Vinegar

Walls · Dec 10, 2003

Does anyone know what the purpose was for vinegar in the Bible? Why did they give Jesus vinegar when He was on the cross?

Deacon · Dec 10, 2003

When you try to loose weight, many advise that acidic or sour liquids like lemon juice, can lower the cravings for food. Similarly, the sour taste of vinegar can be used to quench a compelling thirst. Don't try this at home, the adverse effects of dehydration are bad.

Rob

Walls · Dec 10, 2003

Originally posted by Deacon:
Similarly, the sour taste of vinegar can be used to quench a compelling thirst.
Rob
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Interesting, I always wondered why they gave Christ vinegar, do you think it was to quench His thirst?

dianetavegia · Dec 10, 2003

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Vinegar.

The Hebrew word translated "vinegar" was applied to a beverage consisting generally of wine or strong drink turned sour, but sometimes artificially made by an admixture of barley and wine, and thus liable to fermentation. It was acid even to a proverb, (Proverbs 10:26) and by itself formed an unpleasant draught, (Psalms 49:21) but was used by laborers. (Ruth 2:14) Similar was the acetum of the Romans --a thin, sour wine, consumed by soldiers. This was the beverage of which the Saviour partook in his dying moments. (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29,30)
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Nave's Topical Bible

Vinegar
(A sour wine)
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Jamieson, Fausset, Brown John Chapter 19
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished--that is, the moment for the fulfilment of the last of them; for there was one other small particular, and the time was come for that too, in consequence of the burning thirst which the fevered state of His frame occasioned (Psalms 22:15).

that the scripture--(Psalms 69:21)might be fulfilled saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar--on the offer of the soldiers' vinegar, and they--"one of them," (Matthew 27:48).

29. filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon--a stalk of hyssop, and put it to his mouth--Though a stalk of this plant does not exceed eighteen inches in length, it would suffice, as the feet of crucified persons were not raised high. "The rest said, Let be"--[that is, as would seem, 'Stop that officious service'] "let us see whether Elias will come to save Him" (Matthew 27:49). This was the last cruelty He was to suffer, but it was one of the most unfeeling.
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Walls, I've always felt it was absolute cruelty on the part of an unfeeling world. How horrible to see a 'good man', even if they didn't believe Jesus was the Son of God, suffer and then mistreat Him in His last moments by offering him a common, bitter, vile drink. Just one more degrading act.... as if they had not done enough.

Matt. 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
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Matt. 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
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Diane

LadyEagle · Dec 10, 2003

I agree, Diane. I've always thought it as a form of cruelty and mockery. And His face would have been macerated by his beard being ripped out, so wouldn't the acid vinegar have stung and burned in those wounds, too?

Walls · Dec 11, 2003

So that vinegar in the Bible isn't what we would think of today?

This is really the reason for my question. Apple cider vinegar is good to take for so many health related issues, that I couldn't understand why they would crucify our Lord and then give Him something to make it better. Didn't make sense.

Deacon · Dec 11, 2003

From Easton's Bible Dictionary:

The drink offered to our Lord was vinegar (made of light wine rendered acid, the common drink of Roman soldiers) “mingled with gall,” or, according to Mark (15:23), “mingled with myrrh;” both expressions meaning the same thing, namely, that the vinegar was made bitter by the infusion of wormwood or some other bitter substance, usually given, according to a merciful custom, as an anodyne to those who were crucified, to render them insensible to pain. Our Lord, knowing this, refuses to drink it. He would take nothing to cloud his faculties or blunt the pain of dying. He chooses to suffer every element of woe in the bitter cup of agony given him by the Father (John 18:11). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA
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Vinegar can be easily made by anyone today. Take your cider (not the pasturized juice but the real, down home drink with the floating stuff in it) let it sit in your garage for a while until it's good, (it "good" because it has begun to ferment and the sugar has begun to turn to alcohol). Wait a little longer and the alcohol will begin to break down and it will turn to vinegar. Vinegar is just old wine, the common drink of the day since water was probably poluted from animal and human waste in a crowded city.

Rob

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