דְּבַשׁ

honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup

Definition

The Hebrew word דְּבַשׁ (dᵉbash) primarily means 'honey,' specifically the sweet, viscous substance produced by bees, as seen when the Israelites find honey flowing from a rock in Deuteronomy 32:13. By analogy, it can also refer to syrup or the sweet juice of fruits, such as date honey. In the biblical dietary laws, Leviticus 2:11 prohibits leaven and honey from being offered as a burnt offering on the altar, though it was permitted in offerings of firstfruits (Leviticus 2:12). The word is frequently used metaphorically to describe the abundant sweetness and desirability of the Promised Land, famously called 'a land flowing with milk and honey' (Exodus 3:8).

Biblical Usage

דְּבַשׁ is used 54 times in the Old Testament, most prominently in the Pentateuch's descriptions of the Promised Land's fertility (e.g., Exodus 3:8, 13:5; Leviticus 20:24). It appears in historical narratives, such as Jonathan eating honey in 1 Samuel 14:27, and in wisdom literature as a metaphor for pleasant or desirable things, like pleasant words being 'a honeycomb, sweet to the soul' (Proverbs 16:24). Its use in ritual law is specific, being forbidden on the altar but allowed in other offerings.

Etymology

Derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to be gummy' or viscous, reflecting honey's sticky texture. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic *dbt* and Arabic *dibs* (meaning syrup or date honey), indicating a shared cultural understanding of sweet, thick substances.

Semantic Range

דְּבַשׁ is theologically significant as a key descriptor of God's covenantal blessing in the Promised Land, symbolizing His provision, abundance, and the goodness of His gifts. Its prohibition on the altar (Leviticus 2:11) may symbolize that God's pure worship should not be mixed with what is merely naturally sweet or fermentable, pointing to a distinction between divine holiness and human pleasure. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting how physical abundance in the land was a tangible sign of God's faithfulness and favor.

In the ancient Near East, honey was a valuable sweetener and energy source, often harvested from wild bees rather than domesticated hives. 'Honey' could refer not only to bee honey but also to thick fruit syrups, like date honey, which were more common. The phrase 'land flowing with milk and honey' used a concrete, agricultural image familiar to an agrarian society to communicate unparalleled fertility and divine blessing, a concept more vivid than modern, store-bought honey might suggest.

נֹפֶת (nopheth, H5317) — specifically 'dripping honey' or honeycomb, often in poetic contexts (e.g., Proverbs 5:3). יַעְרַת (ya'arath, H3295) — 'honeycomb,' the physical structure containing honey (e.g., Psalm 19:10).

Word Details

Scripture References