Proverbs 24:13

Proverbs 24:13

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

a. ASV: My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:

b. YLT: Eat my son, honey that is good, And the honeycomb -- sweet to thy palate.

c. Classic Amplified: My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

d. Septuagint: [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened. 

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and drippings of the honeycomb are sweet on your palate.

1. “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good…”

a. [My] son [Strong: 1121 bên, bane; from H1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.):—afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, × came up in, child, colt, × common, × corn, daughter, × of first, firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, × in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, rebel, + robber, × servant born, × soldier, son, + spark, steward, + stranger, × surely, them of, + tumultuous one, valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

b. eat [thou] [Strong: 398 ʼâkal, aw-kal'; a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):—× at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, × freely, × in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, × quite.]

c. honey [Strong: 1706 dᵉbash, deb-ash'; from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup:—honey(-comb).]

d. because [Strong: 3588 kiy kee a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed:--and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-)as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al- )though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.]

e. [it is] good [Strong: 2896 ṭôwb, tobe; from H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well):—beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, × fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, × most, pleasant, pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured).]

2. “...and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:”

a. [and the] honeycomb [Strong: 5317 nôpheth, no'-feth; from H5130 in the sense of shaking to pieces; a dripping i.e. of honey (from the comb):—honeycomb.]

b. [which is] sweet [Strong: 4966 mâthôwq, maw-thoke'; or מָתוּק mâthûwq; from H985; sweet:—sweet(-er, -ness).]

c. to [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

d. [thy] taste [Strong: 2441 chêk, khake; probably from H2596 in the sense of tasting; properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of speech, taste and kissing):—(roof of the) mouth, taste.]

1). In this passage, the inspired writer of Proverbs is comparing the sweet taste of honey to the entrance of wisdom into our hearts and souls. 

a). Proverbs 24:13, 14 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

2). In Psalm 19, David writes by the Spirit of God that revelation knowledge from the Spirit of God is more desired than gold and sweeter than the honey comb.

a).  Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 

19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 

19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 

19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

3). Many times when the Scripture refers to “taste”, the Lord is referring to the spiritual sense of taste. We are three part beings (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We are spirits, we have souls and we live in a body. As spirit beings we have spiritual senses. Jesus said in Mark 4:23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Jesus was not referring to our natural ears but our spiritual sense of hearing. Likewise here when the Scripture exhorts us to “taste and see that the LORD is good” it is referring to the spiritual sense. As we go on, let’s let Scripture interpret itself. Let’s look at Isaiah 55.

a). Isaiah 55:1, 2 HO, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

(1) Notice what the Scripture says, “Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good”. Saints, walking in obedience to the word of God is how we eat or partake of the Word.

4).   2). Another example is found in 1 Peter. In 1 Peter 2:1   

a). 1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

(1) Peter exhorts us to get rid of examples of carnality in our lives. Then he says for us to desire, seek the milk of the word. He goes on the say “if so be” or if you have done that then you will have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Saints, if we walk in obedience to the word and resist walking in the flesh we will sense in our innermost being, in our spirits…”Oh, God is so gracious, he is so good.”