19:29

sour wine: See study note on Mt 27:48.

a hyssop stalk: In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the Greek word hysʹso·pos, traditionally rendered “hyssop,” appears only twice, here and at Heb 9:19. Scholars have different opinions about what plant is meant at Joh 19:29. Some think that this refers to the same plant commonly referred to as “hyssop” in the Hebrew Scriptures, which many identify with marjoram, or Origanum maru; Origanum syriacum. (Le 14:2-7; Nu 19:6, 18; Ps 51:7) This hyssop was used by the Israelites in Egypt to splash the blood of the Passover victim on the two doorposts and the upper part of the doorway of their houses. (Ex 12:21, 22) Therefore, some have suggested that this plant might have been available when Jesus was executed, since it would have been used in the Passover celebration. Others think that a marjoram stalk is not stiff enough to have supported a wine-soaked sponge or long enough to carry the sponge to Jesus’ mouth. Another view is that the hyssop referred to here may have been a bunch of marjoram attached to a reed and held to Jesus’ mouth. This would agree with the parallel accounts at Mt 27:48 and Mr 15:36, where it says that the sponge soaked with sour wine was put on “a reed.”