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Many
herbs and vegetables and perennials are mentioned in the Bible. Today we sill
study a few in detail and look up were they are found in the Bible. People
who lived in Jesus’ time were wonderful herbalists! They used the herbs not
only for food but to flavor food and also for medicinal purposes. They did not visit the doctor around the corner at the
hospital. Hebrews 6:7 We
know that Biblical people set aside plots specifically for herbs: 1 Kings 21:2 When
the children of Israel wandered into the desert and received manna from heaven
it was described as what? Numbers 11:7-9 Hyssop
was often referred to as the herb used in purification:
Psalms 51:7 It
was also used to prevent blood from coagulating which may explain why the Jews
in Egypt were told to use it at the time of the Passover:
Exodus 12:22 The
medicinal use of Hyssop can be found in John
19:29-30 Solomon
must have been a very wise for proof of his wisdom: 1
Kings 4:33 The
biblical hyssop - the plant which is called hyssopus officinalis - is native to
southern Europe but not to the Holy Land or to Egypt - therefore the hyssop that
we grow is not the one from the bible. That one could have been - according to
bible authorities - marjoram, the caper plant, sorghum, the maidenhair
spleenwort or the wallrue. Mint
was well known as being used for flavoring food as it still is today. Some bible experts say mint was among the "bitter
herbs" mentioned in Exodus 12:8 and Numbers 9:11 along with leaves of
endive, chicory, lettuce, watercress, sorrel, and dandelions. All of these were
eaten as a salad. Mint was eaten after meals as a form of digestive aiding. Parsley
although not mentioned in the bible was abundant and was used at the Passover as
a symbol of a new beginning because it was one of the first herbs to pop up in
the spring. The Romans served it at banquets as a breath freshener. Other
passages regarding the bitter herbs are Exodus
12:8 and Numbers 9:11. Anise
is mentioned in the King James Version of the bible in Matthew
23:23, however the word “anise” is considered a mistake in
translation for most modern translators quote this passage as "mint and dill
and cumin". Garlic
is still the same garlic we use today. It was a favorite thing to eat by the
Kings of the times. The
Gourd of Jonah
4:6 is thought by some to be the castor bean plant. Job
cut up mallow for food. This plant is the saltwort, a saline plant something
like spinach and eaten by the poor. Job 30:4 Mandrake
is mentioned in Genesis
30:14-16. The story tells
of Rachael requesting the mandrakes from Rueben, it does not tell that Rachael
believed in their magical qualities, although in those days the plant was held
in great esteem by the people for their magical properties. It is also known as
the love apple. Jesus
mentioned rue in His rebuke of the Pharisees. So
which Thorn did Christ wear on the
cross? Many thorns and brambles
grew in the time of Jesus. The thorn that most believe to be the thorn He wore
is the Jerusalem thorn Paliurus Spina-Christi. Other plants mentioned in the
Bible include: Balm,
Frankincense, Camphor, Cinnamon and Cassia, Saffron (These
were used for perfumes and baths and are from what were considered precious
woods:)
Staples were: Corn,
Wheat, Lentils, Millet, Beans, Barley Flowers mentioned in the
bible: Willow
Herb, Water lily, Violet, Tulip, Salvia, Star of Bethlehem, Rose, Ranunculus,
Peony, Nigella, Narcissus, Meadow Saffron, Mallow, Lupine, Loosestrife, Lily,
Larkspur, Jonquil, Hyacinth, Bedstraw, Crocus, Anemone Herbs from the Bible: Wild
Gourd, Rue, Mustard, Mint, Melon, Mandrake, Mallow, Hyssop, Garlic, Leek, Onion,
Coriander, Anise, Cumin, Flax, Cucumber, Bay Leaf, Chervil, Cinnamon Trees of the bible Willow,
Pine, Poplar, Oak, Mulberry, Myrtle, Juniper, Green Bay Tree, Elm, Chestnut,
Cypress and Cedar Fruits mentioned: Pomegranate, Palm, Nuts, Apple and Olives Herbal
Remedies In The Bible Sores and wounds were treated
mostly with poultices made from bear's breech, honey and lard, ivy gum (from the
ivy plant), agrimony, linseed oil, and papaya peel. Sprains were wrapped with an ointment
made from the crushed leaves of comfrey plant. Rheumatism was treated
by soaking the balm of Gilead in olive oil and applied in liniment form.
By having a massage with salt followed by a full body shampoo, you would
feel as you do after enjoying a soak in a spa.
This helps with blood circulation. Upset stomachs were settled
by gargling with rosemary water, and drinking it. Also gingerroot would have
been nibbled on. Headaches called for
rosemary tea, or spearmint leaves being laid on the forehead. Sweet marjoram's
oil was rubbed upon the forehead for relief. Fever:
Rosemary twigs were boiled in water and used to wash a feverish body.
White willow was made into a tea for what we know as an aspirin effect. Earache:
Softened flowers of the mullein plant steeped in olive oil were used as
drops. Garlic was also thought to have relieved pain and loosen the earwax. Two
Favorite Christmas Herbs: Frankincense Frankincense,
also called Olibanum has been used for religious rites for centuries. It is
mentioned in the first 5 books often. It has been used to treat internal and
external ailments. It is a gummy resin found in small thorny trees called
Boswellia Thurifera, growing in Africa, Yemen, and the Red Sea Countries. The
sap from the trees oozes out forming small white peas, which harden in the air
and turns yellow. These are burned for the aroma. The oil of Frankincense is
calming and soothing and deepens breathing. So, therefore using it in a
vaporizer is helpful for those with breathing ailments. Add 5-6 drops to a bath
for a calming experience! Myrrh This is an old fashioned remedy for making a wash for infections. The Egyptians and Hebrews used it for incense, cosmetics, perfumes, and medicines. It was also used at that time for embalming. It was considered, as was Frankincense, a rare treasure and was so thought to be a great gift for Baby Jesus! It, too, is a gummy resin derived from the shrub Commiphora, which is found in Arabia and Abyssinia. Today, it is used in treating sore throats, infected gums, thrush, and athlete’s foot. It contains cleansing agents, therefore, countering poisons in the body. It also stimulates the circulatory system and is an expectorant! Another name for garden myrrh is Sweet Cicely. This plant has fern like foliage with dull white flowers and grows to be about 3 feet tall.
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