μέλι (G3192) — Greek Lexicon

μέλι

méli

G3192 noun

SILEX Entry

Root μελ- honey, sweet substance

Definition

Honey; the sweet, viscous substance produced by bees, primarily used as a food and sweetener. Also refers more generally to any naturally occurring sweet syrup due to plant nectar, including wild or cultivated sources. In broader contexts, can denote any sweet or nectar-like substance.

Semantic Range

honey (bee-produced), sweet syrup, natural nectar, metaphorical sweetness

Root / Etymology

Primary Greek word, with direct cognates in other Indo-European languages (cf. Latin 'mel', Sanskrit 'madhu'), indicating deep linguistic roots referring to honey or sweet substances. Not a compound or derivative; simply denoting 'honey.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, μέλι consistently denotes honey, both as produced by bees and occasionally in a broader sense including other naturally sweet substances (e.g., tree gums, fruit syrup). Its most frequent use is literal—designating the common foodstuff and sweetener. In Septuagint usage, μέλι translates the Hebrew דְּבַשׁ (devash), which typically means bee honey but can sometimes include other sweet products (such as date syrup), leading to semantic overlap. In metaphorical contexts, μέλι can symbolize sweetness, pleasantness, or desirability (as in Greek poetry or biblical allusion — e.g., 'sweeter than honey_'). In the New Testament, references to μέλι emphasize its status as a valued natural food, sometimes paired with 'locusts' (e.g., Matthew 3:4). The standard English translation 'honey' generally captures the primary sense, but may obscure the wider semantic scope in some ancient contexts, where 'honey' could encompass various sweet substances not strictly limited to bee products. No significant theological or symbolic development attaches to this word in the Koine period outside general metaphoric sweetness.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a primary word; honey:--honey.

Root Family

μέλι (meli) — honey, sweet substance

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G3192-01`	μέλι	meli	`N NOM N SG`	honey	honey	4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G3192-01`	Matthew 3:4	μέλι	meli	`N NOM N SG`	honey	honey
`G3192-01`	Mark 1:6	μέλι	meli	`N ACC N SG`	honey	honey
`G3192-01`	Revelation 10:9	μέλι	meli	`N NOM N SG`		honey
`G3192-01`	Revelation 10:10	μέλι	meli	`N NOM N SG`		honey

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