נֹפֶת
a dripping i.e. of honey (from the comb)
Definition
נֹפֶת (nôpheth) refers specifically to the honey that drips from the honeycomb, representing the purest, most desirable form of honey. It is not just any honey, but the fresh, liquid honey that flows freely from the comb when it is broken or pressed. This word is used exclusively in poetic and wisdom literature to symbolize something exceedingly sweet, delightful, and precious. In Proverbs 5:3, it metaphorically describes the seductive but ultimately bitter words of an adulteress, while in Psalm 19:10 and Proverbs 24:13, it represents the supreme desirability and sweetness of God's judgments and wisdom, respectively.
Biblical Usage
This word appears five times, always in poetic contexts within the books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Songs. It is used to describe literal honey as a delicacy (Proverbs 24:13, Song of Solomon 4:11) and, more commonly, as a metaphor for something intensely pleasing or desirable. In Proverbs, it illustrates both the deceptive allure of folly (Proverbs 5:3) and the genuine sweetness of wisdom (Proverbs 24:13). A unique usage in Proverbs 27:7 contrasts the sickening effect of too much honey with the soul's longing for something truly desirable, hinting at a deeper spiritual truth.
Etymology
Derived from the root נוּף (nûph, H5130), which means 'to wave, to shake.' The connection likely comes from the idea of shaking or rocking a honeycomb to cause the honey to drip out, or from the honey itself quivering or flowing. This root gives the noun its core sense of a liquid that is shaken loose or drips. The word is a specific, poetic term for honey, distinct from the more common דְּבַשׁ (devash, H1706).
Semantic Range
נֹפֶת is theologically significant as a powerful metaphor for the supreme desirability of divine truth. Its use in Psalm 19:10 to describe God's judgments as 'sweeter than honey and the dripping of the honeycomb' elevates the perception of God's law from mere duty to a source of deep, soul-satisfying delight. This challenges modern readers to see obedience and wisdom not as burdens, but as the most precious and sweetest realities, more attractive than any worldly pleasure. It connects God's revelation to the most universally recognized symbol of pleasure in the ancient world.
In ancient Israel, honey, especially fresh honey dripping from the comb, was a rare luxury and a symbol of the best the land could produce (the 'land of milk and honey'). Unlike refined sugar, this pure, unprocessed honey represented the pinnacle of natural sweetness and sustenance. Understanding this cultural value amplifies the biblical metaphors; calling God's words or wisdom 'dripping honey' meant they were considered the ultimate source of delight and satisfaction, far surpassing other earthly goods.
דְּבַשׁ (devash, H1706) — The general, common term for honey, often referring to processed or stored honey. נֹפֶת specifies the fresh, dripping honey from the comb.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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