Psalms 81:16

16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Psalms 81:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 You'll feast on my fresh-baked bread spread with butter and rock-pure honey."
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 But I would feed Israel with the finest wheat and satisfy them with honey from a rock."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 But He would feed Israel with the best wheat. "I would satisfy you with honey from the rock."
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 But you would be fed with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with the sweetest honey."

Psalms 81:16 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 81:16

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat,
&c.] Or the "fat of the wheat F25"; see ( Deuteronomy 32:14 ) , with the finest flour of it: the Targum is,

``with the best bread of wheat;''

with the best of wheat, and the best bread that can be made of it: Aben Ezra interprets it of the manna, which was better than the fat, or finest, of the wheat, being the corn of heaven, and angels' food, ( Psalms 78:24 Psalms 78:25 ) , but it rather respects what the Israelites would have been continued to be fed with in the land of Canaan, which was a land of wheat, ( Deuteronomy 8:8 ) , and such who hearken to the Lord, and walk in his ways, are fed by him with the Gospel, which is comparable to wheat, and the finest of it, for its choiceness and excellency, for its solidity and substantiality, for its purity and cleanness, and for its being of a nourishing and strengthening nature, see ( Jeremiah 38:28 ) , and especially Christ, the sum and substance of the Gospel, may be figuratively meant, with whom the saints are fed, and who is compared to a corn of wheat, ( John 12:24 ) for his preciousness and excellency, for his purity and fruitfulness, and for being the food of his people, the bread of life, for which he was prepared by his sufferings and death; which may be fitly expressed by the threshing, winnowing, and grinding of wheat, and then of kneading the flour, and baking the bread:

and with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied thee;
the land of Canaan abounded with hills and rocks, in which bees had their hives, and from whence honey dropped to lower places; and hence the land is said to flow with milk and honey, ( Exodus 3:8 ) ( Deuteronomy 32:13 ) ( 1 Samuel 14:25 1 Samuel 14:26 ) , nor is it unusual in other places to find honey in rocks; at Guadaloupe, in the West Indies, we are told F26, honey was found in trees and caves of rocks. Aben Ezra interprets this of the water which flowed out of the rock at Horeb, which was sweeter than honey; but the former sense is best: the rock spiritually and mystically designs Christ, the Rock of salvation, ( 1 Corinthians 10:4 ) , the honey out of the rock, the fulness of grace in him, and the blessings of it, the sure mercies of David, and the precious promises of the everlasting covenant; and the Gospel, which is sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb; and with these such are filled and satisfied, who hearken to Christ, and walk in his ways; for, as the whole of what is here said shows what Israel lost by disobedience, it clearly suggests what such enjoy who hear and obey.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (hjx blxm) "ex adipe frumenti", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus; "adipe tritici", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
F26 P. Martyr. Decad. 3. lib. 9.

Psalms 81:16 In-Context

14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!
15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Deuteronomy 32:14
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