Honey

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Honey [N] [T] [S]

  • Heb. ya'ar, occurs only 1 Samuel 14:25 1 Samuel 14:27 1 Samuel 14:29 ; Cant 5:1 , where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods.

  • Nopheth, honey that drops ( Psalms 19:10 ; Proverbs 5:3 ; Cant. 4:11 ).

  • Debash denotes bee-honey ( Judges 14:8 ); but also frequently a vegetable honey distilled from trees ( Genesis 43:11 ; Ezekiel 27:17 ). In these passages it may probably mean "dibs," or syrup of grapes, i.e., the juice of ripe grapes boiled down to one-third of its bulk.

  • Tsuph, the cells of the honey-comb full of honey ( Proverbs 16:24 ; Psalms 19:10 ).

  • "Wild honey" ( Matthew 3:4 ) may have been the vegetable honey distilled from trees, but rather was honey stored by bees in rocks or in trees ( Deuteronomy 32:13 ; Psalms 81:16 ; 1 Samuel 14:25-29 ).

    Canaan was a "land flowing with milk and honey" ( Exodus 3:8 ). Milk and honey were among the chief dainties in the earlier ages, as they are now among the Bedawin; and butter and honey are also mentioned among articles of food ( Isaiah 7:15 ). The ancients used honey instead of sugar ( Psalms 119:103 ; Proverbs 24:13 ); but when taken in great quantities it caused nausea, a fact referred to in Prov 25:16,17to inculcate moderation in pleasures. Honey and milk also are put for sweet discourse (Cant 4:11 ).

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [T] indicates this entry was also found in Torrey's Topical Textbook
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Honey". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .
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