HYSSOP, an Herb very generally known, and in Hebrew called Esob. It was אזובEsob. Hyssopus. Exod. xii. 22.commonly made use of in Purifications instead of a sprinkler. For example, God commanded the Hebrews, when they came out of Egypt, to take a bunch of Hyssop, to dip it in the blood of the Paschal Lamb, and sprinkle the lintel and the two sideposts with it. Sometimes they added a little wool to it, of a scarlet colour. For example, in the Purification of Lepers, they Levit. xiv. 4.dipped a bunch composed of Hyssop, the branches of Cedar, and red wool in water, mingled with the blood of a bird, and with it sprinkled the Leper.
John xix. 29.Hyssop is a shrub, which shoots out abundance of suckers from one root only; it is as hard as any large wood, and grows about a foot and an half high. At particular distances on both sides its stock, it pushes out longish leaves, which are hard, odoriferous, warm, and a little bitter to the taste. The blossom of it appears at the top of the stem, of an azure colour, and like an ear of corn. There are two sorts of it, the garden, and mountain Hyssop. It is very probable that Hyssop grew to a very great height in Judæa, since it is said in the Gospel, that the soldiers having filled a sponge with vinegar, they put it upon a stick made of Hyssop, and presented it to our Saviour’s mouth, who was then upon the Cross.