3192. meli

Lexicon

meli: Honey

Original Word: μέλι
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: meli
Pronunciation: MEH-lee
Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-ee)
Definition: Honey
Meaning: honey.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

honey.

Apparently a primary word; honey -- honey.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
honey
NASB Translation
honey (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3192: μέλι

μέλι, μέλιτος, τό, the Sept. for דְּבַשׁ (from Homer down). honey: Revelation 10:9f; ἄγριον (which see), Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word μέλιττα (melitta), meaning "bee."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 1706: דְּבַשׁ (debash) • Honey
• Strong's Hebrew 6688: צֳפִי (tsophiy) • Honeycomb

These Hebrew terms similarly reflect the significance of honey in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with the land of Canaan, described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), symbolizing God's abundant provision and blessing.

Usage: The term μέλι is used in the New Testament to refer to honey, often symbolizing abundance, sweetness, and the provision of God. It appears in various contexts, including literal references to honey as food and metaphorical uses to describe the sweetness of God's word or promises.

Context: The Greek word μέλι (meli) appears four times in the New Testament. It is used both literally and metaphorically, reflecting the cultural and spiritual significance of honey in biblical times. Honey was a valued commodity in the ancient world, known for its sweetness and nutritional value. It was often associated with prosperity and divine blessing.

In Matthew 3:4, John the Baptist's diet is described: "John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey." Here, μέλι is used to describe the simple and austere diet of John, highlighting his prophetic lifestyle and connection to the wilderness.

In Revelation 10:9-10, the apostle John is instructed to eat a scroll: "So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, 'Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.' I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter." Here, μέλι symbolizes the sweetness of God's revelation, which is initially delightful but can also bring about difficult truths.

The metaphorical use of honey in these passages underscores the dual nature of divine messages—sweet and desirable, yet sometimes challenging and convicting.

Forms and Transliterations

εμέλισα εμέλισε εμέλισεν μελι μέλι μελιούσιν μελισάτωσαν μέλισσαι μελίσση μέλιτι μελίτος μέλιτος μέλιτός meli méli

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 3:4 N-NNS
GRK: ἀκρίδες καὶ μέλι ἄγριον
NAS: was locusts and wild honey.
KJV: and wild honey.
INT: locusts and honey wild

Mark 1:6 N-ANS
GRK: ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον
NAS: was locusts and wild honey.
KJV: and wild honey;
INT: locusts and honey wild

Revelation 10:9 N-NNS
GRK: γλυκὺ ὡς μέλι
NAS: it will be sweet as honey.
KJV: sweet as honey.
INT: sweet as honey

Revelation 10:10 N-NNS
GRK: μου ὡς μέλι γλυκύ καὶ
NAS: it was sweet as honey; and when
KJV: sweet as honey: and as soon as
INT: of me as honey sweet and

Strong's Greek 3192
4 Occurrences

μέλι — 4 Occ.