Psalms 81:16

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

He should have fed {H398}{H8686)} them also with the finest {H2459} of the wheat {H2406}: and with honey {H1706} out of the rock {H6697} should I have satisfied {H7646}{H8686)} thee.

They would be fed with the finest wheat, and I would satisfy you with honey from the rocks."

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.โ€

He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.

Commentary

Context

Psalm 81 is a powerful blend of worship, historical remembrance, and divine lament. It opens with an exuberant call to praise God, celebrating His deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The psalm then transitions into a direct address from God Himself, recalling His faithfulness during the Exodus and wilderness wanderings. God reminds Israel of His commands and His desire for their obedience. Verse 16 concludes God's heartfelt expression of what He would have done for His people had they only hearkened to His voice, as expressed earlier in Psalms 81:11: "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me." This verse, therefore, stands as a poignant statement of unfulfilled divine blessing due to human disobedience.

Key Themes

  • Divine Desire for Abundance: God's heart for His people is one of overflowing provision. "The finest of the wheat" symbolizes the very best, rich, and nourishing sustenance, indicating God's desire to meet every need abundantly, not just minimally. This speaks to a life of spiritual and physical flourishing that God intends for those who follow Him.
  • Miraculous Provision and Satisfaction: "Honey out of the rock" is a vivid image of unexpected and sweet provision in seemingly impossible circumstances. It echoes the miraculous acts of God in the wilderness, such as bringing forth water from a barren rock or providing manna from heaven. This phrase signifies that God's ability to satisfy is not limited by natural means but extends to the miraculous, providing spiritual and emotional satisfaction that only He can give.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The entire verse is framed by a conditional "should have," highlighting the missed blessings due to Israel's rebellion and stubbornness. It serves as a timeless reminder that while God's desire to bless is constant, our experience of those blessings is often contingent upon our willingness to obey and trust Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "finest of the wheat" comes from the Hebrew chelev chittah (ื—ึตืœึถื‘ ื—ึดื˜ึธึผื”), literally meaning "fat of the wheat." In Hebrew culture, "fat" (chelev) often denotes the best, richest, or choicest part, indicating the highest quality and abundance of grain. "Honey out of the rock" (devash mit-tzur, ื“ึฐึผื‘ึทืฉื ืžึดืฆึผื•ึผืจ) is a striking metaphor. While wild honey could indeed be found in rocky crevices, the deeper theological implication, especially in the context of wilderness wanderings, points to God's supernatural ability to bring forth sweetness and sustenance from the hardest, most unlikely places, symbolizing divine favor and an unexpected source of delight.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound lessons for believers today. Firstly, it reassures us of God's enduring desire to bless and satisfy His people fully. He longs to provide us with the "finest of the wheat" โ€“ spiritual nourishment, peace, joy, and every good thing โ€“ and "honey out of the rock" โ€“ unexpected breakthroughs and sweet experiences even in difficult seasons. Secondly, it serves as a gentle yet firm warning: our stubbornness, self-reliance, or turning away from God's voice can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of His intended blessings. Just as God lamented over Israel, He desires for us to walk in obedience so that we might fully receive His abundant provision and truly be satisfied, as Jesus promised the bread of life and living water.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 32:13

    He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;

  • Deuteronomy 32:14

    Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

  • Psalms 147:14

    He maketh peace [in] thy borders, [and] filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

  • 1 Samuel 14:25

    And all [they of] the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.

  • 1 Samuel 14:26

    And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

  • Joel 2:24

    And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

  • Judges 14:18

    And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What [is] sweeter than honey? and what [is] stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
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