Bees
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In the Bible, bees are mentioned in various contexts, often symbolizing industriousness, community, and at times, danger. The presence of bees and honey in the biblical narrative underscores their significance in the ancient Near Eastern culture and economy.

Biblical References:

1. Judges 14:8-9: One of the most notable references to bees is found in the account of Samson. After killing a lion, Samson later discovers a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass. "When he returned later to take her, he turned aside to look at the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey. So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along." This incident not only highlights the industrious nature of bees but also serves as a riddle that Samson poses to the Philistines, illustrating the unexpected sweetness found in strength.

2. Deuteronomy 1:44: Bees are used metaphorically to describe the fierce and relentless attack of the Amorites against the Israelites. "Then the Amorites who lived in the hills came out against you and chased you like a swarm of bees, beating you down from Seir as far as Hormah." This imagery conveys the intensity and persistence of the Amorite assault.

3. Psalm 118:12: The psalmist uses bees to describe the numerous enemies surrounding him. "They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off." Here, bees symbolize overwhelming numbers and potential danger, yet the psalmist finds deliverance through divine intervention.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance:

In ancient Israel, bees were valued for their production of honey, a primary sweetener and a symbol of abundance and prosperity. The Promised Land is often described as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8), indicating fertility and divine blessing. Honey was not only a food source but also used in offerings and as a metaphor for the richness of God's word (Psalm 19:10).

Bees also exemplify community and cooperation, working together to produce honey. This aspect of their nature can be seen as a model for human society, emphasizing diligence, unity, and productivity.

Theological Implications:

The biblical references to bees often carry deeper theological meanings. The industriousness of bees can be seen as a reflection of God's creation, where each creature has a purpose and role. The metaphorical use of bees to describe enemies or challenges serves as a reminder of the trials believers may face, yet also of the deliverance and protection offered by God.

In summary, bees in the Bible are multifaceted symbols, representing both the sweetness of God's provision and the potential threats of life's challenges. Their presence in Scripture invites reflection on the balance of work, community, and reliance on divine strength.
Greek
3193. melissios -- made by bees.
... 3192, 3193. melissios. 3194 . made by bees. Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: melissios Phonetic Spelling: (mel-is'-see ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3193.htm - 6k

1234. diagogguzo -- to murmur among themselves
... 1234 (an onomatopoetic term imitating the sound of cooing doves and humming bees) --
constantly, intensely (grumble, complain) -- an intensified form of 1111 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1234.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
1682. deborah -- a bee
... 1681, 1682. deborah. 1683 . a bee. Transliteration: deborah Phonetic
Spelling: (deb-o-raw') Short Definition: bees. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1682.htm - 6k
Library

Perhaps Also the So-Called Wars among the Bees Convey Instruction ...
... Chapter LXXXII. Perhaps also the so-called wars among the bees convey
instruction as to the manner in? Perhaps also the so-called ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxxxii perhaps also the.htm

After Celsus Has Finished Speaking of the Bees, in Order to ...
... Chapter LXXXIII. After Celsus has finished speaking of the bees, in order
to depreciate as far as? After Celsus has finished speaking ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxxxiii after celsus has.htm

Fun and Mischief. His Little Cousin and the "Gnats. " the Aurora ...
... He was always boasting of his ability to work with bees. ... When we began to chop,
the bees began to roar, and our friend was frantic with delight. ...
/.../chapter iv fun and mischief.htm

Our Noble Opponent, However, not Observing How Many Philosophers ...
... and make use of a political constitution, and forms of government, and sovereignties,
[4012] this is to say nothing to the purpose, for ants and bees do the ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxxxi our noble opponent.htm

He Shows by Proofs Drawn from Nature Itself, that the Law which ...
... Bees, tiniest of creatures though they are, are yet so clever and cunning that we
read that they can be produced and spring from things of an entirely ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter v he shows by.htm

A Cultivated Conservative Friend of Mine once Exhibited Great ...
... as an idolatry. Virgil takes bees seriously but I doubt if he would have
kept bees as carefully as he wrote about them. The wise ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 42 a cultivated conservative.htm

A Description of Contemplation, and of the First Difference that ...
... Little bees are called nymphs or schadons until they make honey, and then they are
called bees: so prayer is named Meditation until it has produced the honey ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii a description of.htm

Taking the Passage Concerning the Honeycomb in the Song of Songs.. ...
... Taking the passage concerning the honeycomb in the Song of Songs, he expounds
it, comparing the sacred virgins to bees. 40. Let, then ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii taking the passage.htm

Psalm CXVIII.
... 6. "They came about me as bees do a hive, and burned up even as the fire among the
thorns: and in the Name of the Lord have I taken vengeance on them" (ver.12 ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxviii.htm

How Holy Love Returning into the Soul, Brings Back to Life all the ...
... or heard, that wasps, gadflies, flies, and such little noxious insects when once
dead could come to life and rise again, but that the dear bees, those virtuous ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii how holy love.htm

Thesaurus
Bees (5 Occurrences)
...Bees (5 Occurrences). ... 1 Samuel 14:25 And there was honey on the face of the field,
and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it; (BBE). ...
/b/bees.htm - 7k

Bee (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary First mentioned in Deuteronomy 1:44. Swarms of bees,
and the danger of their attacks, are mentioned in Psalm 118:12. ...
/b/bee.htm - 10k

Swarm (26 Occurrences)
... a great number of honeybees which emigrate from a hive at once, and seek new lodgings
under the direction of a queen; a like body of bees settled permanently ...
/s/swarm.htm - 15k

Hiss (13 Occurrences)
... Lord gathering the house of Judah as it were with a hiss: "I will hiss for them."
This expression may be "derived from the noise made to attract bees in hiving ...
/h/hiss.htm - 14k

Honey (62 Occurrences)
... 5:1, where it denotes the honey of bees. ... that collected by bees from flowers
of plants, and deposited in the cells of the honeycomb. ...
/h/honey.htm - 34k

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Made by melting the combs of bees. Mentioned (Psalm
22:14; 68:2; 97:5; Micah 1:4) in illustration. Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

Beeshterah (1 Occurrence)

/b/beeshterah.htm - 12k

Beer-sheba (33 Occurrences)
Beer-sheba. Beersheba, Beer-sheba. Bees . Multi-Version Concordance ... (ASV BBE
DBY JPS WBS YLT RSV). Beersheba, Beer-sheba. Bees . Reference Bible.
/b/beer-sheba.htm - 16k

Queen (59 Occurrences)
... of cities, countries, etc. 4. (n.) The fertile, or fully developed, female
of social bees, ants, and termites. 5. (n.) The most ...
/q/queen.htm - 44k

Quenched (22 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 118:12 They surrounded
me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. ...
/q/quenched.htm - 14k

Resources
How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth? | GotQuestions.org

Why was Israel called the land of milk and honey? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the hornet? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Bees (5 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 1:44
The Amorites, who lived in that hill country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even to Hormah.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 14:8
After a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 14:25
And there was honey on the face of the field, and all the people came to the honey, the bees having gone from it;
(BBE)

Psalms 118:12
They surrounded me like bees. They are quenched like the burning thorns. In the name of Yahweh I cut them off.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 7:18
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Bees

Related Terms

Eshtarah (1 Occurrence)

Beesh'terah (1 Occurrence)

Bees (5 Occurrences)

Be-eshterah (1 Occurrence)

Ashterothkarnaim

Ashteroth-karnaim (1 Occurrence)

Ashtaroth (13 Occurrences)

Man-slayer (20 Occurrences)

Gershonites (17 Occurrences)

Proper (62 Occurrences)

Manas'seh (123 Occurrences)

Names (133 Occurrences)

Beer-Sheba: Wilderness of, Hagar Miraculously Sees a Well in an Angel Fed Elijah In
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