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GALL ( ÷ïëÞ , fel).—
In LXX Septuagint ÷ïëÞ represents (1) øà ̇ ùׁ (Deu_32:32, Psa_69:21); and (2) ìַòֵðָä wormwood (Pro_5:4, Lam_3:15). Øְ ̇ ùׁ and ìַòִðִä are sometimes combined, e.g. Deu_29:18 øà ̇ ùׁ åìòֲðָä , LXX Septuagint ἐí ÷ïëῇ êáé ôéêñéá , Vulgate fel et amaritudiaem; Lam_3:19 ìִòֲðָä åָøà ̇ ùׁ , LXX Septuagint ôéêñéá êáὶ ÷ïëἡ , Vulgate absynthiiet fellis.
It thus appears that ÷ïëÞ was used of any bitter drug, and there is therefore no discrepancy between Mat_27:34 ïἶíïí [ ὄîïò is a copyist’s assimilation to Psa_69:21] ìåôὰ ÷ïëῆò ìåìéãìÝíïí , and Mar_15:23 ἐóìõñíéóìÝíïí ïἶíïí . The potion administered to the cruciarius (see Crucifixion) was composed of wine and a variety of drugs—frankincense, laudanum, myrrh, resin, saffron, mastich.* [Note: Wetstein on Mar_15:23.] Thus ‘wine mixed with gall’ and ‘myrrhed wine’ are equivalent phrases, signifying generally medicated wine (cf. Swete, St. Mark, ad loc.). Mat_27:34 and Act_8:23 are the only places in the NT where ÷ïëÞ occurs.
David Smith.