Category Archives: Word Studies

What is Hyssop and why is it important?

What is Hyssop and why is it important?

Hyssop is a plant that grows around the east Mediterranean. and grows to 60 cm. in long stems.

But why do we care? Let’s look at John.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John makes a point of the hyssop, but why? We know from 1 Corinthians 5:7 that Christ is our Passover and that Christ was the perfect sacrifice. So let’s look at what the Passover Lamb looks like.

Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

We see that Christ, being the perfect sacrifice, was given hyssop just as the Passover lamb of old.

So why hyssop? Our Father doesn’t just pick plants out of a hat and tells us to use them. Hyssop is very aromatic and is used in many herbal remedies. Especially ones that help the lungs. What I find the most interesting is that hyssop improves the yield of grapevines and is a natural insecticide and insect repellent. This should perk up your spiritual ears. Christ is our vine and we are the branches. This improving effect is most beneficial if the ground is rocky or sandy. Think of the parable of the sower. Spiritually speaking hyssop would help those planted in rocky soil and help ward off the evil one (insecticide).

Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Rev 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
Rev 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Does God keep us?

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Many people say this verse says we will be gone, but lets look at it.

first lets look at the word keep in our Strong’s Concordance.

Greek 5083 τηρέω tēreō tay-reh’-o

From τηρός teros (a watch; perhaps akin to G2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from G5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from G2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), that is, to note (a prophecy; figuratively to fulfill a command); by implication to detain (in custody; figuratively to maintain); by extension to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively to keep unmarried): – hold fast, keep (-er), (ob-, pre-, re) serve, watch.

It’s a guard not an escape. Look at what Christ tells us here:

Luke 21:18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Read that whole Chapter in Luke. God is guarding you and they are not allowed to touch you. Remember Satan’s power is given by God. Without God Satan has no power.