John 19:29-30

19:29 A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth. 19:30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


sn The cheap sour wine was called in Latin posca, and referred to a cheap vinegar wine diluted heavily with water. It was the drink of slaves and soldiers, and was probably there for the soldiers who had performed the crucifixion.

sn Hyssop was a small aromatic bush; exact identification of the plant is uncertain. The hyssop used to lift the wet sponge may have been a form of reed (κάλαμος, kalamo", “reed,” is used in Matt 27:48 and Mark 15:36); the biblical name can refer to several different species of plant (at least eighteen different plants have been suggested).

tn Or “and brought it.”

tn Grk “Then when.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated for stylistic reasons.

tn Or “It is accomplished,” “It is finished,” or “It is ended.” See tn on John 13:1.

tn Or “he bowed his head and died”; Grk “he bowed his head and gave over the spirit.”