{Wine mingled with gall} (oinon meta chol(8873) memigmenon).
Late MSS. read {vinegar} (oxos) instead of wine and Mark ( Mr
15:23 ) has myrrh instead of gall. The myrrh gave the sour wine a
better flavour and like the bitter gall had a narcotic and
stupefying effect. Both elements may have been in the drink which
Jesus tasted and refused to drink. Women provided the drink to
deaden the sense of pain and the soldiers may have added the gall
to make it disagreeable. Jesus desired to drink to the full the
cup from his Father's hand ( Joh 18:11 ).