269 



HYSSOP.— HYSSOPUS. 



Natural order, Verticillatce. A genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymnospermia class. 



Hyssop bears nearly the same name in 

 most of the European languages, and is de- 

 rived from the Hebrew ItfK Ezeb, signify- 

 ing a holy herb, or herb for purifying holy 

 places. 



When the Passover was instituted, Moses 

 commanded the Israelites to take a bunch of 

 hyssop, and dip it in the blood of a lamb, 

 and to sprinkle the lintel and the door-posts, 

 after which none were to pass out until the 

 morning.* 



It was also used by the priest at the cleans- 

 ing of persons afflicted with leprosy, as well 

 as for purifying the house of the Icpcivj- 



David also mentions this herb in the 



* Exodus, chap. xii. verse 22. 

 t Leviticus, c. xiv. 4, 49 and 52. 



