The Meaning of Proverbs 25:27 Explained

Proverbs 25:27

KJV: It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

YLT: The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour -- honour.

Darby: It is not good to eat much honey; and to search into weighty matters is itself a weight.

ASV: It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[It is] not good  to eat  much  honey:  so [for men] to search  their own glory  [is not] glory. 

What does Proverbs 25:27 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Both practices in this verse are pleasant for the person who engages in them, but they can affect him adversely if he pursues them to excess.

Context Summary

Proverbs 25:15-28 - Self-Control And Kindliness
In this paragraph we have good advice as to our dealings with the varied characters with whom we are forced into daily contact. Here is a man hard as a bone-try gentleness, for a soft tongue will win his heart, just because it finds a new and unexpected way of approach which no one else has tried for long years"¦. Beware of honeyed words; you may get stung."¦ Do not make yourself too common, or pry into your neighbor's affairs, or ask his help too often"¦. Keep clear of the tale-bearer."¦ Be very careful to whom you confide your troubles"¦. Vinegar poured on potash makes it effervesce; so joyous mirth is incongruous to a heavy heart"¦. Even if your love fails to meet your enemy, the Lord will reward you by revealing and communicating His own perfection, Matthew 5:43-48."¦ If you frown on a backbiter, you will silence him."¦ Do not give way to the wicked, lest you become a corrupted spring"¦. Rule over your spirit-nay, better, hand over its keys to Emmanuel, and let Him be crowned in Mansoul. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 25

1  observations about kings
8  and about avoiding causes of quarrels

What do the individual words in Proverbs 25:27 mean?

To eat honey much not [it is] good so to seek one's own glory [is not] glory
אָ֘כֹ֤ל דְּבַ֣שׁ הַרְבּ֣וֹת לֹא־ ט֑וֹב וְחֵ֖קֶר כְּבֹדָ֣ם כָּבֽוֹד

אָ֘כֹ֤ל  To  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
דְּבַ֣שׁ  honey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דְּבַשׁ  
Sense: honey.
הַרְבּ֣וֹת  much 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
ט֑וֹב  [it  is]  good 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וְחֵ֖קֶר  so  to  seek 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֵקֶר  
Sense: a search, investigation, searching, enquiry, thing to be searched out.
כְּבֹדָ֣ם  one's  own  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
כָּבֽוֹד  [is  not]  glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.