Back to Psalms 19

Psalms 19:10

They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.

  • KJV King James Version

    More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    (19-11) More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

View more translations →

Cross-references (12)

Passages linked to Psalms 19:10 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Psalms 119:72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
  • Psalms 119:103 How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!
  • Psalms 119:127 Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.
  • Proverbs 3:13-15 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
  • Proverbs 16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
  • Job 23:12 I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
  • Proverbs 8:10-11 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
  • Proverbs 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
  • Job 28:15-17 It can’t be gotten for gold, neither will silver be weighed for its price. It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither will it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.
  • Psalms 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
  • Proverbs 24:13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
  • 1 Samuel 14:26-29 When 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. But Jonathan didn’t hear when his father commanded the people with the oath. Therefore he put out the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. Then one of the people answered, and said, “Your father directly commanded the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ ” So the people were faint. Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Please look how my eyes have brightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

↑ Top

Explain this verse (14 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 10. More to be desired are they than gold.…

10. More to be desired are they than gold. The Psalmist now exalts the law of God both on account of its price and sweetness. This commendation depends on the commendations given in the preceding verses; for the many and great advantages which he has just now enumerated, ought justly to make us account heavenly truth the highest and most excellent treasure, and to despise, when compared with it, all the gold and silver of the world. Instead of the word fine gold, which the Latins have called Aurum obryzum, “Lequel les Latins ont nomm, Aurum obryzum.” — Fr.

The rendering of the Septuagint is, λιθον τιμιον, precious stone; and in Psalm 119:127, they translate the same Hebrew word, τοπαζιον, a topaz, which is a precious stone. This last Greek word, according to Hesychius, is derived from the Hebrew word פז, paz.

Read full note →

The word is evidently used for fine gold in Psalm 21:3, and Job 28:17.

Or to consolidate: and hence פז, paz, means solid gold, or gold “well purified” for the more it is purified, it is the more solid, and consequently of greater weight and value.

“Veu qu’en commandant elle nous espouante, a cause que nous deraillons tous en l’observation d’icelle?” — Fr.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Except God’s word be esteemed above all worldly things,…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 19:10 More to be desired [are they] than…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Than much fine gold; than gold of the best…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Moreover, by them is thy servant warned,.... By whom…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 10. More to be desired are they than…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Psa 19:10. More to be desired are they than…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain More to be desired are they than gold -…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 10. More to be desired—An expression of the excellence…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 10. Such is the law in all its parts;…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (10) Honeycomb.—(See margin.) The honey that drops from the…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain More to be desired are they than gold, yea,…
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 10. More to be desired are they than…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain More to be desired are they than gold.

↑ Top

Share