Hyssop

Seeking spiritual cleansing, purification and protection through the Almighty Father 

David makes a strong plea asking God to cleanse him with hyssop, with the understanding that only the refining power of the Almighty can purify.  "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)"

Hyssop was used throughout the Bible for the purposes of cleansing and purification, often with both spiritual and symbolic implications.  In Exodus 12, God instructs Moses to take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in to the blood of the sacrificial Passover lamb, representing the future Son of God, and using the hyssop to strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood, this insured that the Lord would pass over their doors not allowing the destroyer to strike, a clear example of Abba protecting the faithful.

Purification

In the books of Leviticus and Numbers, priest used hyssop in numerous ceremonies. In Numbers 18-19, Moses instructs that “a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave.  The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water; and at evening he shall be clean.” Moses grippingly associates hyssop with cleansing and purification.

"I Thirst"

In John 19 interestingly the last Biblical use of hyssop is illustrated when the Lamb of God Jesus thirsts “ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”  Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:28-30)

As we recall the use of hyssop in the founding of Passover, the sacrificial and cleansing ceremonies of the Old Testament and David’s plea to be purged with hyssop and purified of his sins, we acknowledged that the final Biblical reference of the hyssop branch used to quench the thirst of the sacrificial Lamb of God, indeed is symbolic that the ultimate cleansing and purification had been realized.

Hyssop Scripture Reference

Psalm 51:7

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

John 19:28-30

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Hebrews 9:19

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,

Exodus 12:22-23

And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. for the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.

Leviticus 14:4

then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop

Leviticus 14:6

As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.

Leviticus 14:49

And he shall take, to cleanse the house, two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop.

Numbers 19:6

And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.

Numbers 19:18

A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave.

1 Kings 4:33

Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish.