Proverbs 24:13

¶ My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:

My son {H1121}, eat {H398} thou honey {H1706}, because it is good {H2896}; and the honeycomb {H5317}, which is sweet {H4966} to thy taste {H2441}:

My son, eat honey, for it is good; honeycomb drippings are sweet to your taste.

Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:

Proverbs 24:13 serves as an inviting metaphor within the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, setting the stage for a deeper spiritual truth. The verse, presented as a fatherly instruction to "my son," encourages the consumption of honey, highlighting its inherent goodness and delightful sweetness to the taste.

Context

The book of Proverbs is a collection of practical wisdom for daily living, often using everyday observations to illustrate profound spiritual principles. This particular verse is part of a larger section (Proverbs 24:1-34) that addresses various aspects of righteous living, including the importance of wisdom, justice, and diligence. The immediate context for understanding this verse is found in the very next verse, Proverbs 24:14, which explicitly reveals the spiritual analogy: "So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off."

Key Themes

  • The Value of Wisdom: Just as honey is prized for its goodness and nutritional value, so too is wisdom presented as something supremely valuable and essential for life. It's not merely theoretical knowledge but practical insight for living righteously.
  • The Sweetness of Understanding: The "sweetness" of honey serves as a powerful metaphor for the profound satisfaction and delight that comes from gaining true wisdom and understanding, especially the wisdom found in God's word. It is not bitter or burdensome but deeply pleasing to the soul.
  • Spiritual Nourishment: As honey provides physical sustenance, so wisdom nourishes the soul. It provides guidance, strength, and life, protecting one from the pitfalls of foolishness and evil.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "honey" is d'vash (דְּבַשׁ), which most commonly refers to the natural honey produced by bees. The emphasis in this verse is not on a hidden linguistic meaning of the word itself, but on the universally recognized qualities of honey: its inherent "goodness" (tov, טוֹב) and "sweetness" (mathoq, מָתוֹק). These sensory qualities are precisely what make it a perfect analogy for the desirable and delightful nature of wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Practical Application

Proverbs 24:13, especially when read with its follow-up, encourages us to actively seek and embrace wisdom, particularly the wisdom that comes from God. Just as one naturally desires and enjoys good food, we should cultivate a hunger for spiritual truth. This means:

  • Diligently Seeking Wisdom: Don't wait for wisdom to come to you; actively pursue it through studying Scripture, prayer, and learning from godly mentors.
  • Savoring God's Word: Approach the Bible not as a chore, but as a source of delicious and life-giving nourishment. Just as the psalmist declared God's words to be "sweeter than honey to my mouth," we should find delight in its truths.
  • Experiencing the Reward: The promise of the next verse is that finding wisdom leads to a "reward" and a fulfilled "expectation." Embracing godly wisdom brings deep satisfaction, security, and a hopeful future, far surpassing fleeting worldly pleasures.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 7:15

    Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

  • Song Of Solomon 5:1

    ¶ I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

  • Proverbs 25:16

    ¶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

  • Song Of Solomon 4:11

    Thy lips, O [my] spouse, drop [as] the honeycomb: honey and milk [are] under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments [is] like the smell of Lebanon.

  • Psalms 19:10

    More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

  • Psalms 119:103

    ¶ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth!

  • Matthew 3:4

    And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

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