Bible Dictionaries

Holman Bible Dictionary

Gall

(herb) A bitter, poisonous herb (perhaps Citrullus colocynthis ), the juice of which is thought to be the “hemlock” poison Socrates drank Gall was frequently linked with wormwood (Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15; Lamentations 3:19; Amos 6:12 ) to denote bitterness and tragedy. Wormwood and gall were often associated with unfaithfulness to God, either as a picture of the unfaithful (Deuteronomy 29:18 ) or as their punishment. Modern speech translations generally translate the Hebrew word for gall in light of the context of the passage (poisonous growth, Deuteronomy 29:18 NRSV; poisonous water, Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:5; Jeremiah 23:15 NRSV; poison, Amos 6:12 NRSV). Gall is still used at Lamentations 3:19 . On the cross, Jesus was offered sour wine drugged with gall, perhaps opium, which He refused (Matthew 27:34; compare Psalm 69:21 ). Simon the magician was described as full of the gall of bitterness (Acts 8:23 ) because he wanted to prostitute the gift of the Holy Spirit.