Sweetness
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Sweetness in the Bible often symbolizes the pleasant and desirable aspects of life, both in the physical and spiritual realms. It is frequently associated with the goodness and blessings of God, as well as the joy and satisfaction found in His presence and His Word.

Biblical References:

1. Honey and Sweetness:
Honey is a recurring symbol of sweetness in the Scriptures. It represents abundance, delight, and the richness of God's provision. In the Promised Land, described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), honey signifies the prosperity and fertility of the land God promised to the Israelites. The sweetness of honey is also used metaphorically to describe the desirability of wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 24:13-14 states, "Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is sweet for your soul; if you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

2. Sweetness of God's Word:
The Word of God is often likened to sweetness, emphasizing its nourishing and satisfying nature. Psalm 119:103 declares, "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey in my mouth!" This verse highlights the delight and spiritual sustenance found in God's commandments and teachings. The sweetness of God's Word is a source of joy and strength for believers, guiding them in righteousness and truth.

3. Sweetness in Relationships:
Sweetness is also evident in the context of relationships, particularly in the love and kindness shared among individuals. The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating marital love, frequently uses imagery of sweetness to describe the affection and intimacy between the bride and groom. Song of Solomon 4:11 says, "Your lips, my bride, drip honey; honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon." This portrayal of sweetness underscores the beauty and delight found in loving relationships.

4. Sweetness as a Metaphor for Spiritual Experiences:
Spiritual experiences and encounters with God are often described using the metaphor of sweetness. In Psalm 34:8 , the psalmist invites others to "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" This invitation to "taste" God's goodness suggests an experiential knowledge of His sweetness and benevolence. The sweetness of God's presence brings comfort, peace, and joy to the believer's soul.

5. Sweetness in Sacrificial Offerings:
In the Old Testament, certain offerings were described as having a "pleasing aroma" to the Lord, indicating their acceptance and the sweetness of the worshiper's devotion. Leviticus 2:9 mentions, "The priest is to remove the memorial portion from the grain offering and burn it on the altar as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD." This concept of sweetness in offerings reflects the heart's attitude of gratitude and reverence towards God.

Theological Implications:

Sweetness in the biblical context serves as a reminder of the goodness and grace of God. It points to the richness of life found in obedience to His Word and the joy of communion with Him. The imagery of sweetness encourages believers to seek the Lord's presence and to delight in His commandments, recognizing that true satisfaction and fulfillment are found in Him alone.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) The quality or state of being sweet (in any sense of the adjective); gratefulness to the taste or to the smell; agreeableness.
Strong's Hebrew
4987. motheq -- sweetness
... 4986, 4987. motheq. 4988 . sweetness. Transliteration: motheq Phonetic
Spelling: (mo'-thek) Short Definition: sweetness. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4987.htm - 6k

4986. metheq -- sweetness
... 4985, 4986. metheq. 4987 . sweetness. Transliteration: metheq Phonetic
Spelling: (meh'-thek) Short Definition: sweet. ... sweetness. ...
/hebrew/4986.htm - 6k

4477. mamthaqqim -- sweetness, sweet things
... 4476, 4477. mamthaqqim. 4478 . sweetness, sweet things. Transliteration:
mamthaqqim Phonetic Spelling: (mam-tak') Short Definition: sweet. ...
/hebrew/4477.htm - 6k

4966. mathoq -- sweet, sweetness
... 4965, 4966. mathoq or mathuq. 4967 . sweet, sweetness. Transliteration: mathoq
or mathuq Phonetic Spelling: (maw-thoke') Short Definition: sweet. ...
/hebrew/4966.htm - 6k

4682. matstsah -- unleavened bread or cake
... From matsats in the sense of greedily devouring for sweetness; properly, sweetness;
concretely, sweet (ie Not soured or bittered with yeast); specifically, an ...
/hebrew/4682.htm - 6k

4989. Mithqah -- a place in the desert
... Mithcah. Feminine of motheq; sweetness; Mithkah, a place in the Desert -- Mithcah.
see HEBREW motheq. 4988, 4989. Mithqah. 4990 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4989.htm - 6k

Library

The Sweetness of Tears
... SAINT AUGUSTIN IV THE SWEETNESS OF TEARS. Augustin was nearly twenty. He had
finished his studies in rhetoric within the required time. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/iv the sweetness of tears.htm

How Sweetness and Tenderness in Prayer Differ from Consolations. ...
... THE FOURTH MANSIONS CHAPTER I. HOW SWEETNESS AND TENDERNESS IN PRAYER DIFFER
FROM CONSOLATIONS. EXPLAINS HOW ADVANTAGEOUS IT WAS FOR ST. ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter i how sweetness and.htm

Of the Felicity and Sweetness of God's Love: and of the ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER XII OF THE FELICITY AND SWEETNESS OF GOD'S LOVE: AND OF THE
NIGHTINGALE'S SONG: AND PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE OF TRUE GHOSTLY SONG THAT WORLDLY ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xii of the felicity.htm

Sweetness in Prayer
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCCCIV SWEETNESS IN PRAYER. Why dost
thou beat so quick, my heart? Why struggle in thy cage? ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cccciv sweetness in prayer.htm

April 27. "The Sweetness of the Lips" (Prov. xvi. 21).
... APRIL 27. "The sweetness of the lips" (Prov. xvi. 21). "The sweetness
of the lips" (Proverbs 16:21). Spiritual conditions are ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /april 27 the sweetness of.htm

June 13. "The Sweetness of the Lips Increaseth Learning" (Prov. ...
... JUNE 13. "The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning" (Prov. xvi. 21). "The
sweetness of the lips increaseth learning" (Proverbs 16:21). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /june 13 the sweetness of.htm

Sweetness and Light. April 17.
... Sweetness and Light. April 17. Ah, that we could believe that God is love, and
that he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him! ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /sweetness and light april 17.htm

Knowing the Greatness and Sweetness of Love
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 90 Knowing the greatness and sweetness of Love. Knowing the
greatness and sweetness of Love, I can never be poor in any estate. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/90 knowing the greatness and.htm

Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Ascension Day 194. Majestic sweetness sits enthroned. CM ... Samuel
Stennett, 1787. Majestic sweetness sits enthroned. Upon the Savior's brow; ...
/.../ascension day 194 majestic sweetness.htm

Of the Sweetness of the Commandment which God Has Given us of ...
... ABOVE ALL THINGS. CHAPTER I. OF THE SWEETNESS OF THE COMMANDMENT WHICH GOD
HAS GIVEN US OF LOVING HIM ABOVE ALL THINGS. Man is the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i of the sweetness.htm

Thesaurus
Sweetness (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sweetness (11 Occurrences). ... Out of the strong came forth
sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle. ...
/s/sweetness.htm - 9k

Mithkah (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MITHKAH. mith'-ka (mithqah "sweetness"; the King
James Version Mithcah): Name given owing to sweetness of pasture or water. ...
/m/mithkah.htm - 7k

Amiable (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper,
kind-heartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as, an amiable woman. ...
/a/amiable.htm - 8k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... There are many varieties of figs in Palestine differing in sweetness, in color and
consistence; some are good and some are bad (compare Jeremiah 24:1, 8 ...
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Fig (45 Occurrences)
... There are many varieties of figs in Palestine differing in sweetness, in color and
consistence; some are good and some are bad (compare Jeremiah 24:1, 8 ...
/f/fig.htm - 33k

Opposite (137 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist. 7. (n.) That which is opposed
or contrary; as, sweetness and its opposite. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/o/opposite.htm - 37k

Increases (24 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and
the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. (See NAS RSV). ...
/i/increases.htm - 12k

Increaseth (21 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/i/increaseth.htm - 12k

Sweet (147 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:11 "But the fig tree said to them,'Should I leave my sweetness, and my
good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?' (Root in WEB KJV JPS ...
/s/sweet.htm - 40k

Fro (54 Occurrences)
... (ASV YLT). Judges 9:11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness,
and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees? (ASV YLT). ...
/f/fro.htm - 23k

Resources
Is prayer to saints / Mary biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of unleavened bread? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible prophesy the coming of Muhammad? | GotQuestions.org

Sweetness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Sweetness (11 Occurrences)

Hebrews 6:4
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted the sweetness of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
(WEY)

Judges 9:11
"But the fig tree said to them,'Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?'
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 14:14
He said to them, "Out of the eater came forth food. Out of the strong came forth sweetness." They couldn't in three days declare the riddle.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

2 Samuel 23:1
And these 'are' the last words of David: -- 'The affirmation of David son of Jesse -- And the affirmation of the man raised up -- Concerning the Anointed of the God of Jacob, And the Sweetness of the Songs of Israel:
(YLT)

Proverbs 1:6
For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.
(YLT)

Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
(See RSV)

Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Song of Songs 4:11
Your lips are dropping honey; honey and milk are under your tongue; and the smell of your clothing is like the smell of Lebanon.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 5:16
His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.
(WEB YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 3:3
And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Sweetness

Related Terms

Sweetness (11 Occurrences)

Vine (76 Occurrences)

Lily (9 Occurrences)

Reclined (7 Occurrences)

Rose (279 Occurrences)

Powders (1 Occurrence)

Costly (26 Occurrences)

Sweetsmelling (1 Occurrence)

Botany

Sweetly
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