John 19:29 Meaning and Explanation
“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They soak a sponge in the sour wine, set it on a stalk of hyssop, and lift it to his mouth.
What Does John 19:29 Mean?
A vessel of cheap sour wine — the common drink of soldiers — stands ready at the execution. Someone fills a sponge and raises it on hyssop to the lips of Jesus.
John names the plant for a reason his first readers would feel at once: hyssop brushed the blood of the Passover lamb onto the doorposts of Israel, that death might pass over (Exodus 12:22). Now, at Passover, hyssop touches the mouth of the Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). The instrument of the old deliverance attends the accomplishing of the new. Nothing at the cross is accidental; the oldest promises are converging here.
John 19:29 in the Original Language
hyssopos (ὕσσωπος), 'hyssop' -- the plant Israel used to apply the Passover lamb's blood to their doorposts (Exodus 12:22).
Frequently Asked Questions About John 19:29
What does John 19:29 mean?
They soak a sponge in the sour wine, set it on a stalk of hyssop, and lift it to his mouth.