The Hyssop was an herb in the Mediterranean region. It grows about 1.5 feet tall with summer blooms in different colors such as violet, red and white. It was known for its flavoring and medicinal properties for both physical and topical, most often used for skin balm. We read about the Hyssop branch several times in the Old and New Testaments often when it comes to the process of being cleansed often when speaking about leprosy. Both Leviticus 14 and later in Numbers give instruction to lepers to use Hyssop for both the cleansing of their bodies and of their homes.
Later King David after sinning with Bathsheba points back to the Old Testament cleansings and uses the imagery of a hyssop for spiritual cleansing and confession. Asking God to cleanse his soul for he was like a leper.
Other places we find the Hyssop in the Bible are Hebrews 9:19 referencing spiritual cleansing with the blood and 1 Kings 4:33 as the wise King Solomon speaks about specific plant life. But there are two passages that are most popular and hold deep significant meaning to us. Exodus 12:22 during the Exodus and 10 Plagues against Egypt and John 19:29 during the Crucifixion of Jesus.
We are first introduced to the Hyssop Branch in the Bible in Exodus 12:22 when God instructed His people before the 10th and final plague to take the Hyssop which acted like a sponge or paintbrush and dip into the blood of the sacrificial lamb and paint over the doorposts of their homes. This would be a sign to the angel of death to Passover their home and save them.
The Hyssop was again used as a sponge-like instrument in John 12:29 when the Jesus claims “I thirst” and the Roman soldiers dip a hyssop branch into sour wine and drew it up to Jesus as he hung on the cross as he takes his final breaths. He was our final sacrificial lamp whose blood was shed for the cleansing of our sin.
While the Hyssop seems like an insignificant detail to us as we read the Bible, it actually holds great value and meaning. It connects the Bible and acts as a symbol for cleansing. Once physical, now spiritual. And a symbol for saving grace. The Apostle John when writing about the Crucifixion makes sure to point out the use of the Hyssop to draw back the Jews to the time of the Exodus - the saving blood of the Passover. The sacrifice of the first born. They now see this as a symbolic moments, the fulfillment of scripture. Just as the hyssop branch was used in the first Passover to provide the saving grace for the Israelites from death of the firstborn, here they see the ultimate sacrifice of the first born to provide them the everlasting saving grace.
In the words of David in Psalm 51:7 “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” May you remember Christ’s final sacrifice and cleansing for you.
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