The “vinegar” (KJV) in the Greek is oxos which is sour wine mixed with water. It was a cheap wine which the Roman soldiers and the common folk drank. The fact that it was standing there indicates that it was provided at the crucifixions, probably for the soldiers; but the presence of the hyssop and sponge show it was also there for the criminals being crucified. Jesus drank the sour wine in our place (Jer 31:29-30). Note that the passage in Jeremiah is directly before the promise of the New Covenant which God is going to bring about by the substitutionary death of His Son.

Jeremiah 31:29-30  “In those days people will no longer say, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’  Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—his own teeth will be set on edge.

The crucified were on crosses with their feet above the ground, but their height was not great, However, their positions would have made drinking from a cup difficult, thus the sponge on a stick. The use of hyssop has a great deal of symbolical meaning. It was hyssop that was used to spread the blood of the sacrificed lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites so that God could save them from certain death (Ex 12:22). Jesus is our Passover lamb and it is His blood that saves us from eternal death (Joh 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, Rev 5:6, Col 1:20-22, Heb 9:11-14).

Exodus 12:22  Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the door-frame. Not one of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.

John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Corinthians 5:7  Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Revelation 5:6  Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Colossians 1:20-22  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

Hebrews 9:11-14  When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.  He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.  The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!