Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Word of the Day - 11/4/2008

Hyssop

A hyssop is any of several aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Hyssopus, of the mint family, especially H. officinalis, native to Europe, having clusters of small blue flowers.

As Jesus hung on a cross, a sponge soaked in sour wine or vinegar was stuck on a branch of hyssop and offered to him.

A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. (John 19:29, NASB)

Though all four canonical gospels record that Jesus was offered the sponge (Matthew 27:48, 50; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36; John 19:29), only John records the hyssop branch.

Note: This watercolour, titled "I am thirsty" was painted by James Tissot (1836-1902).

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