Plants and Foods of the Bible · Pasture and Beehive · Food
Honey
The sweet joy of the table, to which the psalmists compared the words of God
- Key verse
- Psalm 119:103
- Where we find it
- The rocks and deserts where wild bees made their honeycombs
- What it reminds us of
- The sweetness of the Word of God
Stories from Scripture
Honey in the stories of the Bible
John the Baptist
The food of John the Baptist in the desert
John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord in the desert of Judea. He wore clothes of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey, content with what God gave him.
Matthew 3:4Samson
Samson and the honey in the lion
On the way to Timnah, Samson saw that in the body of the lion he had defeated there was a swarm of bees and honey. He took the honey in his hands and ate it as he went, and he gave some to his father and mother too.
Judges 14:8-9King David
Sweeter than honey
King David wrote that the laws of the Lord are more to be desired than gold, than much fine gold, and “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
Psalm 19:10
From the world of the Bible
Did you know?
Bees gather nectar from flowers and turn it into honey, which they store in wax honeycombs with six-sided cells.
Honey that is kept tightly closed can last a very long time without spoiling.
At Tel Rehov, in northern Israel, archaeologists have found very old beehives from the time of the kings of Israel.
From the Holy Scriptures
What do we read in the Bible about honey?
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
In kids’ words: God’s words do us good and make our hearts glad, like a spoonful of sweet honey.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
In kids’ words: Nothing is more precious than God’s teaching — not even pure gold.
Verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Read each passage in the context of its chapter in the Bible.
What honey teaches us
The sweetness of the Word of God
Honey was one of the sweetest joys of the table. The psalms use it to tell us that the Word of God is not only true, but also good and pleasant. When we read it, it feeds our soul and fills us with joy.
How we can live this out today
Pick a short verse, like Psalm 119:103, and say it out loud three times today. See how “sweet” it becomes as you learn it!
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about honey?
What is the Word of God compared to in Psalm 119?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
What is your favorite verse in the Bible, and why does it “sweeten” your heart?
“Lord, Your words are sweeter than honey. Give me joy to read them, to learn them and to keep them in my heart. Amen.”
Activity at home
Honey on bread
Spread a little honey on a slice of bread. While you taste it, read a short verse and say that the Word of God is sweet.