rue Summary and Overview

a garden herb (Ruta graveolens) which the Pharisees were careful to tithe (Luke 11:42), neglecting weightier matters. It is omitted in the parallel passage of Matt. 23:23. There are several species growing wild in Israel. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes. It has a powerful scent, and is a stimulant. (See MINT T0002560.)

occurs only in #Lu 11:42| The rue here spoken of is doubtless the common Ruta graveolens a shrubby plant about two feet high, of strong medicinal virtues. It is a native of the Mediterranean coasts, and has been found by Hasselquist on Mount Tabor. The Talmud enumerates rue amongst kitchen herbs, and regards it as free of tithe as being a plant not cultivated in gardens. In our Lord's time however rue was doubtless a garden plant, and therefore tithable.

RUE , a well-known herb (Ruta graveoleus) which often grows wild in Palestine, and was also cultivated for Rue. (Ruta Graveolens. After Carruthers.) its disinfectant and other medicinal properties. It was among the things which the hypocritical and inconsistent Pharisees tithed, though uncommanded, while they neglected to obey the important and positive precepts of the Law. Luke 11:42.

Luke 11:42. Ruta graveolens; a shrub two feet high, used as a condiment and as a medicine. Dioscorides (iii. 45) describes two kinds, the rue of the mountains and the strong smelling or garden rue. The garden plant was titheable. The Turks keep pots of rue in their drawing rooms for the odor. In the middle ages the priests used bunches of rue wherewith to sprinkle holy water, from whence Shakespeare uses the term "herb of grace" (Rich. II, 3:4).