אֵזוֹב
hyssop
Definition
The Hebrew word אֵזוֹב (ʼêzôwb) refers to a small plant, commonly translated as 'hyssop,' used in purification and sacrificial rituals. In the Passover, it was used to apply the lamb's blood to doorposts (Exodus 12:22). In the law of leprosy and ritual impurity, it was used to sprinkle blood or water for cleansing (Leviticus 14:4-7, 49-52; Numbers 19:6, 18). While traditionally identified with the herb *Hyssopus officinalis*, its exact botanical identity is debated, but its function as an instrument for applying liquids in sacred rites is consistent throughout its biblical occurrences.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in ritual contexts within the Pentateuch (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers). It appears in two primary settings: the application of blood for protection during the Passover (Exodus 12:22) and as a tool in complex purification rituals for people, houses, or objects contaminated by leprosy or contact with a corpse (Leviticus 14:4-52; Numbers 19:6, 18). The pattern shows it was a humble, accessible plant employed as an instrument to mediate cleansing and consecration.
Etymology
The etymology of אֵזוֹב is uncertain; it is noted as 'probably of foreign derivation.' It has no clear Semitic root in Hebrew. Cognates may exist in other ancient Near Eastern languages, but the word likely entered Hebrew from an external source, possibly referring to a specific plant known in the region.
Semantic Range
Hyssop is theologically significant as a symbol of purification and atonement. Its use in applying the Passover blood prefigures redemption from judgment, while its role in cleansing rituals for leprosy and impurity points to the need for spiritual cleansing from sin. This imagery is powerfully recalled in Psalm 51:7 ('Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean') and finds ultimate fulfillment in the sacrificial work of Christ (Hebrews 9:19-22). Understanding this humble plant enriches the biblical theme of God providing accessible means for sinners to be made clean.
In its ancient Israelite context, hyssop was a common, small plant (possibly a species of marjoram or caper) that grew on walls (1 Kings 4:33). Its use in rituals, rather than a costly instrument, emphasized that purification and divine protection were available through simple, God-ordained means. Its absorbent, bushy nature made it practical for sprinkling. The modern herb Hyssopus officinalis may not be the exact plant, reflecting a difference in botanical identification between ancient and modern understanding.
No direct synonyms for this specific ritual plant are found in the biblical text. Its function is unique.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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