אֵזוֹב (e.zov)
e.zov
hyssop
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ezov refers to hyssop, a small, aromatic shrub known for its tough stems and tiny leaves. In the ancient Near East, this plant was valued not only as a medicinal herb but also for its practical utility in daily life and religious ritual. The sources identify it as a plant used for both healing and ceremonial cleansing, highlighting its versatility in biblical times.
Ezov appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant occurrences in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It is notably used in the ritual for purifying those afflicted with skin diseases or mildew, as described in Leviticus 14:4-6, where it is dipped in blood or water and sprinkled on the affected person or house. This usage underscores its role as an instrument of purification and restoration within the covenant community.
While its exact botanical identity has been debated by scholars, with some suggesting species like Origanum syriacum (Syrian oregano) or Hyssopus officinalis, the text itself emphasizes function over classification. The plant’s association with cleansing rituals in Exodus 12:22 and Numbers 19:6 further cements its place as a symbol of purification. Its repeated mention in these contexts reflects its importance in maintaining ritual purity and communal holiness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Hyssop is a humble plant with tough stems and small leaves, yet it played a vital role in ancient Israel’s worship. It was not a rare or royal herb but a common shrub found in rocky terrain. Its strength lay in its utility: it served as a practical tool for applying blood and water during rituals of cleansing and protection.
This imagery reminds us that God often uses ordinary means to bring about significant spiritual realities. In Exodus, hyssop applied the Passover blood to protect families; in Leviticus, it facilitated the restoration of those healed from skin diseases. The focus was never on the plant’s beauty but on its function as an instrument of grace and purification.
For your faith life, this word invites you to trust in God’s provision through simple, tangible acts. Whether in communal worship or personal devotion, the emphasis remains on obedience and the cleansing power of God’s covenant, rather than on human status or complexity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ hyssop3×
- the/ hyssop2×
- hyssop2×
- and/ with the/ hyssop1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אֵזֹֽב\׃2×
- וּ/בָ/אֵזֹ֖ב1×
- וְ/אֵז֖וֹב1×
- הָ֨/אֵזֹ֜ב1×
- הָ/אֵזֹ֑ב1×
- אֵז֜וֹב1×
- אֵז֗וֹב1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 12:22
You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.
This verse establishes hyssop as the instrument for applying the Passover blood, marking the threshold of safety and deliverance for the Israelites.
-
Leviticus 14:6
As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.
Here hyssop is combined with cedar wood and scarlet wool to sprinkle blood over a person healed from a skin disease, symbolizing full restoration to the community.
-
Numbers 19:18
A clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave.
Hyssop is dipped in water of purification to cleanse those who have become ritually unclean through contact with death, highlighting its role in restoring ceremonial purity.