Spitting
Summary
An act expressing extreme contempt in ancient culture, inflicted upon Christ during His passion, yet also used by Him in healing.
☩As an Insult
Spitting in someone's face was a profound mark of derision and contempt throughout the ancient Near East. Christ foretold He would be spit upon, and during His Passion both Jews and Gentile soldiers fulfilled this prophecy. The Old Testament similarly references spitting as an insult.
☩In Christ's Healings
On three occasions Jesus used His spittle in healing: with a deaf and dumb man in Decapolis, touching his tongue; with a blind man at Bethsaida, spitting upon his eyes; and with the man born blind at Jerusalem, making clay of spittle and anointing his eyes. Ancient belief attributed medicinal value to human saliva, especially for eye troubles.
Related Verses9 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Spitting," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Spitting, Spittle," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).