Frank Kahney wrote:In relating the scene at the Cross all four Gospels translate OXOS as vinegar. Liddell and Scott also define it a 'sour wine'. Is there anything to indicate why all [most?] translations use vinegar rather than sour wine?
It might help to have some illustrative texts here:
Matt. 27:48 καὶ εὐθέως δραμὼν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν καὶ λαβὼν σπόγγον πλήσας τε ὄξους καὶ περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν.
Mark 15:36 δραμὼν δέ τις [καὶ] γεμίσας σπόγγον ὄξους περιθεὶς καλάμῳ ἐπότιζεν αὐτόν λέγων· ἄφετε ἴδωμεν εἰ ἔρχεται Ἠλίας καθελεῖν αὐτόν.
Luke 23:36 ἐνέπαιξαν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ οἱ στρατιῶται προσερχόμενοι, ὄξος προσφέροντες αὐτῷ
John 19:29 σκεῦος ἔκειτο ὄξους μεστόν· σπόγγον οὖν μεστὸν τοῦ ὄξους ὑσσώπῳ περιθέντες προσήνεγκαν αὐτοῦ τῷ στόματι. 30 ὅτε οὖν ἔλαβεν τὸ ὄξος
What translators choose to do is their own hang-up; generally on B-Greek we don't try to read the translators' minds but we examine the Greek word or text itself. In this case I think that BDAG's entry on ὄξος is very instructive:
ὄξος, ους, τό (on relation to ὀξύς s. Schwyzer I 512, cp. 463; since Solon 26, 7 Diehl3, Aeschyl., Hippocr.; pap, LXX, ApcEsdr; Philo, Aet. M. 113; Mel., P. 80, 582 al.) sour wine, wine vinegar, it relieved thirst more effectively than water and, being cheaper than regular wine, it was a favorite beverage of the lower ranks of society and of those in moderate circumstances (Athen. 4, 173e; Plut., Cato Major 336 [1, 13]; Ruth 2:14), esp. of soldiers (PLond III, 1245, 9 p. 228 [357 AD]). Given to Jesus on the cross Mt 27:48; Mk 15:36; Lk 23:36; J 19:29f (the contrast to the wine of high quality J 2:40 is prob. designed). In 19:29 (s. vs. 28) scripture is fulfilled (prob. Ps 68:22 ἐπότισάν με ὄξος). This act is interpreted as being due to the malice of some Judeans who committed it, and it is expanded to an offering of gall and vinegar (cp. Ps 68:22; so also Mel., P. 80, 582f; 93, 706f) in GPt 5:16; B 7:5 (both ποτίζειν χολὴν μετὰ ὄξους), 3. Betw. 7:3 and 5 B quotes, as proof that vinegar was given, an otherwise unknown prophetic pass. that directs the priests to eat the goat’s ἔντερον ἄπλυτον μετὰ ὄξους (s. ἔντερον) 7:4. W. οἶνος (PLond 856, 28; 1159, 49; other exx. New Docs 1, 85) and mixed w. it Hm 10, 3, 3.—B. 383. Frisk s.v. ὄξο. DELG s.v. ὀξύ. M-M. TW.