Hyssop

Illustration of Hyssop

The humble hyssop plant was used to apply blood and water in Israel's rites of cleansing. At the first Passover it brushed lamb's blood onto the doorposts, and it featured in the cleansing of lepers. David prayed, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.' At the crucifixion, a sponge of vinegar was lifted to Jesus on hyssop - the plant of purification present at the moment sin was finally cleansed.

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Strongest connections in Scripture
Exodus 12

Key Passages

Hyssop at the Passover

Exodus 12:21-23

Israel uses a bunch of hyssop to strike the lamb's blood on the doorposts, and the destroyer passes over.

T21hen 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.

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. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Explore Related

Characters

Moses Moses was a prophet chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt during the Exodus. Throughโ€ฆ David David began his life as a humble shepherd boy in Bethlehem before being anointed by the prophet Samuel toโ€ฆ Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ

Places

Egypt Egypt served as the place of bondage for the Israelites, who were enslaved by a Pharaoh who feared theirโ€ฆ

Did You Know?

1

Hyssop applied the Passover blood to Israel's doorposts.

2

David prayed, 'Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean.'

3

It was used in the cleansing rituals for lepers.

4

At the cross, a sponge of vinegar was lifted to Jesus on hyssop.