They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
Parallel translations
- WEB More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
- KJV More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
- BSB They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
- NKJV More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
- NASB They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold; Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God's words are more precious than fine gold and sweeter than honey. Scripture is supremely valuable and delightful.
Overview
David sums up the worth of God's revelation with two images: gold (its great value) and honey (its sweetness to the taste). The Word is to be treasured above wealth and savored above pleasure. Such delight in Scripture marks the heart taught by God and finds its fullest object in Christ, the living Word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ps 119:72The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. YUD
- Ps 119:103How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!
- Ps 119:127Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
- Prov 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
- Prov 3:13–15Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
- Prov 8:10–11Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.
- Job 23:12I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
- Prov 8:19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.
- Job 28:15–17It can’t be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for its price.
- Ps 63:5My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
- Prov 24:13My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:
- 1 Sam 14:26–29When the people had come to the forest, behold, honey was dripping, but no one put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 19:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.