Benefits of Eating Honey in the Bible
The Book of Wisdom extols the goodness and benefits of honey:
“My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste.” (Proverbs 24:13)
It is recorded in 1 Samuel 14:29 that when Jonathan fought the Philistines – Israel’s enemy, he was refreshed, strengthened and energised after eating a little honey. Various Bible versions record him saying:
(New International Version) “… See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey.”
(The Living Bible) “… See how much better I feel after tasting just a little of this honey.”
(Amplified Bible) “…See how my energy is restored because I tasted a little of this honey.”
(New Living Translation) “… See how refreshed I am now that I have eaten this little bit of honey.”
(Voice) “…See how much stronger I am after tasting the honey?”
Honey is a Powerful Tonic – But Eat in Moderation!
While the Book of Wisdom extols the benefits of honey, it warns against eating too much.
“Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit.” (Proverbs 25:16)
“It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one’s own glory is not glory.” (Proverbs 25:27)
World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline
Free sugar is defined by the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization as “all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices”
A WHO guideline recommends that our intake of free sugars is to equal less than 10% of our total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits.