Honey

A sweet, thick liquid produced by bees (Judges 14:8). Honey can be either wild (1 Samuel 14:25–26) or farmed (likely so in 2 Chronicles 31:5). Sometimes, however, it may refer to thick grape syrup (as in Arabic) or date syrup (as described by Josephus). Honey was considered one of life’s necessities (Sirach 39:26). However, one must not eat too much (Proverbs 25:16, 27). It was part of the diet of John the Baptist (Mark 1:6) and of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:15). Its exclusion, along with leaven, from grain offerings (Leviticus 2:11) is undoubtedly because it is susceptible to fermentation (a process that converts sugars to alcohol). Its sweetness became a familiar metaphor (Judges 14:18; Psalm 19:10; Revelation 10:9–10).

See also Food and Food Preparation.