Honey has been treasured across almost every major world tradition for thousands of years, and it appears in some of humanity's oldest religious texts. Here's what a few of those texts actually say about honey, and how that fits alongside modern nutrition science — which is a different thing from religious or historical belief, and shouldn't be confused with medical advice.
Honey In The Bible
Honey appears throughout the Bible, often as a symbol of abundance, sweetness and blessing:
- "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey." (Exodus 3:8)
- "The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey." (Exodus 16:31)
- "He reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened." (1 Samuel 14:27)
- "Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste." (Proverbs 24:13)
- "His food was locusts and wild honey." (Matthew 3:4, describing John the Baptist)
Honey In Jewish Tradition
Honey holds a special place in Jewish custom, most visibly at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when it's traditional to dip apple slices in honey while wishing one another a sweet new year — a custom that continues in Jewish households and communities around the world today.
Honey In The Quran And Islamic Tradition
Honey is mentioned directly in the Quran, in Surah An-Nahl (The Bee):
"From their bellies comes forth liquid of varying colours, in which there is healing for people. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect." (Quran 16:69)
Honey is also referenced in the hadith, the recorded sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
"Healing is in three things: a gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire (cauterising)." (Sahih al-Bukhari 5680)
Honey also has a long history in classical Islamic scholarship on medicine — the 14th-century scholar Ibn al-Qayyim wrote about honey at length in his work "The Medicine of the Prophet," drawing on the medical understanding of his era:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to drink honey mixed with water on an empty stomach, & this is the secret of maintaining good health that no one can understand except one who is intelligent & blessed.”
[Zaad al-Ma’aad, 34]
With regard to the Prophet’s guidance concerning drinking, it is the most perfect guidance that maintains good health. He used to drink honey mixed with cold water. This is very healthy and no one can understand how healthy it is except the most prominent doctors. For drinking honey on an empty stomach dissolves phlegm, cleanses the stomach, reduces its viscosity, washes away waste matter, warms it up a little and opens its inlet and exit. It has a similar effect on the liver, kidneys and urethra.It is more beneficial to the stomach than any other kind of sweet that enters it. However it may cause side effects in people who are suffering from jaundice because it is hot and jaundice is hot, so it may aggravate it; in order to avoid this effect vinegar may be added, then honey will become beneficial and drinking it will be more useful than many or most of the drinks that are made from sugar, especially for those who are not used to these drinks, for if they drink them they will not suit them as well as honey does, or even come close.With regard to drinking it when it is collected and well-prepared, this is one of the most beneficial things for the body, and one of the greatest means of preserving health; it is very refreshing and energising, and it is good for the liver and heart. If it is well-prepared it provides nutrition and makes food reach all parts of the body in the most effective manner."
[Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/224, 225]
Faith, Tradition, And Modern Evidence
These passages carry real historical, cultural and spiritual weight, and we've quoted them as they appear in each tradition. What we won't do is claim that modern science has "confirmed" any of them. Honey is a genuinely nutritious natural food — it contains natural sugars, antioxidants and trace nutrients — but that's a different thing from the specific healing properties described in religious texts, which are a matter of faith and tradition rather than clinical evidence. Honey is a food, not a medicine, and it isn't a substitute for medical care. If you have a health condition, please speak to your doctor.
What all of these traditions do agree on, across thousands of years and several continents, is that honey has always been valued — as food, as a symbol of sweetness and blessing, and as part of culture and ritual. If you'd like to try a raw, unfiltered honey of your own, our Raw Organic Red Gumbo Limbo Honey is a lovely place to start.
Sources & References
- Exodus 3:8, Exodus 16:31, 1 Samuel 14:27, Proverbs 24:13, Matthew 3:4 — Bible Gateway (NIV)
- Quran 16:69 (Surah An-Nahl) — Quran.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5680 — Sunnah.com
- Zaad Al-Ma'aad by Ibn Al Qayyim - HealthyMuslim.com