Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 19:10

"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb." — Psalms 19:10 (ASV)

More to be desired are they than gold - This refers to His law; or, as in the preceding verse, His judgments. They are more valuable than gold; indeed, they are of such a nature that the soul should desire to possess them more than gold and should value them more. The psalmist here and in the following verses describes his estimate of the worth of revealed truth as he perceived it. In the previous verses, he had shown its value in the abstract; here, he speaks of his own feelings regarding it and shows that he esteems it more than the objects most prized and valued among people.

Yea, than much fine gold - The word used here—פז pâz—properly means that which is purified or pure, and thus becomes an epithet of gold, particularly of gold that is purified. It is rendered "fine gold" in this verse, as in Psalm 119:127; Proverbs 8:19; Song of Solomon 5:11, 5:15; Isaiah 13:12; Lamentations 4:2; and "pure gold" in Psalm 21:3. This word does not occur elsewhere.

Gold is an article of principal value among people. The object here is to show that, to a pious mind, God's revealed truth is esteemed as the most valuable of all things—a treasure surpassing all that people can accumulate and all that they can prize. Every truly pious heart will respond to the sentiment expressed here.

Sweeter also than honey - Honey is the sweetest of all substances and was regarded as an article of luxury, or as most pleasing to the taste. It was a significant part of the diet of the inhabitants of Palestine, much as it is today in Switzerland and some parts of Africa.

The idea is that God's revealed truth is more pleasing to the heart, or affords more pleasure to the soul, than that which is esteemed as the highest luxury for the palate.

The meaning is that it is loved, pleasant, and agreeable. It is not regarded merely as necessary, something admitted to the soul because it is needed, like medicine. Instead, it is received into the soul because it is delighted in, being more agreeable and pleasant than the most luscious food is to the taste.

To this, also, the heart of everyone who has tasted the good word of God will respond.

And the honeycomb - A marginal note reads, "dropping of honeycombs." This is according to the Hebrew. The allusion is to honey that drops from the combs and is therefore the purest honey.

Honey pressed from the combs will almost inevitably have a mixture of bee-bread and parts of the combs themselves. In contrast, honey that naturally flows from the comb will be pure.