Bible Dictionary
Rue
Rue was a strongly scented garden herb that the Pharisees carefully tithed. Jesus used it to expose their concern for minor religious details while neglecting justice and the love of God.
Definition
Rue is the strongly scented garden herb Ruta graveolens, a small shrub with medicinal and culinary uses. It was cultivated in Palestine and was subject to tithing in the setting described in Luke.
Biblical Usage
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for carefully tithing rue while neglecting weightier matters. The parallel passage in Matthew names anise and cummin instead.
Historical Background
Rue grows two to four feet high and has a heavy odor. A similar species, Ruta chalepensis, is indigenous. The herb was regarded by some as a kitchen plant and was cultivated in gardens in the period of Jesus.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 Palestine. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes. It has a powerful scent, and is a stimulant. (See MINT.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
occurs only in (Luke 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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>roo (peganon): One of the plants mentioned in Lu 11:42 as subject to tithe: in the parallel passage, Mt 23:23, anise and cummin are mentioned. Ruta graveolens (Natural Order, Rutaceae) is the official rue, and a very similar species, R. chalepensis, is indigenous. Rue is a small shrub growing 2 to 4 ft. high with a heavy odor, disagreeable to Westerners, but a favorite with Orientals. A sprig of rue is often fixed on a child's cap or clothes as a kind of charm.</p>