Hyssop is a semi-woody aromatic plant that produces small blue flowers. The plant appears in several different places in the Old and New Testament, and usually aids in conducting ceremonial cleanses. In this article, you will learn where hyssop appears in the Bible, including Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
The plant or a by-product of hyssop is related to the Jewish observation of Passover, as mentioned in Exodus 12:22: “Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning.” [New Living Translation]
Hyssop played an important role in a ceremony created to cleanse skin diseases, as seen in Leviticus 14 {New International Version]: “The Lord said to Moses, “These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease, the priest shall order that two live clean birds and some cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop be brought for the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall order that one of the birds be killed over fresh water in a clay pot. He is then to take the live bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, into the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the infectious disease and pronounce him clean. Then he is to release the live bird in the open fields.”
Hyssop is mentioned in Numbers 19 because it is one of the items used in the red heifer offering. The plant is tossed on the heifer, and then later, hyssop dipped in water is used as a method of purification for people and their surroundings, such as a tent. The passage that mentions hyssop reads: “While he watches, the heifer is to be burned”its hide, flesh, blood and offal. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.”
The ceremonial cleansing of the children of Israel that is described in Hebrews 9:19 includes hyssop branches along with scarlet wool: “For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool.” [New Living Translation]
Other places in the Bible where hyssop is mentioned includes:
“A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.” [John 19:29; New International Version]
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” [Psalm 51:7; King James Version]