Mint

Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42; a garden herb well known. The law did not oblige the Jews to give the tithe of this sort of herbs; it only required it of those things which could be comprehended under the name of income or revenue. But the Pharisees, desirous of distinguishing themselves by a more scrupulous and literal observance of the law than others, gave the tithes “of mint, anise, and cummin,” Mat 23:23. Christ reproved them because that, while they were so precise in these lesser matters, they neglected the more essential commandments of the law, and substituted observances, frivolous and insignificant, in the place of justice, mercy, and truth.

Mint is mentioned in Mat 23:23: ’Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise (properly dill) and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law;’ and, again, in Luk 11:42; ’But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue, and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.’ All the plants mentioned in the above passages belong to the smaller ones cultivated in gardens in Europe, and which usually come under the denomination of sweet herbs. Lady Calcott inquires whether mint was one of the bitter herbs which the Israelites ate with the Paschal Lamb; and infers the probability of its being so from our own practice of eating lamb with mint sauce. Dr. Harris argues that mint, anise, and cummin were not tithed, and that the Pharisees only paid tithes of these plants from an overstrained interpretation of the law. But, in the article ’Dill,’ it ’may be seen that dill was tithed, and it is one of the herbs mentioned along with mint. The meaning, therefore, seems to be, that the Pharisees, while, in conformity with the law, they paid these minute tithes, neglected the most important moral duties—truth, justice, and mercy; for it is added, ’these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.’

The species of mint most common in Syria is Mentha sylvestris, found by Russell at Aleppo, and mentioned by him as one of the herbs cultivated in the gardens there. It also occurs in Greece, Taurus, Caucasus, the Altai Range, and as far as Cashmere, whence we have obtained specimens. Mint is highly esteemed in Eastern countries, and apparently was so also by the Jews. It was much esteemed by the ancients, as Pliny testifies. Dioscorides also mentions it as useful to the stomach, and peculiarly grateful as a condiment. Mint was employed by the ancients in the preparation of many dishes.

It is difficult to determine the exact species or variety of mint employed by the ancients. There are numerous species very nearly allied to one another. They usually grow in moist situations, and are herbaceous, perennial, of powerful odor, especially when bruised, and have small reddish-colored flowers, arranged in spikes or whorls. The taste of these plants is bitter, warm, and pungent, but leaving a sensation of coolness on the tongue: in their properties they are so similar to each other, that either in medicine, or as a condiment, one species may safely be substituted for another.

A garden herb, sufficiently known. The Pharisees, desiring to distinguish themselves by a most scrupulous and literal observation of the law, gave tithes of mint, anise, and cummin, Mat 23:23 . Our Savior does not censure this exactness, but complains, that while they were so precise in these lesser matters, they neglected the essential commandments of the law-making their punctiliousness about easy and external duties an excuse for disregarding their obligations to love God supremely, to be regenerated in heart, and just and beneficent in life.\par

Mint. This name occurs only in Mat 23:23 and Luk 11:42, as one of those herbs, the tithe of which the Jews were most scrupulously exact in paying. The horse mint, Mentha sylvestris, and several other species of mint are common in Syria.

Greek mintha hedu osmon ("sweet-smelling herb"), of the order Labiatae. A carminative in medicine and a condiment in cookery. Tithed scrupulously by the Pharisees (Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42). Our use of mint with roast; lamb may be a relic of Israel’s eating the Passover with bitter herbs.

Mint. Mat 23:28; Luk 11:42. A well-known herb, much used in domestic economy. The Jews are said to have scattered it, on account of its pleasant smell, on the floors of their houses and synagogues. The species most common in Syria is the Mentha sylvestris, horse-mint.

ἡδύοσμον. One of the small herbs on which the Pharisees were careful to pay tithes. Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42. There are several species of mint; the Mentha Sylvestris is common in Syria.

MINT (ἡδύοσμον, mentha) is mentioned only in Mat 23:23 and the parallel passage Luk 11:42, where it is represented as being subject to tithe. It is a familiar garden herb, belonging to the natural order Labiatae. The species commonly grown in Palestine is horse-mint (M. sylvestris), and there can be little doubt that this is the mint of Scripture. It is extensively used for culinary purposes, and is also highly valued as a carminative. Mint was probably one of the ‘bitter herbs’ with which the Paschal lamb was eaten.

Hugh Duncan.

MINT (Gr. hçdyosmon, Mat 23:23, Luk 11:42).—One of the trifles which were tithed; primarily, perhaps, peppermint (Mentha piperita), but including also allied plants, such as the horse mint, (M. sylvestris), which grows wild all over Palestine.

E. W. G. Masterman.

mint (ἡδύοσμον, hēdúosmon): Mentioned (Mat 23:23; Luk 11:42) as one of the small things which were tithed. The cultivated variety (Mentha piperita), “peppermint,” was doubtless primarily intended, but the wild Mentha silvestris or horsemint, which flourishes all over the mountains of Palestine, is probably included.

Mint. A sweet-smelling herb which grew to a height of one meter (three feet) and produced spikes of lilac flowers. Mint was used in medicine and to flavor foods.

Mint refers to various plants with fragrant leaves that people use for flavoring food. Many types of mint grow in Israel and the surrounding areas, but the horse mint (Mentha longifolia) is likely the one mentioned in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42.

The ancient Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans used mints for several purposes. They added it as flavoring to foods, used it in medicine to relieve gas and stomach discomfort, and included it as a seasoning in cooking.

Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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