² tn The second simile mentions pouring vinegar on soda. The LXX has “scab,” but that does not fit as a sensitive thing. The reference is to sodium carbonate (natural in Egypt) which can be neutralized with vinegar.

² tn The “vinegar” (<span class="hebrew">חֹמֶץspan>, <span class="translit">hometsspan>) is some kind of drink preparation that has been allowed to go sour.

¹ sn The cheap <i>sour winei> was called in Latin <i>poscai>, 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.

¹ sn <i>Sour winei> refers to cheap wine that was called in Latin <i>poscai>, 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.

² sn <i>Sour winei> refers to cheap wine that was called in Latin <i>poscai>, 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.

¹ tn The phrase “a dry piece of bread” is like bread without butter, a morsel of bread not dipped in vinegar mix (e.g., <data ref="Bible:Ru 2:14">Ruth 2:14data>). It represents here a simple, humble meal.

¹ sn Two similes are used to portray the aggravation in sending a lazy person to accomplish a task. Vinegar to the teeth is an unpleasant, irritating experience; and smoke to the eyes is an unpleasant experience that hinders progress.

¹ sn <i>Sour winei> was cheap wine, called in Latin <i>poscai>, and referred to a cheap vinegar wine diluted heavily with water. It was the drink of slaves and soldiers, and the soldiers who had performed the crucifixion, who had some on hand, now used it to taunt Jesus further.

¹ tc The consonants of the Hebrew text of this verse are similar to the consonants in v. <data ref="Bible:Pr 25:19">19data>. The LXX has a much longer reading: “Like vinegar is bad for a wound, so a pain that afflicts the body afflicts the heart. Like a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the pain of a man wounds the heart” (NRSV follows much of the LXX reading; NAB follows only the second sentence of the LXX reading). The idea that v. <data ref="Bible:Pr 25:20">20data> is a dittogram is not very convincing; and the Greek version is too far removed to be of help in the matter.

⁴ sn In order <i>to fulfilli> (<span class="greek">τελειωθῇspan> [<span class="translit">teleiōthēspan>], a wordplay on the previous statement that <i>everything was completedi> [<span class="greek">τετέλεσταιspan>, <span class="translit">tetelestaispan>]) <i>the scripturei>, he said, “<i>I am thirstyi>.” The scripture referred to is probably <data ref="Bible:Ps 69:21">Ps 69:21data>, “They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Also suggested, however, is <data ref="Bible:Ps 22:15">Ps 22:15data>, “My tongue cleaves to the roof of my mouth, and you [God] lay me in the dust of death.” <data ref="Bible:Ps 22:1">Ps 22:1data> reads “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?,” a statement Jesus makes from the cross in both <data ref="Bible:Mt 27:46">Matt 27:46data> and <data ref="Bible:Mk 15:34">Mark 15:34data>. In light of the connection in the Fourth Gospel between thirst and the living water which Jesus offers, it is highly ironic that here Jesus himself, the source of that living water, expresses his thirst. And since <data ref="Bible:Jn 7:39">7:39data> associates the living water with the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ statement here in <data ref="Bible:Jn 19:28">19:28data> amounts to an admission that at this point he has been forsaken by God (cf. <data ref="Bible:Ps 22:1">Ps 22:1data>, <data ref="Bible:Mt 27:46">Matt 27:46data>, and <data ref="Bible:Mk 15:34">Mark 15:34data>).