I came across the following lesson and knew this was in Scripture, but never gave it much thought until now.  I pray you also will study these scriptures and learn from this as well.  I have defined hyssop, gall, and vinegar, and pray this gives all a better understanding of what our Lord went through for man.  Sometimes we pass over words without giving them much thought.

As a side note to our Lord’s crucifixion, it is said the bowing of our Lord’s head prior to dying, demonstrated His total inclusive comprehensive Deity as the Lord of all.  It is also interesting to note we humans die first and then bow our heads.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished:  and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”     (John 19:30)

Vinegar:  Vinegar is a liquid consisting of about 5-20% acetic acid, water, and other trace chemicals, which may include flavorings.  The acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria.

Hyssop: Hyssop is first mentioned in Exodus in connection with the institution of the Passover.  It is spoken of as a plant “springing out of the wall.”  Many conjectures have been formed as to what the plant really was.  Some contend that it was a species of marjoram, six species of which are found in Palestine.  Others with more probability think that it was the caper plant, the Capparis Spinosa of Linnaeus.  The plant grew in Egypt, in the desert of Sinai, and in Palestine.  It was capable of producing a stem three or four feet in length.

Gall:  Some very bitter plant, the bitterness as in being associated with the idea of poison.  Hemlock, colocynth and the poppy have all been suggested as the original rosh, the last having most support, but in most references the word may represent any bitter poisonous substance.  Rosh is associated with “wormwood.”

“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”    (Psalm 69:21)

“What David called a galling and bitter experience was literally fulfilled in the Messiah, as recorded by New Testament writers:

“They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall:  and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink.”    (Matthew 27:34)

“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 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. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished:  and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.”    (John 19:28-30)

The persecutors continued their course of maliciousness, but Jesus finished His earthly course of righteousness.  He could say, “It is finished”:  a sinless life; his ordeal for human redemption.   But what could they say?

Today mockers can contemptibly hand a cup of bitters to the Lord’s disciples.  They can taunt them with vinegary derision and galling scorn.  They can nail the Divine cause to the cross of disbelief and depravity, but what do they later say?  And where do they turn?”       ~ Leroy Brownlow

“He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:  and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”        (Isaiah 53:3-5)