Lexical Summary
debash: Honey
Original Word:דְּבַשׁ
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:dbash
Pronunciation:deh-VAHSH
Phonetic Spelling:(deb-ash')
KJV: honey(-comb)
NASB:honey
Word Origin:[from an unused root meaning to be gummy]
1. honey (from its stickiness)
2. by analogy, syrup
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
honeycomb
From an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup -- honey((-comb)).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionhoney
NASB Translationhoney (52), honeycomb* (2).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
541Samuel 14:29 (named from colour according to Fl NHWB
i. 430; Arabic
(
)
date-honey; Late Hebrew , Aramaic ,
,
,
honey both of fruits and of bees; compare also Assyrian
dišpu COT
Gloss Zim
BP 84 Dl
Pr 70) — absolute
Genesis 43:11 33t.;
Exodus 3:8 18t.; suffix
Songs 5:1; —
honey, product of bees, used as food
Judges 14:8,9,18 (in lion's carcass); found in (clefts of) rock
Deuteronomy 32:13 ( , in song, J E),
Psalm 81:17 (); in woods, on ground
1 Samuel 14:25 ()
1 Samuel 14:26 (; but read rather
its bees had departed, We Dr after )
1 Samuel 14:29;
1 Samuel 14:43; transported in jar or bottle
1 Kings 14:3; contribution to priests and Levites 2Chronicles 31:5; ""
2 Samuel 17:29;
Isaiah 7:15,22 (in last two the being limited to such food is apparently token of destitution); kept in store
Jeremiah 41:8; a choice gift
Genesis 43:11 (J); article of trade
Ezekiel 27:17 (in these two perhaps =
grape syrup, modern
dibs, compare Di
Genesis 43:11 see Rob
BR ii. 81); forbidden as burnt offering
Leviticus 2:11 ("" );
honey comb =
1 Samuel 14:27 (compare
Songs 5:1); also
Proverbs 16:24 (compare
Psalm 19:11); most often in phrase describing abundance in land of Canaan
Exodus 3:8,17;
Exodus 13:5;
Exodus 33:3 (all J E)
Leviticus 20:24 (H)
Numbers 13:27;
Numbers 14:8;
Numbers 16:18,14 (all J E)
Deuteronomy 6:3;
Deuteronomy 11:9;
Deuteronomy 26:9,15;
Deuteronomy 27:3;
Deuteronomy 31:20 (all D)
Joshua 5:6 (D)
Jeremiah 11:5;
Jeremiah 32:22;
Ezekiel 20:6,15; compare
Deuteronomy 8:8;
2 Kings 18:32 (of land of captivity, words of the Rabshak); see also
Ezekiel 16:13,19;
Job 20:17 ;
honey, used to illustrate moral teachings
Proverbs 24:13 ("" ),
Proverbs 25:16,27 (danger of surfeit); simile of sweetness of taste
Ezekiel 3:3 (the roll), compare
Exodus 16:31 (P; description of manna); of sweetness of the law
Psalm 19:11 ("" ) compare
Psalm 119:103; (of pleasant words
Proverbs 16:24 compare above); sweetness of lips
Songs 4:11; figurative of love
Songs 5:1 ("" , , ).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Overviewדְּבַשׁ denotes honey, whether obtained from wild bees, domesticated hives, or produced from date nectar. Throughout the Old Testament it functions both as a literal foodstuff and a rich symbol of covenant blessing, delight, and spiritual sweetness.
Natural Source and Agricultural Context
Honey was readily available in the land. Jonathan dipped his staff into a “honeycomb” and “his eyes brightened” (1 Samuel 14:27). Wild honey sustained John the Baptist centuries later (Matthew 3:4), showing an enduring cultural familiarity. The bees of Canaan nested in clefts of rocks, hollow trees, and even carcasses (Judges 14:8-9). Its presence testified to ecological richness;Deuteronomy 32:13 pictures the LORD making His people “draw honey from the rock.”
Symbol of Abundance and Blessing
“Milk and honey” forms a fixed phrase for covenant prosperity, first promised inExodus 3:8 and repeated more than twenty times (for example,Numbers 14:8;Deuteronomy 6:3;Joshua 5:6;Jeremiah 11:5;Ezekiel 20:6). The pairing joins pasture (milk) with orchards and wild forage (honey) to portray entire agricultural sufficiency—God’s holistic provision.
Dietary and Culinary Use
Honey sweetened cakes (Exodus 16:31), accompanied curds (Isaiah 7:15), and refreshed weary soldiers (1 Samuel 14:27-29). Proverbs commends its moderation: “Eat honey, my son, for it is good” (Proverbs 24:13), yet cautions excess: “If you find honey, eat just enough— lest you have too much and vomit it” (Proverbs 25:16). Thus Scripture affirms God-given enjoyment within self-control.
Liturgical and Sacrificial Regulations
Leviticus 2:11 forbids honey in grain offerings burned on the altar. The sweetener could ferment, symbolically conflicting with the holiness of fire offerings. YetEzekiel 16:19 lists honey among foods dedicated to the LORD, indicating it could accompany—but not compose—the burnt portion. The tension underscores that even good gifts require divine regulation in worship.
Wisdom and Ethical Imagery
Proverbs uses honey to portray pleasant speech: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). Conversely, honey’s lure illustrates immoral seduction: “The lips of the forbidden woman drip honey” (Proverbs 5:3). The dual imagery teaches discernment; what God created good can be twisted toward sin.
Warnings and Moderation
Honey’s richness typifies indulgence that dulls spiritual perception.Psalm 19:10 elevates God’s ordinances as “sweeter than honey,” reminding believers not to idolize physical delights. Ezekiel ate a scroll that was “as sweet as honey” (Ezekiel 3:3);Revelation 10:10 later turns this sweetness bitter, highlighting the prophetic call to digest both comfort and judgment.
Prophetic and Eschatological Significance
Isaiah 7:15-22 predicts a remnant feeding on curds and honey after the land is laid waste, implying both deprivation (loss of vineyards) and God’s continuing provision. Thus honey foreshadows Millennial restoration when abundance will again characterize the renewed earth (compareJoel 3:18).
Christological and New Testament Echoes
Luke 24:42 records the risen Jesus accepting “a piece of broiled fish, and some honeycomb,” validating material resurrection and celebrating covenant sweetness fulfilled. InHebrews 11:9-10 the patriarchs sought the city whose architect is God while dwelling in the land of milk and honey, pointing to a superior inheritance secured by Christ.
Geographical Note
Archaeological finds at Tel Rehov reveal extensive Iron Age apiaries, affirming biblical claims of honey production. Date honey (“silan”) also flourished in Jericho’s oasis, explaining abundant references independent of bee-keeping alone.
Modern Ministry Applications
1. Preaching: Use honey metaphors to celebrate Scripture’s delight and to warn against spiritual lethargy born of excess comforts.
2. Discipleship: Encourage believers to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8) by regular Scripture intake—sweet to the palate, nourishing to the soul.
3. Missions: The motif of a land flowing with milk and honey frames evangelistic hope; the gospel promises abundance in Christ surpassing temporal circumstances.
4. Worship: While enjoying God’s gifts, pursue ordered devotion, remembering Leviticus’ caution that sincere zeal must align with divine instruction.
Honey in the Old Testament therefore unites physical sustenance, covenant promise, moral instruction, and eschatological hope, all culminating in the sweetness believers find in the living Word.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּדְבָֽשׁ׃ בדבש׃ דְּ֭בַשׁ דְּבַ֔שׁ דְּבַ֖שׁ דְּבַ֣שׁ דְּבַ֤שׁ דְּבַ֥שׁ דְּבָ֑שׁ דְבַ֖שׁ דְבַ֣שׁ דְבַשׁ֙ דִּבְשִׁ֔י דבש דבשי הַדְּבָ֑שׁ הַדְּבָֽשׁ׃ הדבש הדבש׃ וּדְבַ֔שׁ וּדְבַ֖שׁ וּדְבַ֛שׁ וּדְבַ֣שׁ וּדְבַ֤שׁ וּדְבַשׁ֙ וּדְבָ֑שׁ וּדְבָֽשׁ׃ ודבש ודבש׃ כִּדְבַ֥שׁ כדבש מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ מִדְּבַ֔שׁ מִדְּבַ֥שׁ מדבש biḏ·ḇāš biḏḇāš bidVash də·ḇaš də·ḇāš ḏə·ḇaš dəḇaš dəḇāš ḏəḇaš deVash diḇ·šî diḇšî divShi had·də·ḇāš haddəḇāš haddeVash kiḏ·ḇaš kiḏḇaš kidVash mid·də·ḇaš middəḇaš middeVash ū·ḏə·ḇaš ū·ḏə·ḇāš ūḏəḇaš ūḏəḇāš udeVash
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