VINEGAR
Fermented drink that becomes sour due to the spontaneous or provoked production of acetic acid (Num. 6:3). Vinegar irritates the teeth (Prov. 10:26).
It cannot be drunk pure (Ps. 69:21). In the East it is mixed with a little oil to quench thirst when water is lacking (Rt. 2:14).
Singing happy songs to a grieving person is as absurd as pouring vinegar on soap, which was of a nature that vinegar neutralized (Prov. 25:20).
The Roman troops drank a light, sour wine that they called “acetum”, vinegar. It is probably a drink of this kind that the Roman soldier offered to the crucified Jesus, to quench his burning thirst (Mark 15:36; John 19:29, 30).
Jesus agreed to take a sip of this drink. He had previously been offered a narcotic drink, wine mixed with myrrh, which he had refused (Mt. 27:34; Mr. 15:23).