3262

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

General Overview

Strong’s Greek 3262 belongs to the same word-family as μέλισσα (bee) and points to the occupation of tending bees and gathering honey. Though the form itself never appears in the Greek New Testament, its conceptual background sheds light on a rich biblical theme that stretches from the Pentateuch to Revelation: God’s provision through honey, the industry of the bee, and the sweetness that illustrates the Word of God.

Old Testament Background

1. Divine Provision in the Land
• Exodus 3:8 – The LORD promises Israel “a land flowing with milk and honey,” a refrain repeated throughout the wilderness narratives.
• Deuteronomy 8:8 – Honey crowns the list of agricultural blessings awaiting Israel.

The promise of honey highlights both abundance and stability; beekeeping demanded settled communities, well-watered flora, and an ordered society—conditions Yahweh pledged to establish for His covenant people.

2. Illustrations of Sweetness and Strength
• Proverbs 24:13 – “Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.”
• Psalm 19:10 – God’s ordinances are “sweeter than honey” and therefore desirable.

Honey becomes an inspired metaphor for the pleasing, nourishing quality of God’s revelation and wisdom.

3. Bees as Instruments of Judgment
• Deuteronomy 1:44 compares the Amorites who struck Israel to “bees,” underscoring relentless pursuit.
• Isaiah 7:18 pictures God “whistling” for the bee of Assyria as a rod of discipline.

In both passages the diligence and sting of bees symbolize the thoroughness of divine judgment.

Intertestamental and Greco-Roman Setting

Outside Scripture, Greeks prized apiculture; Aristotle devotes extensive study to bees, and Roman authors such as Virgil (Georgics IV) praise their ordered labor. First-century Judea shared similar practices: clay hives, smoke to pacify bees, and seasonal extraction of honeycomb. Understanding such background informs parables of diligence (compare Proverbs 6:6-8’s ant) and underscores why early Christians valued manual industry (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

New Testament Allusions to the Theme

Even though 3262 itself is unused, related imagery remains vivid:
• Matthew 3:4 – John the Baptist survives on “locusts and wild honey,” reflecting Nazarite simplicity and prophetic dependence on God’s untamed provision.
• Revelation 10:9-10 – The little scroll tastes “sweet as honey” in John’s mouth, again portraying the Word’s initial delight before the bitterness of judgment.
• Luke 24:42 – The risen Christ receives “a piece of broiled fish, and some honeycomb,” reinforcing the continuing goodness of creation in the resurrected life.

Symbolic Theology

1. Sweetness of Revelation – Honey consistently typifies the gracious aspect of God’s speech: attractive, satisfying, and sustaining.
2. Industrious Community – Bees work cooperatively for a common good, offering a picture of the church as a disciplined, purposeful body (Romans 12:4-8; Ephesians 4:16).
3. Warning of the Sting – Where honey speaks of blessing, the bee’s sting warns of judgment. A balanced theology holds both realities together (Romans 11:22).

Historical and Ministry Significance

• Patristic writers—Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Basil—likened exegesis to drawing honey from the comb: the preacher must labor to bring out Scripture’s sweetness for the flock.
• Medieval monasteries practiced beekeeping, supplying wax for candles that illuminated Scripture readings, thus literally turning the labor of “beekeepers” into light for worship.
• Modern missions still use bees in micro-enterprise, modeling stewardship and teaching theological lessons on discipline and mutual service.

Practical Applications for Today

1. Discipleship – Encourage believers to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8) by regular, meditative intake of Scripture, paralleling the steady work of gathering nectar.
2. Community Life – Use the example of the hive to stress unity, diversity of gifts, and sacrificial labor in the local church.
3. Evangelism – Present the gospel as both sweet (grace) and serious (judgment), just as honey and sting reside in the same creature.

Key Passages for Further Study

Exodus 3:8; Deuteronomy 1:44; Deuteronomy 8:8; Judges 14:8-9; 1 Samuel 14:25-27; Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 24:13-14; Isaiah 7:18; Matthew 3:4; Luke 24:42; Revelation 10:9-10.

Summary

Although Strong’s Greek 3262 never surfaces in the New Testament text, the vocation it denotes throws a flood-light on one of Scripture’s enduring pictures: bees and honey as emblems of God’s generous provision, the delight of His Word, the diligence expected of His people, and the two-edged reality of blessing and judgment. The beekeeper’s craft thus becomes a living parable, urging believers to labor faithfully, nurture community sweetness, and proclaim the full counsel of God.

Englishman's Concordance

μελῶν — 2 Occ.
μέλος — 5 Occ.
Μελχὶ — 2 Occ.
Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ.
ἔμελεν — 2 Occ.
μέλει — 7 Occ.
μελέτω — 1 Occ.
μεμβράνας — 1 Occ.
μέμφεται — 1 Occ.
μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ.
μὲν — 182 Occ.
Μενοῦν — 1 Occ.
μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ.
μέντοι — 8 Occ.
ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ.
ἔμειναν — 2 Occ.
ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ.
ἔμενεν — 3 Occ.
ἔμενον — 1 Occ.
μεῖναι — 6 Occ.