Difference between revisions of "Hyssop"

<p> '''''Ezob''''' . Not our "hyssop," the '''''Ηyssopus Officinalis''''' , which is not found in Syria or Arabia. "The hyssop that springeth out of the wall," being the smallest of plants, can hardly be the one used for sprinkling, but is a tufty wall fern, a miniature hyssop with lance-shaped leaves (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:33). [[Maimonides]] makes the sprinkling hyssop to be the marjoram ( '''''Origanum''''' ) with long, straight stalk, downy leaf, and white blossom (&nbsp;Exodus 12:22); common in [[Palestine]] and near mount Sinai; an aromatic plant. J. F. Royle thought that the caper plant ( '''''Capparis Spinosa''''' ) meets all the requirements of Scripture: </p> <p> '''1.''' It is found in Egypt, the desert, and Palestine. </p> <p> '''2.''' It grows among stones and upon walls, and trails like a bramble, in contrast to the stately cedar of [[Lebanon]] (compare &nbsp;Judges 9:15). </p> <p> '''3.''' It has a long stick or stem (&nbsp;John 19:29, compare &nbsp;Matthew 27:48) wherewith the sponge of vinegar might be lifted to our Lord. </p> <p> '''4.''' It has the requisites needed for purifying. Its [[Arab]] name '''''Asuf''''' is akin to '''''Ezowb)''''' . It is "a bright green creeper which climbs out of the fissures of the rocks" (Stanley). It is used medicinally for cleansing, as in ulcers, leprosy, etc. (Pliny H.N., 20, section 59). However, the "scarlet" band may have tied the hyssop on the cedar to make it convenient for sprinkling. [[Septuagint]] and &nbsp;Hebrews 9:19 translates '''''Ezob''''' "hyssop." Maimonides says the legal hyssop was used as a condiment. [[Porphyry]] (De Abstin., 4:7) says the [[Egyptian]] priests ate it mixed with their bread; so the marjoram ( ''Zaatar'' ) is used in a mixture, '''''Dukkah''''' , a food of the poorer classes (Lane, Modern Egypt, 1:200; &nbsp;Exodus 12:22; &nbsp;Leviticus 14:4-51; &nbsp;Numbers 19:6; &nbsp;Numbers 19:18; &nbsp;Psalms 51:7). </p> <p> The reason why the soldiers presented to Christ a sponge attached to the end of a "reed" ( '''''Calamus''''' ), with hyssop, was, as the vinegar would quench His thirst, so the aromatic scent of the hyssop would refresh Him. So it is associated with the fragrant "cedar wood" in &nbsp;Leviticus 14:4; &nbsp;Leviticus 14:6; &nbsp;Leviticus 14:51. So that the Greek "hyssop" and the origanum or marjoram of the [[Jewish]] tradition seem the plant intended. [[Gesenius]] includes under '''''Ezob''''' the hyssop of the shops, and other aromatic plants, mint, wild marjoram, etc.; so that a suitable sprinkler could be always found, whether in [[Jerusalem]] or the desert. </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Ὕσσωπος''''' ''' (Strong'S #5301 — Noun [[Feminine]] — hussopos — hoos'-so-pos ) </div> <p> a bunch of which was used in ritual sprinklings, is found in &nbsp;Hebrews 9:19; in &nbsp;John 19:29 the reference is apparently to a branch or rod of "hyssop," upon which a sponge was put and offered to the Lord on the cross. The suggestion has been made that the word in the original may have been hussos, "a javelin;" there seems to be no valid reason for the supposition. </p>

<p> ''''' his´up ''''' ( אזוב , <i> ''''' 'ēzōbh ''''' </i> ; ὕσσωπος , <i> ''''' hússōpos ''''' </i> , &nbsp; Exodus 12:22; &nbsp;Leviticus 14:4 , &nbsp;Leviticus 14:6; &nbsp;Leviticus 14:9; &nbsp;Numbers 19:6 , &nbsp;Numbers 19:18; &nbsp;1 Kings 4:33; &nbsp;Psalm 51:7; &nbsp;John 19:29; &nbsp;Hebrews 9:19 ): A plant used for ritual cleansing purposes; a humble plant springing out of the wall (&nbsp;1 Kings 4:33 ), the extreme contrast to the cedar. </p> <p> The common hyssop ( <i> Hyssopus officinalis </i> ) of the Natural Order <i> Labiatae </i> , 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 ( <i> Neg </i> . xiv.6) and other Jewish writers been identified with it. Probably hyssop is identical with the Arabic <i> ''''' zat‛ar ''''' </i> , 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 <i> Origanum maru </i> , a special variety of marjoram which favors terrace walls and rocks, is the most probable. </p> <p> The proposal (Royle, <i> Jour. [[Royal]] Asiatic Soc </i> ., VII, 193-213) to identify the caper ( <i> Capparis spinosa </i> ) 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 (&nbsp; 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 <i> ''''' 'aṣaf ''''' </i> ("caper") and the Hebrew <i> ''''' 'ēzōbh ''''' </i> 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 <i> ''''' zat‛ār ''''' </i> ̌ . It has been specially urged that the hyssop suits the conditions of &nbsp;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 &nbsp;Matthew 27:48; &nbsp;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," <i> EB </i> ), that <i> ''''' hussō̇pō ''''' </i> is a corruption of <i> ''''' hussō̇ ''''' </i> , "javelin," and that the passage should read "They put a sponge full of vinegar upon a javelin." </p> I <p> I; I A m; I A m That I A m </p> <p> See [[God]] , [[Names]] Of . </p>