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Why is the star called Wormwood?

The plant Artemesia absinthium (or “wormwood”) is mentioned several times throughout the Bible. Solomon writes that the adulteress is as “bitter as wormwood” (Prov. 5:4). Likewise, Moses compares idolatry and serving other gods as “a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood” (Deut. 29:18; c.f. Jer. 9:15; 23:15; Lam. 3:15, 19). Osborne explains that the taste of wormwood “is so potent that one ounce of it can still be detected in 524 gallons of water!” Wormwood itself is not poisonous, but it probably is symbolic of the fact that the people have made a horrible, bitter decision to fall under the judgment of God.

  1. ^

    Osborne, Grant. Revelation. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 2002. 354.

About The Author
James Rochford

James earned a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, graduating magna cum laude. He is the founder of Evidence Unseen and the author of several books. James enjoys serving as a pastor at Dwell Community Church in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his wife and their two sons.