What Is Hyssop in the Bible?
Plant
A small plant whose branches were used to sprinkle water or blood in purification rites.
A detail
- Today: the same name is given to the tool the priest uses to sprinkle holy water.
Where it appears in the Bible
Exodus 12:22; Psalms 51:9; John 19:29
What the Bible says
Exodus 12:22
And dip a bunch of hyssop in the blood that is at the door, and sprinkle the transom of the door therewith, and both the door cheeks: let none of you go out of the door of his house till morning.
Psalms 51:9
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
John 19:29
Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: Dictionary.com, “hyssop”