Exodus 12:22

“And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, etc.] Which some take to be “mint”, others “origanum” or “marjoram”, as Kimchi f360, others “rosemary”, as Piscator, Rivet, and many more; and indeed this seems to be fitter to strike or sprinkle with than hyssop; but it is more generally understood of hyssop, because the Hebrew word “ezob” is so near in sound to it; though whether it means the same herb we call hyssop is uncertain: Jarchi says, three stalks of it are called a bunch, and so the Misnic canon runs f361, “the command concerning hyssop is three stalks (which Maimonides on the place interprets roots), and in them three branches;” which some have allegorically applied to the Trinity, by whom…”

“hyssop--a small red moss [HASSELQUIST]; the caper-plant [ROYLE]. It was used in the sprinkling, being well adapted for such purposes, as it grows in bushes--putting out plenty of suckers from a single root. And it is remarkable that it was ordained in the arrangements of an all-wise Providence that the Roman soldiers should undesignedly, on their part, make use of this symbolical plant to Christ when, as our Passover, He was sacrificed for us [Joh 19:29]. none . . . shall go out at the door of his house until the morning--This regulation was peculiar to the first celebration, and intended, as some think, to prevent any suspicion attaching to them of being agents in the impending destruction…”

“A bunch of hyssop - The species here designated does not appear to be the plant now bearing the name. It would seem to have been an aromatic plant, common in Palestine and near Mount Sinai, with a long straight stalk and leaves well adapted for the purpose of sprinkling. Bason - The rendering rests on good authority and gives a good sense: but the word means “threshold” in some other passages and in Egyptian, and is taken here in that sense by some versions. If that rendering be correct it would imply that the lamb was slain on the threshold. None ... shall go out ... - There would be no safety outside the precincts protected by the blood of the lamb; a symbolism explained by the margin…”

“Out of the door of his house - Of that house, wherein he ate the passover: Until the morning - That is, till towards morning, when they would be called for to march out of Egypt. They went out very early in the morning. Exodus 12:23”

“12:22 Hyssop is a small bush with stiff, compact branches that can serve as a brush (see also Ps 51:7 and study note).”

“a bunch: Lev 14:6, Lev 14:7; Num 19:18; Psa 51:7; Heb 9:1, Heb 9:14, Heb 9:19, Heb 11:28, Heb 12:24; Pe1 1:2 hyssop: The word aizov, which has been variously rendered, most probably denotes Hyssop; whence are derived the Chaldee aizova, Syriac zupha, Arabic zupha, Ethiopic azab, and hushopa, Greek υσσωπος, hussopos \[Strong's G5301\], Latin hyssopus, German usop, and our hyssop, a name retained, with little variation, in all the western languages. It is a plant of the gymnospermia (naked seeded) order, belonging to the didynamia class. It has bushy stalks, growing a foot and a half high; small spear-shaped, close-sitting, and opposite leaves, with several smaller ones rising from the same…”