of its detergent qualities, or from its being associated with the purificatory Services, the psalmist makes use of the expression, "Purge me with ezob ." (Psalms 51:7) It is described in (1 Kings 4:33) as growing on or near walls. (Besides being thus fit for sprinkling, having cleansing properties and growing on walls, the true hyssop should be a plant common to Egypt, Sinai and Palestine, and capable of producing a stick three or four feet long since on a stalk of hyssop the sponge of vinegar was held up to Christ on the cross. (John 19:29) it is impossible to precisely identify the plant because the name was given not to a particular plant but to a family of plants associated together by Hyssop, qualities easily noticed rather than by close botanical affinities. Different species of the family may have been used at different times. The hyssop of the Bible is probably one (or all) of three plants:-- - The common hyssop is "a shrub with low, bushy stalks 1 1/2 feet high, small pear shaped, close-setting opposite leaves all the stalks and branches terminated by erect whorled spikes of flowers of different colors in the varieties. It is a hardy plant, with an aromatic smell and a warm, pungent taste; a native of the south of Europe and the East."--ED.)
- Bochart decides in favor of marjoram, or some plant like it, and to this conclusion, it must be admitted, all ancient tradition points. (This is the Origanum maru , the zatar of the Arabs. The French consul at Sidon exhibited to Dr. Thomson ("The Land and the Book," i. 161) a specimen of this "having the fragrance of thyme, with a hot, pungent taste, and long slender stems." Dr. Post of Beirut, in the American edition of Smith's large Dictionary, favors this view.--ED.)
- But Dr.Royle, after a careful investigation of the subject, arrives at the conclusion that the hyssop is no other than the caperplant, or Capparis spinosa of Linnaeus. The Arabic name of this plant, asuf , by which it is sometimes though not commonly, described, bears considerable resemblance to the Hebrew. "It is a bright-green creeper, which climbs from the fissures of the rocks, is supposed to possess cleansing properties, and is capable of yielding a stick to which a sponge might be attached." --Stanky, "Sinai and Palestine," 23. --It produces a fruit the size of a walnut, called the mountain pepper.
 | HyssopIs often mentioned in Scripture, and is directed to be used in the sprinklings which made part of the Jewish ceremonial law, Exodus 12:22 Le 14:4-6 Psalm 51:9 Hebrews 9:19. It is some low shrub, which is contrasted with the lofty cedar, 1 Kings 4:33. In John 19:29, the soldiers are said to have "filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop," that is, upon a rod of hyssop, two feet or more in length, which was long enough to enable one to reach the mouth of a person on the cross. Many different plants have been taken for the hyssop of Scripture, and among others, the caper-plant. HYSSOPhis'-up ('ezobh; hussspos, Exodus 12:22 Leviticus 14:4, 6, 4:9; Numbers 19:6, 18 1 Kings 4:33; Psalm 51:7 John 19:29 Hebrews 9:19): A plant used for ritual cleansing purposes; a humble plant springing out of the wall (1 Kings 4:33), the extreme contrast to the cedar.
The common hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) of the Natural Order Labiatae, an aromatic plant with stomatic properties, cannot be the hyssop of the Bible as it is unknown in Palestine, but allied aromatic plants of the same Natural Order have by Maimonides (Neg. xiv.6) and other Jewish writers been identified with it. Probably hyssop is identical with the Arabic zat`ar, a name applied to a group of aromatic plants of the genus marjoram and thyme. They would any of them furnish a bunch suitable for sprinkling, and they have the important recommendation that they grow everywhere, being found even in the desert. Post thinks of all varieties the Origanum maru, a special variety of marjoram which favors terrace walls and rocks, is the most probable.
The proposal (Royle, Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc., VII, 193-213) to identify the caper (Capparis spinosa) with hyssop, which has been popularized by the works of Tristram, has not much to recommend it. It is true that the caper is very commonly seen growing out of walls all over Palestine (1 Kings 4:33), but in no other respect is it suitable to the requirements of the Biblical references. The supposed similarity between the Arabic 'acaf ("caper") and the Hebrew 'ezobh is fanciful; the caper with its stiff, prickly stems and smooth, flat leaves would not furnish a bunch for sprinkling as serviceable as many species of zat`ar. It has been specially urged that the hyssop suits the conditions of John 19:29, it being maintained that a stem of caper would make a good object on which to raise the "sponge full of vinegar" to the Saviour's face, the equivalent of the "reed" of Matthew 27:48 Mark 15:36. For such a purpose the flexible, prickly stems of the hyssop would be most unsuitable; indeed, it would be no easy matter to find one of sufficient length. It is necessary to suppose either that a bunch of hyssop accompanied the sponge with the vinegar upon the reed, or, as has been proposed by several writers (for references see article "Hyssop," EB), that hussopo is a corruption of husso, "javelin," and that the passage should read "They put a sponge full of vinegar upon a javelin."
E. W. G. Masterman
 | (Hebrews `ezob; LXX. hyssopos), first mentioned in Exodus 12:22 in connection with the institution of the Passover. We find it afterwards mentioned in Leviticus 14:4, 6, 52; Numbers 19:6, 18; Hebrews 9:19. It is spoken of as a plant "springing out of the wall" (1 Kings 4:33). Many conjectures have been formed as to what this plant really was. Some contend that it was a species of marjoram (origanum), six species of which are found in Palestine. Others with more probability think that it was the caper plant, the Capparis spinosa of Linnaeus. This plant grew in Egypt, in the desert of Sinai, and in Palestine. It was capable of producing a stem three or four feet in length (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36. Comp. John 19:29). (n.) A plant (Hyssopus officinalis). The leaves have an aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent taste.Hyssop (12 Occurrences)John 19:29 Now a vessel full of vinegar was set there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop, and held it at his mouth. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hebrews 9:19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Exodus 12:22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 14:4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 14:49 To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 14:51 He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Leviticus 14:52 He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 19:6 and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Numbers 19:18 and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 4:33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fish. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Psalms 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Hyssop (12 Occurrences) ...HYSSOP. ... Probably hyssop is identical with the Arabic zat`ar, a name applied to a group of aromatic plants of the genus marjoram and thyme. ... biblethesaurus.com/h/hyssop.htm - 14kCedar-wood (22 Occurrences) ... Leviticus 14:4 then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two clean living birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. ... biblethesaurus.com/c/cedar-wood.htm - 12k Cedarwood (5 Occurrences) ... Leviticus 14:4 then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. (See RSV). ... biblethesaurus.com/c/cedarwood.htm - 7k Thread (32 Occurrences) ... Leviticus 14:4 Then the priest is to give orders to take, for him who is to be made clean, two living clean birds and some cedar wood and red thread and hyssop... biblethesaurus.com/t/thread.htm - 16k String (12 Occurrences) ... Leviticus 14:4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. ... biblethesaurus.com/s/string.htm - 11k Cedar (61 Occurrences) ... ment Leviticus 14:4 the cleansed leper was sprinkled with the blood of a "clean bird" into which had been put "cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop." In Numbers ... biblethesaurus.com/c/cedar.htm - 37k Yarn (37 Occurrences) ... Leviticus 14:4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. ... biblethesaurus.com/y/yarn.htm - 18k Dip (17 Occurrences) ... Exodus 12:22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is ... biblethesaurus.com/d/dip.htm - 14k Scarlet (54 Occurrences) ... spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled ... biblethesaurus.com/s/scarlet.htm - 26k Dipped (17 Occurrences) ... Exodus 12:22 and ye have taken a bunch of hyssop, and have dipped 'it' in the blood which 'is' in the basin, and have struck 'it' on the lintel, and on the two ... biblethesaurus.com/d/dipped.htm - 12k 5301. hussopos -- hyssop ... hyssop. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: hussopos Phonetic Spelling: (hoos'-so-pos) Short Definition: hyssop Definition: hyssop, a stalk or stem ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5301.htm - 6k231. ezob -- hyssop ... << 230, 231. ezob. 232 >>. hyssop. Transliteration: ezob Phonetic Spelling: (ay-zobe') Short Definition: hyssop. Word Origin of foreign ... //strongsnumbers.com/hebrew2/231.htm - 5k 229. Ezbay -- the father of one of David's men ... Ezbai. Probably from 'ezowb; hyssop-like; Ezbai, an Israelite -- Ezbai. see HEBREW 'ezowb. << 228, 229. Ezbay. 230 >>. Strong's Numbers. //strongsnumbers.com/hebrew2/229.htm - 6k The Red Heifer a Type of Christ. ... slay and burn it, and, that then boys should take the ashes, and put these into vessels, and bind round a stick [1542] purple wool along with hyssop, and that ... /.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter viii the red heifer a.htm The First Stage in the Leper's Cleansing ... the leper; 4. Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5. And ... /.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the first stage in the.htm What Kind of Spirit is Required for the Study of Holy Scripture. ... who celebrated the passover at that time in type and shadow, when they were ordered to mark their door-posts with the blood of the lamb, used hyssop to mark ... /.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 41 what kind of spirit.htm But when the Student of the Holy Scriptures... ... who celebrated the Passover at that time in type and shadow, when they were ordered to mark their door-posts with the blood of the lamb, used hyssop to mark ... /.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 62 but when the.htm Hebrews ix. 15-18 ... Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled ... /.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xvi hebrews ix 15-18.htm John Chapter xix. 24-30. ... Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and fixed it upon hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ... /.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxix john chapter xix.htm On Baptism. ... 1. Rejoice, ye heavens, and let the earth be glad [566] , for those who are to be sprinkled with hyssop, and cleansed with the spiritual [567] hyssop, the ... /.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iii on baptism.htm The Three Witnesses ... that there was no putting away of sin except with these three things; in proof of which we will quote David's prayer, "Purge me with hyssop""that is, the ... /.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/the three witnesses.htm The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the ... ... Many, again, by reason of their ignorance of hyssop, not knowing the virtue it has in cleansing the lungs, nor the power it is said to have of piercing rocks ... /.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 16 the knowledge both of.htm Ignorance of Things, Too, Renders Figurative Expressions Obscure.. ... ... Many, again, by reason of their ignorance of hyssop, not knowing the virtue it has in cleansing the lungs, nor the power it is said to have of piercing rocks ... /.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 24 ignorance of things.htm |  | Hyssop Hyssop in Sprinkling Blood in Purifications Hyssop of Spiritual Cleansing Hyssop used in Giving Jesus Vinegar on the Cross Hyssop used in the Sacrifices of Separation Hyssop: An Indigenous Plant to Western Asia and Northern Africa Hyssop: The Israelites Used, in Sprinkling the Blood of the Paschal Lamb Upon the Lintels of Their Doors Cedar-wood (22 Occurrences) Cedarwood (5 Occurrences) Thread (32 Occurrences) String (12 Occurrences) Cedar (61 Occurrences) Yarn (37 Occurrences) Dip (17 Occurrences) Scarlet (54 Occurrences) Dipped (17 Occurrences) Stuff (49 Occurrences) Fresh (41 Occurrences) Bird (65 Occurrences) Heifer (22 Occurrences) Purge (35 Occurrences) Sprinkle (37 Occurrences) Reed (41 Occurrences) Flowing (123 Occurrences) Bunch (6 Occurrences) Wood (226 Occurrences) Slain (235 Occurrences) Clean (298 Occurrences) Cleanse (75 Occurrences) Running (135 Occurrences) Wool (34 Occurrences) Cleansed (76 Occurrences) Defilement (12 Occurrences) Sprinkled (55 Occurrences) Plant (92 Occurrences) Red (124 Occurrences) Vinegar (11 Occurrences) Naturally (4 Occurrences) Oxen (176 Occurrences) Onto (22 Occurrences) Jar (45 Occurrences) Lintel (4 Occurrences) Goats (134 Occurrences) Washest (2 Occurrences) Whiter (4 Occurrences) I (95796 Occurrences) Furnishings (22 Occurrences) Reptiles (6 Occurrences) Doorframe (3 Occurrences) Doorposts (15 Occurrences) Door-posts (11 Occurrences) Doorway (221 Occurrences) Pierced (63 Occurrences) Posts (68 Occurrences) Precept (7 Occurrences) Placed (297 Occurrences) Bird's (2 Occurrences) Branch (60 Occurrences) Branches (103 Occurrences) Corpse (18 Occurrences) Crucifixion (4 Occurrences) Cleansest (1 Occurrence) Cleansing (37 Occurrences) Cow (32 Occurrences) Contained (11 Occurrences) Calves (34 Occurrences) Caperberry (1 Occurrence) Cedar-tree (2 Occurrences) Apply (19 Occurrences) Stalk (7 Occurrences) Sides (170 Occurrences) Sour (15 Occurrences) Smear (2 Occurrences) Soaked (7 Occurrences) Sprinkling (48 Occurrences) Spunge (3 Occurrences) Springeth (12 Occurrences) Side-posts (7 Occurrences) Sponge (3 Occurrences) Hyrcanus Lips (199 Occurrences) Grows (46 Occurrences) Vessel (118 Occurrences) Walls (152 Occurrences) Fishes (32 Occurrences) |