Easton's Bible Dictionary: M. G. Easton, M.A., D.D.
- Heb.ya'ar, occurs only 1 Sam. 14:25, 27, 29; Song 5:1, where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods.
- Nopheth, honey that drops (Ps. 19:10; Pr. 5:3; Song 4:11).
- Debash denotes bee-honey (Judg. 14:8); but also frequently a vegetable honey distilled from trees (Gen. 43:11; Ezek. 27:17). In these passages it may probably mean "dibs," or syrup of grapes, i.e., the juice of ripe grapes boiled down to one-third of its bulk.
- Tsuph, the cells of the honey-comb full of honey (Pr. 16:24; Ps. 19:10).
- "Wild honey" (Mt. 3:4) may have been the vegetable honey distilled from trees, but rather was honey stored by bees in rocks or in trees (Dt. 32:13; Ps. 81:16; 1 Sam. 14:25-29).
Canaan was a "land flowing with milk and honey" (Ex. 3:8). Milk and honey were among the chief dainties in the earlier ages, as they are now among the Bedawin; and butter and honey are also mentioned among articles of food (Isa. 7:15). The ancients used honey instead of sugar (Ps. 119:103; Pr. 24:13); but when taken in great quantities it caused nausea, a fact referred to in Pr. 25:16, 17 to inculcate moderation in pleasures. Honey and milk also are put for sweet discourse (Song 4:11).