Bees, though small, play a significant role in our ecosystem and have been recognized for their diligence, productivity, and the sweetness of their honey throughout history. In the Bible, bees and honey are often used symbolically to convey lessons about life, diligence, and the sweetness of God’s word. While references to bees specifically are limited, the symbolism and lessons drawn from their industrious nature and the honey they produce are rich with meaning. Here are 30 Bible verses that relate to bees, honey, and their symbolism, each with a brief commentary.
1. Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
This verse compares gracious words to honeycomb. It teaches that just as honey is sweet and healing, kind and gentle words can bring comfort and healing to those who hear them, emphasizing the power of our speech.
2. Judges 14:8
“Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it he saw a swarm of bees and some honey.”
This verse recounts Samson finding bees and honey in a lion’s carcass. It teaches that even in unexpected or difficult situations, sweetness and sustenance can be found, symbolizing God’s provision and unexpected blessings.
3. Psalm 19:10
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”
The psalmist compares God’s words to honey. It teaches that God’s commandments and teachings are not only valuable but also sweet and delightful, nourishing the soul much like honey nourishes the body.
4. Proverbs 24:13-14
“Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
This proverb links honey to wisdom. It teaches that just as honey is sweet and beneficial, so too is wisdom. Pursuing wisdom leads to a hopeful future, providing satisfaction and stability in life.
5. Deuteronomy 8:8
“A land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey.”
God describes the Promised Land as a land flowing with honey. It teaches that the land God provides is rich and abundant, symbolizing His blessings and the sweetness of living in alignment with His will.
6. Exodus 3:8
“So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
God promises a land flowing with milk and honey. It teaches that God’s deliverance leads to a life of abundance and provision, where the richness of milk and honey symbolizes prosperity and divine blessing.
7. Proverbs 25:16
“If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”
This proverb warns against overindulgence. It teaches moderation, using honey as a metaphor to show that even good things should be enjoyed in balance, as excess can lead to discomfort or harm.
8. Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
The psalmist praises the sweetness of God’s Word. It teaches that the teachings and commandments of God are sweeter and more satisfying than honey, bringing deep spiritual nourishment and delight.
9. Isaiah 7:15
“He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.”
Isaiah prophesies about the Messiah. It teaches that the Messiah, represented by the one who eats curds and honey, will embody moral discernment and purity, choosing what is right from a young age.
10. 1 Samuel 14:27
“But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.”
Jonathan finds strength in eating honey. It teaches that honey, symbolic of God’s provision, can bring physical and spiritual renewal, energizing us when we are weary.
11. Song of Solomon 4:11
“Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.”
This verse from Song of Solomon compares love to honey. It teaches that love, like honey, is sweet and enriching, adding depth and pleasure to relationships, symbolizing the sweetness found in godly love.
12. Matthew 3:4
“John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.”
This verse describes John the Baptist’s diet. It teaches that honey, a natural and simple food, provided sustenance for John, symbolizing God’s provision even in the wilderness and the simplicity of a life dedicated to God.
13. Numbers 13:27
“They gave Moses this account: ‘We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit.'”
The spies report on the Promised Land. It teaches that God’s promises are fulfilled in abundance, as the land truly flowed with milk and honey, symbolizing God’s faithfulness and the richness of His blessings.
14. Ezekiel 3:3
“Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
Ezekiel finds God’s word as sweet as honey. It teaches that receiving and internalizing God’s word brings a sweetness that nourishes the soul, making it a delightful and fulfilling experience.
15. Psalm 81:16
“But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
God promises to satisfy His people with honey from the rock. It teaches that God provides not only the essentials but also the sweetness of life, even from unexpected sources, showing His ability to bless abundantly.
16. Proverbs 27:7
“One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.”
This proverb contrasts fullness and hunger. It teaches that our appreciation for God’s blessings can diminish when we are satisfied, but when we are spiritually hungry, even the smallest taste of His goodness is sweet and satisfying.
17. Judges 14:18
“Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him, ‘What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?'”
This verse is part of Samson’s riddle. It teaches that honey represents sweetness and strength, symbolizing the rewarding and powerful nature of God’s word and His blessings in our lives.
18. Job 20:17
“He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.”
Job speaks of the wicked missing out on blessings. It teaches that the wicked, in their pursuit of sin, will miss out on the sweetness and abundance that God provides to those who live righteously.
19. Revelation 10:9
“So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.'”
John experiences the sweetness and bitterness of God’s message. It teaches that God’s word can be both sweet and challenging, bringing joy and sometimes discomfort as we fully digest its truths and implications.
20. Genesis 43:11
“Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.'”
Israel sends honey as a gift to Egypt. It teaches that honey, representing the best of the land, was considered a valuable and honorable gift, symbolizing the richness and generosity of God’s blessings.
21. Deuteronomy 32:13
“He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag.”
God nourishes His people with honey from the rock. It teaches that God’s provision is miraculous and abundant, capable of providing sweetness and sustenance even from the most unlikely places.
22. Isaiah 7:22
“And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.”
Isaiah describes the abundance of curds and honey. It teaches that God’s blessings are not only sufficient but abundant, providing more than enough to sustain and satisfy His people during times of prosperity.
23. Exodus 13:5
“When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month.”
God reiterates the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. It teaches that God’s promises are generous and abundant, offering a life filled with His blessings when we walk in obedience to His commands.
24. 1 Kings 14:3
“Take ten loaves of bread with you, some cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.”
Honey is part of an offering in seeking counsel. It teaches that honey, as a symbol of sweetness and value, was used in offerings and as part of seeking divine wisdom, indicating its importance in cultural and spiritual practices.
25. Ezekiel 20:6
“On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.”
God promises a land of milk and honey. It teaches that the beauty and richness of God’s promised blessings are beyond compare, offering His people a place of abundance and fulfillment.
26. Exodus 16:31
“The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.”
Manna is described as tasting like honey. It teaches that God’s provision is not only sufficient but delightful, as the manna given to Israel in the wilderness had a taste that reminded them of the sweetness of honey.
27. Ezekiel 27:17
“Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.”
Honey is mentioned as a trade commodity. It teaches that honey was a valuable commodity in ancient times, symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and the richness of God’s blessings in the land of Israel.
28. Psalm 119:103
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
The psalmist delights in the sweetness of God’s Word. It teaches that engaging with Scripture brings a deep, sweet satisfaction, much like the experience of tasting honey, nourishing our souls with God’s truth.
29. Isaiah 7:21-22
“In that day, a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.”
Isaiah speaks of a time of abundance. It teaches that despite challenging times, God will provide for His people with abundance, symbolized by the availability of curds and honey, ensuring they are well-nourished and sustained.
30. Judges 14:9
“He scooped out the honey with his hands and ate as he went along. When he rejoined his parents, he gave them some, and they too ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.”
Samson shares the honey he found. It teaches that sweetness and blessings found in unexpected places can be shared with others, bringing joy and sustenance to those around us, even if the source is unconventional.
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