Proverbs 24:13 kjv

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

Proverbs 24:13 nkjv

My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;

Proverbs 24:13 niv

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Proverbs 24:13 esv

My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

Proverbs 24:13 nlt

My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste.

Proverbs 24 verses

Proverbs 24 13 Meaning

Proverbs 24:13 instructs the listener, referred to as "my son," to eat honey because it is inherently good and pleasing to the taste, specifically mentioning the honeycomb for its sweetness. This verse serves as an experiential prelude to the following verse, 24:14, where the analogy is explicitly made: just as natural honey is good and sweet to the palate, so too is wisdom good and sweet for the soul, leading to a future hope. The immediate exhortation about honey reinforces the goodness and desirability of wisdom by using a universally appealing and recognized sensory experience.

Proverbs 24 13 Context

Proverbs chapter 24 is part of a larger collection of wise sayings, often attributed to Solomon or other wise men (verses 23-34 are noted as "These also are sayings of the wise"). The chapter provides diverse instructions covering topics such as avoiding envy, dealing with evil men, showing justice, diligent work, and personal integrity. Verse 13 is the opening of a specific couplet (v.13-14) that uses a natural, tangible good—honey—to illustrate the superior, intangible good of wisdom. This rhetorical structure, comparing an earthly pleasure to a spiritual benefit, is common in wisdom literature to make abstract concepts relatable and desirable to the hearer. In ancient Israelite culture, honey was a valuable and pure commodity, a natural sweetener, source of energy, and often associated with blessing and prosperity (e.g., "land flowing with milk and honey"). It contrasts with things that might seem desirable but ultimately lead to harm.

Proverbs 24 13 Word analysis

• My son (בְּנִֽי, bə·nî): This is a recurring address in Proverbs, indicating a paternal or mentor-disciple relationship. It emphasizes personal instruction, intimate counsel, and an expectation of the hearer to receive wisdom with teachability.
• eat (אֱכָל, ’ĕ·ḵāl): An imperative verb, directly commanding or urging an action. The act of "eating" implies intake, assimilation, and nourishment. It is a vital and active engagement with the subject, not passive observation.
• honey (דְּבַשׁ, də·ḇaš): The literal sweet substance produced by bees. In ancient Israel, honey was highly valued as a primary sweetener, a food source, and for medicinal properties. It symbolized pleasantness, goodness, abundance, and delight. It's an unadulterated good from nature.
• for it is good (כִּי־ט֑וֹב, kî-ṭō·wḇ): "Kî" means "for" or "because," providing the reason. "Ṭō·wḇ" (good) is a broad term in Hebrew, meaning pleasant, beneficial, right, prosperous, excellent, delightful, and fitting. Here, it signifies the inherent, positive quality and desirability of honey, both in taste and general benefit.
• and the honeycomb (וְנֹ֥פֶת, wə·nō·p̄eṯ): "Wə" means "and," adding emphasis or a specific part. "Nō·p̄eṯ" refers to honey directly from the comb, often considered the purest and richest form. It suggests an even greater degree of delight or premium quality.
• which is sweet (מָתֹ֣וק, mā·ṯō·wq): The adjective "mā·ṯō·wq" directly means "sweet" or "pleasant." It appeals to the sensory experience, emphasizing the delightful flavor.
• to your taste (לְחִכֶּֽךָ, lə·ḥik·ke·ḵā): "Lə" means "to" or "for." "Ḥik·ke·ḵā" is derived from "ḥek" (חֵךְ), meaning "palate" or "roof of the mouth." This phrase anchors the experience firmly in the personal sensory perception of the listener, making the "goodness" immediately tangible and verifiable.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "My son, eat honey, for it is good": This phrase establishes the directive and its rationale. It's a foundational instruction to partake in something proven beneficial, presented by a figure of authority and love. The "goodness" is presented as an objective fact, not merely a subjective preference.
• "and the honeycomb, which is sweet to your taste": This extends the concept of "good" to include the specific delight of pure honey and the experiential reality of its sweetness. It moves from general goodness to personal enjoyment, confirming the wisdom of the instruction through tangible experience. This sets up the perfect analogy for understanding the benefit of wisdom.

Proverbs 24 13 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "good," ṭō·wḇ, is used extensively throughout the Old Testament to describe God's creation (Gen 1:31), His character (Ps 100:5), and what is morally upright. Its use here reinforces that the "goodness" of wisdom is not just practical but inherently aligns with divine truth and design. The analogy draws on a natural, God-given pleasure to speak of a spiritual, divine pleasure, elevating the understanding of wisdom's profound value. The mention of the "honeycomb" (נֹפֶת, nopheth) might subtly hint at the richness and fullness of wisdom – not just wisdom in abstract, but in its purest, most profound form, directly from its source, analogous to honey dripping from the comb, undiluted and unspoiled. This verse also serves as a strong reminder that seeking wisdom (or God's truth) should be a joyous and fulfilling pursuit, contrary to the misconception that spiritual disciplines are austere or joyless.

Proverbs 24 13 Commentary

Proverbs 24:13 functions as an analogy for understanding wisdom. Just as natural honey, particularly the honeycomb, is undeniably good and wonderfully sweet to our physical senses, so too is true wisdom (as explicitly stated in the subsequent verse 24:14) for our inner being and future. The verse encourages an active "eating" or "consuming" of wisdom, suggesting not just passive reception but an experiential, delightful, and nourishing intake. Wisdom is not presented as a bitter medicine but as a desirable, pleasant, and beneficial nourishment for the soul. The emphasis on "goodness" (ṭō·wḇ) and "sweetness" (mā·ṯō·wq) implies that seeking and embracing wisdom brings genuine satisfaction, health, and a positive outlook on the future. It implicitly contrasts wisdom with short-term pleasures or harmful paths that may initially seem sweet but ultimately lead to bitter consequences, unlike the pure and wholesome goodness of honey.

Practical usage:

• Like one eagerly savors honey, so too should we eagerly pursue and assimilate God's Word.
• Embracing God's commands should feel like a delightful treat, not a burdensome obligation.