Honey appears throughout the Bible, often symbolizing sweetness and abundance. Today, we’ll explore how honey is used in the Scriptures and what it represents in God’s Word.
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What Does The Bible Say About Honey
Proverbs 24:13-14
“Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
This verse compares the goodness and sweetness of honey to the value of wisdom. Just as honey is pleasurable to taste, wisdom brings a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The verse also highlights that finding wisdom leads to a hopeful future, where dreams can be realized and potential can be fulfilled.
Psalm 19:10
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”
This verse again emphasizes the great value and sweetness of wisdom. It compares wisdom to precious gold and goes further to say that wisdom is even sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. It suggests that the acquisition of wisdom is a valuable pursuit that brings richness and delight to one’s life.
Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
This verse speaks to the power and impact of kind and gentle words. Just as honey is sweet and brings healing, gracious words can uplift and comfort the soul, bringing healing and restoration to the bones. It highlights the importance of using words that build up and encourage others, nurturing their well-being.
Deuteronomy 8:7-9
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.”
This verse describes the promised land as a place of abundance and provision. Among the various blessings mentioned, honey is included as a representation of the richness and sweetness that God bestows upon His people. It portrays the goodness of God’s provision and the fulfillment of His promises.
Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
This verse expresses the psalmist’s delight in God’s Word. The psalmist compares the taste of God’s words to the sweetness of honey in the mouth, suggesting that spending time with God’s Word brings deep satisfaction and joy. It highlights the significance of seeking and treasuring God’s wisdom and guidance through His Word.
Leviticus 20:24
“But I said to you, ‘You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations.”
This verse recalls God’s promise to the Israelites, assuring them that they would possess a land abundant with blessings, including honey. God’s promise of a land flowing with milk and honey signifies His provision and favor towards His chosen people. It stands as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and commitment to fulfill His promises.
Judges 14:8-9
“Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey. He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.”
This verse tells the story of Samson, who discovered honey in the carcass of a lion. It showcases both the sweetness of honey and Samson’s strength as he scoops out honey from an unconventional source. It reveals the unexpected ways in which God provides and blesses His people, even in the midst of challenging circumstances.
Psalm 119:127
“Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.”
This verse expresses the psalmist’s deep love for God’s commands. It compares this love to the value and desirability of gold, implying that the psalmist esteems God’s precepts above any earthly riches. It highlights the importance of prioritizing obedience to God and rejecting any path that is contrary to His teachings.
1 Samuel 14:25-27
“Everyone who did not fall slain with the Philistines fell slain by the Lord his God, who was there to deliver Israel. That day, the Israelites struck down the Philistines from Mikmash to Aijalon, and they were exhausted. They pounced on the plunder and, taking sheep, cattle, and calves, they butchered them on the ground and ate them, together with the blood. Then someone said to Saul, ‘Look, the men are sinning against the Lord by eating meat that has blood in it.’”
This verse narrates a situation where the Israelites, after a victorious battle, indulged in eating meat with the blood still in it, which was against God’s commandments. Although not directly mentioning honey, it serves as a reminder that even in times of celebration or prosperity, it is essential to remain obedient to God’s instructions and not deviate from His ways.
Genesis 43:10
“But if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”
In this verse, Joseph’s brothers express regret for their delay in returning to Egypt. Though unrelated to honey, it reflects the idea that hesitating or delaying can cause missed opportunities or blessings. It encourages promptness and seizing the right time because delay can hinder progress or prevent full realization of potential.
Psalm 81:16
“But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.”
This verse portrays God’s promise to abundantly provide for His people. It mentions honey from the rock, illustrating the idea that God can bring forth blessings and sweetness even from the most unexpected or challenging circumstances. It assures that God’s provision is not limited by earthly constraints but can surpass expectations and bring true satisfaction.
Matthew 3:4
“John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.”
This verse describes John the Baptist’s simple and unconventional lifestyle, which included consuming locusts and wild honey as part of his diet. It highlights his commitment to his calling and his willingness to embrace simplicity, even in the midst of his influential ministry. It reminds us that God values the inward character and obedience of a person, rather than external comforts or appearances.
Proverbs 5:3
“For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil.”
This verse warns against the temptation of an adulterous woman and her seductive words. Comparing her speech to honey and oil, it signifies the allure and beguiling nature of her deceitful words. It serves as a cautionary reminder to guard one’s heart and mind against the seduction of enticing but destructive influences.
Exodus 33:3
“Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
In this verse, God promises the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey, but He also reveals His refusal to go with them due to their stubbornness. It reveals that God’s presence is vital for His people’s journey and success. It teaches the importance of humility, obedience, and dependence on God, as without His guidance, even a place of abundance can become a place of peril.
Job 20:17
“They will not enjoy the streams of honey or the riches of salvation.”
This verse speaks about the consequences of wickedness. It highlights that those who choose a path of wrongdoing will not experience the blessings and delights of God’s provision. It serves as a reminder that true fulfillment and richness in life can only be found by aligning one’s actions with God’s ways.
1 Samuel 14:27
“But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.”
This verse depicts Jonathan, unaware of his father’s commandment, tasting honey from a honeycomb. His experience of the honey brings brightness to his eyes, suggesting delight and energy. It shows the simple joys and pleasures that can arise from unexpected discoveries, reminding us to savor and appreciate the good things in life.
Ezekiel 16:13
“So you adorned yourself with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil, and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.”
This verse symbolically describes Jerusalem as a woman who became prosperous and beautiful. Among the blessings enumerated as part of her lavish lifestyle, honey is mentioned. Honey represents abundance and richness, reflecting the flourishing state of Jerusalem when it followed God’s ways. It serves as a reminder of the rewards that come from observing God’s commandments.
Matthew 24:45-47
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
In this verse, Jesus emphasizes the value of faithfulness and wisdom in serving others. Being compared to a servant who provides food at the proper time, it signifies the importance of meeting the needs of others promptly and responsibly. It suggests that those who faithfully fulfill their responsibilities will be rewarded by God with greater blessings and responsibilities.
Deuteronomy 6:3
“Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.”
In this verse, God instructs the Israelites to listen and obey Him, assuring them that doing so will lead to prosperity in a land flowing with milk and honey. It emphasizes the connection between obedience to God’s commands and the experience of His bountiful blessings. It conveys the idea that obedience to God’s instructions is the key to an abundant and fulfilling life.
Proverbs 25:16
“If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”
This verse offers wise advice regarding moderation and self-control. It suggests that while honey is enjoyable, excessive indulgence can lead to negative consequences. It encourages temperance and balance in all areas of life, reminding us of the importance of maintaining healthy boundaries and avoiding excess.
Psalm 119:11
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
This verse speaks to the significance of storing God’s Word in the heart as a means of safeguarding oneself from sin. It implies that immersing oneself in the truths and teachings of God helps to steer clear of actions that would lead away from His will. It underlines the importance of cultivating a deep knowledge and understanding of God’s Word as a means of living a righteous life.
Song of Solomon 5:1
“I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.”
This verse depicts a beautiful scene of enjoyment and satisfaction. The speaker delightfully shares their experience of gathering myrrh, tasting honeycomb and honey, and savoring wine and milk. It portrays a moment of contentment, celebrating the abundance and pleasures that life has to offer. It reminds us to find joy in the simple pleasures and blessings that God provides.