Ancient Hebrew Uses of Aromatic Plants

Hyssop

With the hyssop, Hebrew EZOV, we come to one of the most important Biblical aromatic and medicinal herbs. It is referred to various ritual contexts, and used as a whole herb. Most, if not all, authorities identify it as Origanum majorum, known popularly in the Middle East as zaatar or zahatar. Felix comments that the plant contains a strong odorous oil, i.e. an essential oil, used till today in the perfume industry. In the book of Exodus, the herb was used for painting the doorposts with blood (XII:22). The herb is several forking groups of branches, shaped much like a brush or broom. Hertz comments that "it was a convenient instrument for sprinkling, as its leaves readily absorb the liquid and freely give it out when shaken." In the book of Leviticus, the hyssop is used with the sacrifices to purify the impure (leper and red heifer). The use is a practical one : there is in the hyssop a component that prevents blood clotting : very important when the ceremony calls for the blood to run off the altar!

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