Biblical Herbs: Hyssop

Numerous herbs were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans and even figured in many of their myths and religious rituals. It should, therefore, not be surprising that many herbs are also mentioned in the Bible, such as in I Kings 21:2: "And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs ...." One of these so-called "biblical herbs" is hyssop.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a compact (2-3-feet-tall) perennial that is a member of the mint family and a native of Europe and Asia, which has been naturalized throughout North America. It is not as invasive as its cousin, though, nor as hardy. (It is hardy to Zones 4-5; however, if you live any further north, consider growing it as an annual. If you are able to grow hyssop as a perennial, you should realize that you will probably have to replace the plant every few years. For example, I usually have to replace mine about every three years.) Hyssop is quite fragrant, maybe smelling a bit like camphor when growing and a bit like mint when the leaves are crushed.

The camphor-like fragrance is one reason that hyssop has traditionally been used as a cleansing herb. For example, in Psalms 51:7: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." The strong aroma also made it a good choice as a strewing herb, being used by the Jews in Jerusalem to clean and freshen the temples. (The fragrance is also why it has frequently been used in perfumes.) However, it was more often used as a healing herb, as noted in John 19:29: "Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth." A tea made of hyssop was used to treat coughs, sore throats, and bronchitis. Poultices were also used to treat bruises and wounds. In addition, it seems to inhibit the growth of the herpes virus that causes genital herpes and cold sores. (Make a compress from an infusion to treat these recurring conditions.) Hyssop is also thought to have the ability to prevent blood coagulation, which would explain its use during Passover; i.e., in Exodus 12:22, it is written: "And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning."

Solomon mentioned hyssop in I Kings 4:33: "And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall...." Yet the hyssop mentioned in the Bible may not be the hyssop that we know today. In fact, many herbalists and scholars believe that the hyssop of biblical times could have actually been any number of herbs, particularly marjoram.

If you want to include hyssop in your Bible garden, plant it in a nice sunny location. (It can tolerate partial shade; however, it will become leggy.) It prefers dry soil conditions and generally requires little care. Cut back the tops to encourage a bushier growth. Propagation can be done from seeds, cuttings, or division. You can use the leaves at any time and also dry them for future use. Hyssop, by the way, is also great for attracting butterflies and bees.

References:

Castleman, Michael. The New Healing Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Inc., 2009.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1998.

All biblical quotes are from the King James Version.