Psalms 69:21
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Crucifixion was designed for maximum suffering, and Roman executioners developed methods to prolong agony. The sour wine (oxos) served multiple purposes: it was cheap, so freely given to criminals; it was mildly anesthetic, which could prolong life and therefore suffering; and offering it mocked the victim's helplessness. The soldiers' actions fulfilled prophecy while serving Roman cruelty.
The 'gall' offered initially (Matthew 27:34) was likely myrrh mixed with wine, a mild narcotic that Jewish women customarily offered to crucifixion victims to dull pain (based on Proverbs 31:6, 'Give strong drink to him who is perishing'). Jesus refused this, choosing to face death's full agony conscious and aware. His refusal demonstrated His voluntary sacrifice—He would drink the cup of God's wrath fully, with no numbing agent.
The final offer of vinegar (John 19:29-30) preceded Jesus' death. John's gospel emphasizes that Jesus spoke 'I thirst' to fulfill Scripture, then after receiving the vinegar said, 'It is finished.' This wasn't random detail but theological point: even in death's throes, Jesus fulfilled every prophecy, completing salvation's work. The early church saw profound typology here—Jesus refused the gall but accepted the vinegar, maintaining consciousness to complete His mission. Where Adam and Eve grasped forbidden fruit, Jesus refused even legitimate pain relief to accomplish redemption.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'gall' and 'vinegar' does the world offer as satisfaction that actually leaves you empty or poisoned?
- How does Jesus' refusal of numbing agents challenge modern culture's avoidance of suffering?
- In what ways has Christ satisfied your deepest hunger and thirst that the world cannot?
- How can you discern between false comfort (the world's offerings) and true comfort (Christ)?
- What does it mean to you that Jesus experienced mockery while thirsting so you can have living water?
Analysis & Commentary
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. This verse describes cruel mockery disguised as mercy—enemies offer the sufferer bitter poison instead of food and sour wine instead of water. 'Gall' (rosh, רֹאשׁ) can mean poison or a bitter herb (possibly wormwood or hemlock). The Hebrew parallelism emphasizes the perversity: instead of satisfying hunger and thirst, enemies increase suffering under pretense of help.
The gospels record this verse's literal fulfillment at Christ's crucifixion. Matthew 27:34 says soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with gall, which He refused. Later, when Jesus said 'I thirst,' they gave Him vinegar on a sponge (John 19:28-29). What appeared as mercy—giving a drink to a dying man—was actually mockery. The sour wine was posca, cheap wine drunk by Roman soldiers, given to extend suffering rather than ease it. This prophecy-fulfillment demonstrates Scripture's detailed foretelling of Messiah's passion.
Spiritually, this verse represents the world's false comfort—what appears as satisfaction actually poisons. Sin promises pleasure but delivers death (Romans 6:23). The world offers 'living water' that leaves us thirsty (John 4:13). Only Christ provides true satisfaction: 'whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst' (John 4:14). Jesus, who was given gall and vinegar, now offers His own body and blood as true food and drink (John 6:55). What the world gave Him—poison and mockery—He transforms into salvation for us.