Take the 2-minute tour ×

What was the purpose of giving Jesus vinegar to drink ? (Mark 15:23, Matthew 27:34) Some think it was a way to mock Jesus, but others argue that the "vinegar" (with gall) was the diluted wine drunk daily by the Romans, given to alleviate his pain. I would especially be interested to know how the early commentators interpreted this.

share|improve this question
Good question. This is not an answer as I have not dug up a reference in an early commentary but I think it was a little of both as i believe it was cheap sour wine but mostly to 'alleviate the pain'. see related post. hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/2334/… –  Mike Oct 8 '13 at 4:50
I have looked at several old commentaries from Church Father's and they do not seem to comment that much for any help. The best I could find is that one said it was what people 'typically gave criminals'. Maybe if you include how Roman Historical books would interpret it at the time someone will dig up a good reference that would actually illuminate the subject. –  Mike Oct 9 '13 at 10:23
It might help to know that gall and myrrh are both bitter medicinal herbs that are supposed to relieve pain. Another thing is that death by crucifixion is a combination of dehydration, exposure, and suffocation. –  crownjewel82 Oct 9 '13 at 20:23

2 Answers 2

up vote 5 down vote accepted

In Ps. 69:21 it says,"They gave Me also gall for My meat; and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink."

This is after the Psalmist says in vs 9,"For the zeal of thine house hath eaten Me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen on Me."

Both scenes were witnessed in the life of Jesus: when He drove out the moneychangers out of the Temple (Matt. 21:12/Mark 11:15), and His being offered vinegar; thus fulfilling the Messianic prophecy of David in Ps. 69.

I agree with this previous answer: it is clear that the 'cheap' wine (vinegar) was a mockery designed to extract the last amount of torment: there is little to no alcoholic content in vinegar, there's no 'relief' extracted from it, other than to add to one's sorrow. Significantly, it is recorded that after this He died.

The crucifixion was designed to extract the maximum amount of pain without putting one in shock or stopping vital bodily functions. One typically died of asphyxia-the lungs filling with fluid that one cannot aspirate.

The important truth is contained in Ps. 69:9,"The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on Me." He bore our reproach "outside the camp" (Heb. 13:13) that we would have "boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19) that we might "obtain mercy and find grace in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)

share|improve this answer
I had completely forgotten about this verse, I think this puts the "help/healing" theory to rest. –  YoMrWhite Oct 11 '13 at 1:41
So the purpose was that people were trying to bring about a "prophecy" from Psalms (how'd they get the Romans to go along with that?), or that a divine hand was behind the whole thing, or what? If you're saying they did it for cruelty then your Psalms quotes don't seem relevant, and if you're saying it's because of Psalms, then my first question stands. –  Gone Quiet Dec 24 '13 at 20:13

Mt 27:48, Mk 15:26 - Jesus is offered sour wine on a sponge
Lk 23:36 - The soldiers offer Jesus sour wine
Jn 19:28-29 - Jesus is offered sour wine from a vessel on a sponge

These verses are about a different drink of wine than that in question.

Mt 27:34 - The soldiers offer Jesus wine mingled with gall before he is crucified, which He rejects.
Mk 15:23 - The soldiers offer Jesus wine mingled with myrrh before he is crucified, which He rejects.

These two verses describe the same event. The weird thing is that one describes wine mingled with myrrh, and the other wine mingled with gall.

A couple of observations before continuing: 1) "Gall" usually means something bitter with an unpleasant taste. It is also used of various poisons. Cf. Job 20:14, Prov 5:4, Lam 3:15, Deut 29:17, etc.
2) Myrrh was often used as an additive to make things taste more pleasant.

Scofield, Gill, the Pulpit, Matthew Poole, the ESV study Bible, James Edwards, Robert Mounce, and MacArthur say that wine mixed with narcotic/anesthetic agents were commonly given to people being crucified to help with the pain. Myrrh was what was given, which would taste bitter and dull the mind and senses. The Talmud (B. Sanh. 43a) says, "When one is led out to execution, he is given a goblet of wine containing a grain of frankincense, in order to benumb his senses, for it is written, Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto the bitter in soul." In the words of Alan Cole, "Jesus, however, would not take any such anaesthetic; all his faculties must be unclouded for what lay before him."

share|improve this answer

protected by Community Dec 3 at 14:30


Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
