Solomon reminds us that true wisdom, like honey, enriches our lives with delight and provides lasting sustenance.
“My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;” (v.13) pictures a fatherly exhortation that uses the delight of honey as a powerful symbol. In the world of the ancient Near East, honey was an especially prized treat, representing both a natural sweetness and a God-given blessing (Exodus 3:8). In this verse, the father speaks to his child and urges him to receive what is good and beneficial, suggesting that just as honey nourishes the body, the wisdom of God nourishes the soul.
The sweetness of honey in this passage can be linked to the sweetness of spiritual insight and obedience to the LORD’s ways. Other scriptures compare God’s word to the taste of honey (Psalm 119:103). Eating honey “for it is good” points to the importance of nourishing one’s life with what is wholesome and life-giving instead of empty pursuits that fail to satisfy. In the same way that a steady pattern of eating nourishing food fosters physical health, pursuing spiritual wisdom fosters the well-being of the heart, mind, and soul.
Honey from the comb also has a natural purity about it—nothing artificial is added. This idea reflects God’s truth and His invitation to embrace what is pure, beneficial, and delightful (Philippians 4:8). As one takes in wisdom and godly knowledge, the transformative power corresponds to enjoying sweet honey, which refreshes and fortifies.
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Proverbs 24:13 meaning
“My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste;” (v.13) pictures a fatherly exhortation that uses the delight of honey as a powerful symbol. In the world of the ancient Near East, honey was an especially prized treat, representing both a natural sweetness and a God-given blessing (Exodus 3:8). In this verse, the father speaks to his child and urges him to receive what is good and beneficial, suggesting that just as honey nourishes the body, the wisdom of God nourishes the soul.
The sweetness of honey in this passage can be linked to the sweetness of spiritual insight and obedience to the LORD’s ways. Other scriptures compare God’s word to the taste of honey (Psalm 119:103). Eating honey “for it is good” points to the importance of nourishing one’s life with what is wholesome and life-giving instead of empty pursuits that fail to satisfy. In the same way that a steady pattern of eating nourishing food fosters physical health, pursuing spiritual wisdom fosters the well-being of the heart, mind, and soul.
Honey from the comb also has a natural purity about it—nothing artificial is added. This idea reflects God’s truth and His invitation to embrace what is pure, beneficial, and delightful (Philippians 4:8). As one takes in wisdom and godly knowledge, the transformative power corresponds to enjoying sweet honey, which refreshes and fortifies.