What Are the Bitter Herbs of the Bible?

Have you ever wondered what exactly are the bitter herbs to which the Bible refers? The first reference to them comes in Exodus 12:8: "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." This reference to the beginning of Passover has similarities to other references in the Bible in that it does not specifically tell us what herbs constitute bitter herbs; however, research concerning the herbs available in Egypt and surrounding areas during the time before the birth of Christ gives us a fairly good idea as to what plants could be counted among the bitter herbs.

It is generally agreed among scholars that the original bitter herbs were chicory, coriander, dandelion, sow-thistle, and wild lettuce. Other herbs that were probably part of this group include: hawkweed, horehound, horseradish, mint, sorrel, watercress, and wormword.

The bitter herbs acquired their name due to the fact that -- you guessed it -- they generally taste bitter. The bitter taste is also a reminder of the bitterness felt by the Jews during their enslavement in Egypt. ("The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs." Numbers 9:11.) Bitter herbs, therefore, are an important part of Passover and the Passover Seder, which is the meal that indicates the beginning of Passover and which also tells the story of the Exodus.

Some of the bitter herbs are specifically mentioned in the Bible. For example, coriander, the seeds of the cilantro plant is named in Exodus 16:31: "And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander see, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey."

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is another bitter herb mentioned in the Bible. It is written in Lamentations 3:15, for example: "He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood."

Mint (Menthe) is also mentioned in various places in the Bible, however, not exactly as a bitter herb. It is included, however, because mint can taste bitter when heated.

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the herbs thought to be the bitter herbs were readily available during biblical times. Dandelion, for instance, is believed to date back over 30 million years. Chicory may not be as ancient, but it is still thought to have been around for over 5,000 years. Horseradish is young with its history extending back a mere 3,000 years.

Interested in growing some of the bitter herbs from the Bible in your own garden? Check out my articles on chicory, cilantro/coriander, horehound, watercress, and wormwood (or artemisia).

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.

LoveToKnowHerbs: Bitter Herbs of the Bible.

All biblical quotes are from the King James Version.