5317. nopheth

Lexical Summary

nopheth: Honeycomb

Original Word: נֹפֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: nopheth
Pronunciation: NO-feth
Phonetic Spelling: (no'-feth)
KJV: honeycomb
NASB: honey, drippings, honey from the comb
Word Origin: [from H5130 (נוּף - wave) in the sense of shaking to pieces]

1. a dripping i.e. of honey (from the comb)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

honeycomb

From nuwph in the sense of shaking to pieces; a dripping i.e. Of honey (from the comb) -- honeycomb.

see HEBREW nuwph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
flowing honey, honey from the comb
NASB Translation
drippings (1), honey (3), honey from the comb (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

נֹ֫פֶת noun masculine^{Proverbs 24:13} flowing honey, honey from the comb (Phoenician נפת CIS^{i.166, 8b}); — ׳נ absolute Proverbs 5:3 3t., construct Psalm 19:11; — sweet Proverbs 24:13 ("" דְּבַשׁ), compare Proverbs 27:7; figurative of sweet words Proverbs 5:3, and perhaps Songs 4:11 (Bu of kisses; "" דְּבַשׁ, חָלָב); in full ׳נ צוּפִים Psalm 19:11 honey of (the) combs (compare with ׳מִשְׁפְטֵי י; "" דְּבַשׁ).

נֶפְתּוֺחַ see פתח.

נַמְּתּוּלִים, נַפְתָּלִי see פתל.

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Imagery

נֹפֶת evokes the richest sweetness in ancient Israelite experience—the pure honey dripping straight from the comb. The term draws the mind to unprocessed, fragrant nectar, emphasizing delight, nourishment, and irresistible attractiveness.

Occurrences and Contexts

• Psalm 19:10 contrasts the sweetness of divine revelation with נֹפֶת: “They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.” Scripture’s authority is thus pictured as the supreme pleasure of the soul.
• Proverbs 5:3 warns that the seductress’ words “drip honey,” using נֹפֶת to expose counterfeit sweetness that hides deadly consequence.
• Proverbs 24:13 calls the son to “Eat honey… and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste,” commending wisdom’s tangible goodness.
• Proverbs 27:7 observes, “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet,” employing נֹפֶת to illustrate how spiritual appetite governs discernment.
• Song of Solomon 4:11 celebrates covenantal intimacy: “Your lips, my bride, drip sweetness like the honeycomb; honey and milk are under your tongue,” raising נֹפֶת as a symbol of pure marital delight.

Historical and Cultural Background

Honeycombs were luxury food in the land “flowing with milk and honey.” Gathered from wild bees or cultivated in clay hives, honey required patience and skill, making it a fitting emblem for both reward and rarity. Because Israel’s sacrificial system prohibited leaven and honey on the altar (Leviticus 2:11), נֹפֶת was kept for personal enjoyment, feasting, and gift-giving—underscoring the distinction between worship’s holiness and daily blessing.

Theological Themes

1. Supremacy of God’s Word: Psalm 19:10 sets Torah above the sweetest earthly pleasure, calling believers to relish Scripture more than any sensory delight.
2. Discernment and Desire: Proverbs repeatedly contrasts legitimate sweetness (wisdom, diligence, covenant love) with deceptive sweetness (adultery, flattery). נֹפֶת becomes the testing ground of the heart’s cravings.
3. Covenant Praise: In Song of Solomon, נֹפֶת depicts exclusive, mutual joy inside marriage, reflecting Yahweh’s faithfulness to His people.

Practical Application for Ministry

• Preaching: Use נֹפֶת imagery to invite congregations to taste the goodness of the Word (Psalm 34:8), stressing that only divine truth satisfies enduringly.
• Counseling: Point straying hearts to Proverbs 5, contrasting fleeting sweetness with lasting bitterness, to expose the lure of sin.
• Family Discipleship: Proverbs 24:13 provides a parent-to-child model—demonstrating that wisdom is not merely correct but delightful.
• Worship: Incorporate testimonies of Scripture’s “honey-like” impact on daily life, encouraging Scripture memory as spiritual nourishment.

Christological Foreshadowing

Jesus Christ embodies the fulfillment of נֹפֶת: He is the incarnate Word whose grace and truth surpass every earthly sweetness (John 1:14). Yet, like honey that is both gift and warning, the cross confronts humanity with a choice—receive the genuine sweetness of salvation or pursue the counterfeit pleasures of sin.

In every appearance, נֹפֶת invites believers to examine what they deem sweet, anchoring true delight in the steadfast goodness of God.

Forms and Transliterations

וְנֹ֣פֶת וְנֹ֥פֶת ונפת נֹ֑פֶת נֹ֛פֶת נֹ֣פֶת נפת nō·p̄eṯ Nofet nōp̄eṯ veNofet wə·nō·p̄eṯ wənōp̄eṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 19:10
HEB: וּמְתוּקִ֥ים מִ֝דְּבַ֗שׁ וְנֹ֣פֶת צוּפִֽים׃
NAS: honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
INT: Sweeter honey and the drippings of the honeycomb

Proverbs 5:3
HEB: כִּ֤י נֹ֣פֶת תִּ֭טֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתֵ֣י
NAS: drip honey And smoother
KJV: drop [as] an honeycomb, and her mouth
INT: for honey drip the lips

Proverbs 24:13
HEB: כִּי־ ט֑וֹב וְנֹ֥פֶת מָ֝ת֗וֹק עַל־
NAS: for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet
KJV: because [it is] good; and the honeycomb, [which is] sweet
INT: for is good the honey is sweet unto

Proverbs 27:7
HEB: שְׂ֭בֵעָה תָּב֣וּס נֹ֑פֶת וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָ֗ה
NAS: loathes honey, But to a famished
KJV: loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry
INT: A sated loathes honey man to a famished

Songs 4:11
HEB: נֹ֛פֶת תִּטֹּ֥פְנָה שִׂפְתוֹתַ֖יִךְ
NAS: [my] bride, drip honey; Honey and milk
KJV: drop [as] the honeycomb: honey
INT: honey drip your lips

5 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5317
5 Occurrences

nō·p̄eṯ — 3 Occ.
wə·nō·p̄eṯ — 2 Occ.