### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek lemma ὄξος (óxos, `{{G3690}}`) denotes "vinegar" or, more broadly, "sour wine." Its etymological root lies in ὀξύς (oxýs), meaning "sharp," "pointed," or "acidic," which directly informs its primary characteristic as a liquid with a sour or pungent taste. In the ancient world, ὄξος was a common and inexpensive beverage, often made from fermented grapes that had turned sour, or from other fermented fruits or grains. It was frequently mixed with water to create a refreshing, albeit tart, drink, particularly favored by soldiers and laborers due to its affordability and perceived medicinal qualities. While its literal meaning is straightforward, its specific uses in the New Testament carry significant symbolic weight, often associated with suffering, humility, and the fulfillment of prophecy.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ὄξος (óxos) appears exclusively in the Gospel narratives concerning the crucifixion of Jesus, underscoring its pivotal role in the passion account.
* **Matthew 27:34:** "they gave Him sour wine to drink mingled with gall; but when He had tasted it, He would not drink." Here, ὄξος is translated as "sour wine" and is offered to Jesus mixed with χολή (cholē), "gall" or "bitter herbs." This concoction was likely intended as an anesthetic or stupefying agent to alleviate the pain of crucifixion. Jesus' refusal highlights His conscious decision to endure the full agony without artificial numbing, a moment that resonates with the prophetic suffering described in [[Psalm 69:21]].
* **Matthew 27:48:** "Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink."
* **Mark 15:36:** "And someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, 'Let us see if Elijah comes to take Him down.'"
* **Luke 23:36:** "The soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him sour wine." Luke's account uniquely frames the offering of ὄξος as an act of derision by the Roman soldiers, further emphasizing the humiliation and contempt Jesus endured.
* **John 19:29-30:** "Now a jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." John's narrative is particularly profound. The offering of ὄξος follows Jesus' declaration, "I thirst" ([[John 19:28]]), explicitly noted by John as occurring "to fulfill the Scripture" (namely, [[Psalm 69:21]]). Jesus' acceptance and consumption of the sour wine immediately precede His final declaration, "It is finished," signifying the completion of His redemptive work and perfect obedience.
Across these accounts, the offering of ὄξος consistently highlights Jesus' profound suffering, His humiliation, and the meticulous fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the events leading to His death.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Old Testament Parallel:** The Hebrew equivalent to ὄξος is חֹמֶץ (chōmets, `{{H2558}}`), also meaning "vinegar." This term appears in various contexts, such as the Nazirite vow ([[Numbers 6:3]]) and as a common food item ([[Ruth 2:14]]). Crucially, it is found in [[Psalm 69:21]], a passage directly referenced or alluded to in the New Testament accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, establishing a direct prophetic link. The Septuagint (LXX) consistently translates חֹמֶץ with ὄξος.
* **Wine (οἶνος, oinos, `{{G3631}}`):** While ὄξος is a derivative of fermented grapes, it is distinct from "wine" (οἶνος), which typically refers to a more palatable, less acidic beverage. The offering of ὄξος instead of wine underscores the nature of Jesus' suffering—He was offered a common, cheap, and often unpalatable liquid rather than a comforting drink.
* **Gall (χολή, cholē, `{{G5521}}`):** In [[Matthew 27:34]], ὄξος is mingled with χολή, "gall" or "bitter herbs." This combination intensifies the sense of bitterness and extreme unpleasantness, amplifying the suffering Jesus was offered to endure.
* **Thirst (διψάω, dipsaō, `{{G1372}}`):** Jesus' declaration "I thirst" ([[John 19:28]]) immediately preceding the offering of ὄξος underscores His full humanity and the physical reality of His suffering on the cross. The sour wine, though a meager offering, addressed this profound physical need in His final moments.
### Theological Significance
The presence and consumption of ὄξος by Jesus on the cross are laden with profound theological significance:
* **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The most direct theological implication is the precise fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly [[Psalm 69:21]]. This demonstrates God's meticulous sovereignty over human history and the divine orchestration of even the seemingly minor details of Christ's passion, affirming the reliability and authority of Scripture.
* **Depth of Christ's Suffering:** The sour wine symbolizes the bitter cup of suffering Jesus drank for humanity. It was a common, cheap drink, emphasizing His humiliation and the lack of comfort or dignity afforded to Him in His final moments. It highlights the full extent of His human suffering—physical pain, thirst, mockery, and the spiritual burden of bearing the world's sin.
* **Obedience and Completion:** In John's Gospel, Jesus' acceptance of the ὄξος is a deliberate act, immediately followed by His declaration, "It is finished" ([[John 19:30]]). This signifies the completion of His redemptive work, the full payment for sin, and His perfect obedience to the Father's will, even unto death. He fully consumed the cup of God's wrath, leaving nothing undone.
* **Identification with Humanity:** By enduring such a common, undignified form of thirst-quenching, Jesus fully identified with the lowliest of humanity, experiencing the full spectrum of human deprivation and suffering. This reinforces His role as the compassionate High Priest who fully understands human weakness and temptation ([[Hebrews 4:15]]).
### Summary
The Greek word ὄξος (óxos, `{{G3690}}`), meaning "vinegar" or "sour wine," is derived from a root signifying sharpness or acidity. Its primary biblical occurrences are in the New Testament Gospel accounts of Jesus' crucifixion, where it is offered to Him. Contextual analysis reveals its dual significance: first, as a common, cheap, and often bitter drink, symbolizing the profound physical suffering and humiliation endured by Christ; and second, as a direct fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, particularly [[Psalm 69:21]]. Related to Hebrew חֹמֶץ (chōmets, `{{H2558}}`) and contrasted with palatable wine (οἶνος, `{{G3631}}`), ὄξος underscores the depth of Christ's agony and His perfect obedience. Theologically, its consumption marks the completion of His redemptive work, the full payment for sin, and His ultimate identification with human suffering, all meticulously orchestrated by God's sovereign plan.
TRV