Lexical Summary cholé: Gall, bile Original Word: χολή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gall. Feminine of an equivalent perhaps akin to the same as Chloe (from the greenish hue); "gall" or bile, i.e. (by analogy) poison or an anodyne (wormwood, poppy, etc.) -- gall. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition gall (a bitter herb) NASB Translation gall (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5521: χολήχολή, χολῆς, ἡ (equivalent to χόλος, from χέω to pour out (now thought to be connected with χλόη, χλωρός, etc. 'yellowish green'; cf. Curtius, § 200; Vanicek, p. 247)), first found in Archilochus ( 1. bile, gall: Matthew 27:34 (cf. the Sept. Psalm 68:22 2. in the O. T. it is also used of other bitter things; for לַעֲנָה, wormwood, Proverbs 5:4; Lamentations 3:15; hence, some understand the word in Matthew 27:34 to mean myrrh, on account of Mark 15:23; but see σμυρνίζω, 2; (B. D. as above). χόλη denotes bile or gall, the intensely bitter bodily fluid that readily became a metaphor for moral and spiritual bitterness. In Scripture it appears only twice, yet each setting is strategic—one in the atoning suffering of Jesus Christ, the other in apostolic confrontation of sin. Physical Substance and Symbolic Force Ancient physicians identified gall as a corrosive liquid stored in the liver, useful in dyes and cures but feared for its acrid taste and toxic effect. Scripture adopts this natural bitterness to describe both the taste of suffering and the poison of sin. The metaphor rests on two observable realities: gall is repugnant to the tongue, and even a small amount can taint an entire mixture (compare Ecclesiastes 10:1). Old Testament Background The Hebrew poets repeatedly linked “gall” (rōʾsh) with wormwood and hemlock to portray cruelty or divine judgment (Deuteronomy 32:32-33; Jeremiah 8:14; Lamentations 3:5). Psalm 69:21 foretold, “They put gall in My food and gave Me vinegar to drink.” The Septuagint renders the Hebrew “poison” with χόλη, preparing the vocabulary later used in the passion narrative. Matthew 27:34 — The Cup Refused “There they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.” (Matthew 27:34) Roman executioners customarily gave a stupefying draught to dull pain. By prophecy, the mixture offered to Jesus was adulterated with gall, recalling Psalm 69:21. His refusal underscores at least three truths: 1. Prophetic fulfillment—He identifies Himself with the righteous sufferer of the Psalm. Acts 8:23 — The Poison of Bitterness “For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.” (Acts 8:23) Peter confronts Simon the magician, exposing his mercenary request for apostolic power. χόλη here operates metaphorically: the hidden bile of the heart that corrodes faith and enslaves the will. The phrase “gall of bitterness” reflects Deuteronomy 29:18, “a root that bears gall and wormwood,” warning Israel against apostasy. Peter joins gall with “bond of iniquity,” showing that bitterness can both flow from sin and deepen its chains. Theological Reflections 1. Substitution and Sympathy: The Messiah bears every bitter ingredient of the curse (Isaiah 53:4-5), yet chooses to taste human sorrow without anesthetic. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • In counseling, Matthew 27:34 encourages sufferers that Christ knowingly shared the full bitterness of pain. Historical Notes Early Christian writers (e.g., Justin Martyr, Dialogue 97) cited Psalm 69:21 and Matthew 27:34 to demonstrate prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. Medical texts of Hippocrates and Dioscorides identified gall as both remedy and toxin, illustrating the double-edged power of bitterness later echoed by Augustine: “The same cross is perfume to the humble and gall to the proud” (Enarrationes in Psalmos 64). Practical Exhortations • Guard communion: replace every seed of resentment with the forgiving mind of Christ (Ephesians 4:31-32). χόλη thus stands as both a literal ingredient in the crucible of redemption and a vivid image of the heart’s hidden poisons. Where Christ drains bitterness, believers find sweet freedom; where bitterness rules, only bondage remains. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:34 N-GFSGRK: οἶνον μετὰ χολῆς μεμιγμένον καὶ NAS: mixed with gall; and after tasting KJV: with gall: and INT: wine with gall mingled and Acts 8:23 N-AFS Strong's Greek 5521 |
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