πήγανον

rue, a plant used for flavoring food

Definition

πήγανον (pēganon) refers to the herb rue, a small, bushy plant with a strong, bitter aroma and taste. In the ancient world, it was primarily known as a culinary herb used for flavoring food, but it also had medicinal applications and was believed to have insect-repelling properties. In the New Testament, it appears only in Luke 11:42, where Jesus mentions it in a list of garden herbs that the Pharisees meticulously tithe. The word does not carry different meanings in other biblical passages, as its single occurrence clearly identifies it as a specific plant.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 11:42. Here, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for being scrupulous in tithing even small garden herbs like rue, mint, and dill, while neglecting justice and the love of God. The usage is illustrative, employing a common, tangible example to highlight a spiritual hypocrisy concerning legalistic observance versus weightier moral principles.

Etymology

The word πήγανον (pēganon) is a native Greek term for the rue plant. Its etymology is not definitively traced to another Greek root, though some connect it to words meaning 'to fix' or 'to make firm,' possibly alluding to the plant's hardy, shrub-like nature. It passed directly into Latin as 'ruta' and into English as 'rue.'

Semantic Range

The theological significance of πήγανον lies not in the plant itself but in its contextual use in Luke 11:42. It serves as a concrete example in Jesus' critique of religious legalism. Understanding that rue was a minor, bitter herb underscores the absurdity the Lord highlights: focusing on minute, external acts of piety (tithing garden herbs) while ignoring the core, internal matters of the heart (justice and love for God). It enriches reading by clarifying the vivid contrast Jesus draws between human tradition and divine priority.

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, rue was a common garden herb. It was used sparingly in cooking due to its potent, bitter flavor and was also valued in folk medicine for various ailments. Importantly, under Mosaic law, the tithing of 'all the yield of your seed' (Deuteronomy 14:22) was interpreted by strict Jewish sects, like the Pharisees, to include even the smallest herbs from a kitchen garden. This cultural practice of tithing mint, dill, and rue makes Jesus' rebuke culturally precise and powerful.

ἡδύοσμον (hēdyosmon, G2238) — mint, another garden herb mentioned alongside rue in Luke 11:42. ἄνηθον (anēthon, G432) — dill, the third herb in the tithing list of Luke 11:42.

Word Details

Scripture References