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

PROVERBS 25:27KJV
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Proverbs 25:27 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 25:27 mean?

Proverbs 25:27 warns that just as eating too much honey is not good, seeking out your own glory is not truly honorable. The verse uses the image of overindulging in something sweet to show that pursuing praise for oneself is excessive and ultimately not admirable.

This proverb comes from a collection of wise sayings traditionally attributed to Solomon, addressed to anyone seeking wisdom for daily life. The verse uses a practical example—eating too much honey, which was a prized treat in ancient Israel—to make a point about self-promotion. The message is that moderation is wise, whether with physical pleasures or with the desire for recognition.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 25:27

  • "good" (טוֹב, tov): This word means something beneficial or desirable. The verse points out that overindulgence, even in something good like honey, loses its benefit.
  • "eat" (אָכַל, akhal): The basic word for eating, used here to make the lesson concrete and relatable.
  • "much" (רַב, rav): This word means "abundant" or "excessive." The warning is not against honey itself, but against having too much.
  • "honey" (דְּבַשׁ, devash): Honey was a symbol of sweetness and pleasure in ancient Israel, making the comparison vivid.
  • "search" (חָקַר, chaqar): This word means to investigate or seek out, here describing an active pursuit of one’s own honor.
  • "glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod): This word means "weight," "honor," or "glory." The verse uses it twice—first as something people seek for themselves, and second to say that seeking it is not truly honorable.

Why Proverbs 25:27 matters

  • Proverbs 25:27 clarifies that even good things, like recognition or pleasure, become harmful when pursued without restraint.
  • The verse highlights the difference between receiving honor naturally and actively seeking to promote oneself, showing that true honor is not self-made.
  • This proverb fits into the wider biblical theme of humility and warns against pride, connecting everyday choices to deeper character issues.

Where else these words appear

“search” Hebrew H2714 · used in 12 verses

  • Judges 5:16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.
  • Job 9:10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
  • Job 38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

“honey” Hebrew H1706 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 43:11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
  • Deuteronomy 27:3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.
  • Psalms 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.