### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term `{{G5301}}` (hýssōpos) refers to the plant commonly known as hyssop. Its base definition indicates a foreign origin, directly linking it to the Hebrew `{{H0246}}` ('ezowb), which is the Old Testament equivalent. Botanically, hyssop is generally identified with a small, bushy, aromatic plant, likely *Origanum syriacum* or *Majorana syriaca*, characterized by its slender stems and small leaves, making it suitable for bundling into a brush for sprinkling. The semantic range of `{{G5301}}` is narrow, primarily denoting the plant itself, but its significance lies almost entirely in its ritualistic and symbolic uses within biblical tradition, inherited directly from its Hebrew counterpart. It is not merely a botanical reference but a ritual implement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term `{{G5301}}` appears only twice in the New Testament, both instances carrying profound theological weight due to their Old Testament allusions.
1. **[[John 19:29]]**: "A jar of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it to His mouth." Here, a hyssop branch is used to lift the sponge with sour wine to Jesus' lips on the cross. This seemingly minor detail carries significant symbolic resonance. In the Old Testament, hyssop was explicitly commanded for applying the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts in [[Exodus 12:22]]. Given John's pervasive portrayal of Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb (e.g., [[John 1:29]], [[John 19:36]]), the use of hyssop at the moment of His death subtly yet powerfully connects His sacrifice to the foundational act of Israel's redemption from bondage, thereby fulfilling the Passover typology.
2. **[[Hebrews 9:19]]**: "For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people." This passage explicitly references the ritual of covenant ratification described in [[Exodus 24:6-8]], though it also incorporates elements from other purification rites involving hyssop, such as the cleansing of lepers in [[Leviticus 14:4-7]] and purification from corpse defilement in [[Numbers 19:6]], [[Numbers 19:18]]. The author of Hebrews highlights hyssop as a key instrument in the old covenant's system of external purification, contrasting it with the superior, internal, and eternal cleansing offered by the blood of Christ. The inclusion of hyssop underscores the historical continuity and the typological fulfillment found in Christ's work.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word to `{{G5301}}` is its Hebrew equivalent, `{{H0246}}` ('ezowb), from which the Greek term is derived. Understanding the use of `{{H0246}}` in the Old Testament is essential for grasping the full significance of `{{G5301}}`.
Key concepts intimately tied to hyssop include:
* **Purification and Cleansing**: Hyssop was a primary instrument in ritual purification ceremonies for leprosy, defilement by death, and the general cleansing of the people (e.g., [[Leviticus 14]], [[Numbers 19]]).
* **Atonement and Sacrifice**: Its use in applying blood signifies its role in the sacrificial system that brought about atonement.
* **Covenant**: As seen in [[Hebrews 9:19]], hyssop was part of the ritual establishing the Mosaic covenant.
* **Passover**: The initial and most iconic use of hyssop for applying the lamb's blood to the doorposts (Exodus 12) establishes a profound link to redemption.
* **Humility**: The small, common nature of the hyssop plant stands in contrast to the cedar, often symbolizing greatness (cf. [[1 Kings 4:33]]), perhaps subtly hinting at the humble means through which divine cleansing is effected.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G5301}}` (hyssop) is profound, serving as a tangible link between the Old Covenant's shadows and the New Covenant's reality in Christ.
Firstly, hyssop consistently symbolizes **purification and cleansing from sin and defilement**. Its repeated use in Old Testament rituals, particularly those involving the sprinkling of blood or water, underscored the need for external cleansing to approach a holy God. The psalmist's prayer, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" ([[Psalm 51:7]]), encapsulates this longing for a purification that goes beyond the superficial.
Secondly, the appearance of hyssop at the crucifixion of Jesus in [[John 19:29]] is a powerful **typological fulfillment**. By using hyssop to offer Jesus the sour wine, the narrative subtly echoes the Passover ritual where hyssop applied the blood of the lamb. This connection identifies Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose shed blood provides true and eternal redemption, replacing the temporary efficacy of the Old Testament sacrifices. The hyssop, once a tool for applying the blood of animals that *covered* sin, now touches the lips of the One whose blood *removes* sin.
Finally, `{{G5301}}` in [[Hebrews 9:19]] highlights the **superiority of Christ's sacrifice**. The author of Hebrews contrasts the meticulous, hyssop-involved rituals of the Old Covenant, which could only achieve external, temporary purification, with the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. The old system, though divinely ordained, was a shadow pointing to the reality. Hyssop, therefore, serves as a poignant reminder of the inadequacy of the old covenant to truly cleanse the conscience, thereby magnifying the efficacy and completeness of Christ's atoning work. His blood, not hyssop-applied animal blood, truly purifies the heart and secures eternal redemption.
### Summary
The Greek term `{{G5301}}` (hýssōpos), derived from the Hebrew `{{H0246}}` ('ezowb), refers to the hyssop plant, a humble yet profoundly significant element in biblical ritual. Primarily used as an implement for sprinkling blood or water in Old Testament purification rites (e.g., Passover, cleansing from leprosy, defilement by death), it consistently symbolizes cleansing and atonement. Its New Testament appearances are few but weighty: in [[John 19:29]], hyssop's use at the cross subtly links Jesus to the Passover Lamb, whose blood was applied with hyssop, signifying His ultimate redemptive sacrifice. In [[Hebrews 9:19]], hyssop is presented as an instrument of the old covenant's external purification, serving to underscore the temporary nature of those rituals and highlighting the surpassing efficacy of Christ's blood for eternal, internal cleansing. Thus, `{{G5301}}` stands as a powerful symbol of purification, pointing from the shadows of ritual to the perfect and complete cleansing found in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
TRV