In biblical terms, the concept of "sweeten" often relates to the transformation of bitterness into sweetness, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. This transformation is emblematic of God's intervention and grace, turning difficult or bitter circumstances into blessings.

Biblical Instances:

1. The Waters of Marah (Exodus 15:22-25): One of the most direct references to sweetening in the Bible is found in the account of the Israelites at Marah. After three days in the desert without water, they found water at Marah, but it was bitter and undrinkable. Moses cried out to the Lord, who showed him a piece of wood. When Moses threw the wood into the water, it became sweet. This miraculous event demonstrated God's provision and care for His people. The passage reads: "Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log. When he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He tested them" (Exodus 15:25).

2. Proverbs and Wisdom Literature: The concept of sweetness is often used metaphorically in the wisdom literature of the Bible. Proverbs 16:24 states, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones" . Here, sweetness is associated with the power of kind and wise words to bring healing and joy, contrasting with the bitterness of harsh or foolish speech.

3. The Sweetness of God's Word: The psalmist frequently describes God's word as sweet. Psalm 119:103 declares, "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey in my mouth!" . This metaphor highlights the delight and satisfaction found in God's commandments and teachings, which nourish the soul and provide guidance.

4. The Sweet Aroma of Sacrifice: In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, offerings made to God were described as a "pleasing aroma" or "sweet savor" to the Lord (e.g., Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17). This language conveys the idea that sincere worship and obedience are pleasing to God, transforming the act of sacrifice into something beautiful and acceptable.

Theological Implications:

The act of sweetening in the Bible often symbolizes God's redemptive power. Just as the bitter waters of Marah were made sweet, God has the power to transform the bitterness of sin and suffering into the sweetness of salvation and blessing. This transformation is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who turns the bitterness of death into the sweetness of eternal life for those who believe.

Furthermore, the metaphor of sweetness in speech and conduct encourages believers to reflect God's character in their interactions with others. By speaking words that are sweet and edifying, Christians can bring healing and encouragement to those around them, embodying the love and grace of God in their daily lives.1. (v.) To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea.

2. (v.) To make pleasing or grateful to the mind or feelings; as, to sweeten life; to sweeten friendship.

3. (v.) To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper.

4. (v.) To make less painful or laborious; to relieve; as, to sweeten the cares of life.

5. (v.) To soften to the eye; to make delicate.

6. (v.) To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air.

7. (v.) To make warm and fertile; -- opposed to sour; as, to dry and sweeten soils.

8. (v.) To restore to purity; to free from taint; as, to sweeten water, butter, or meat.

9. (v. i.) To become sweet.

'Over against his House'
... 'Every man over against his house' is the principle I desire to commend to you as
going a long way to solve the problem of how to sweeten the foul life of our ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/over against his house.htm

The Seventh Season,
... We have choice helps in the Gospel to keep our hearts from sinful motions
against our enemies, and to sweeten our embittered spirits. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vii the seventh season.htm

Of the First Covenant.
... threatening to that law and command, and so turns it to the nature of a voluntary
covenant and agreement, whereby he doth mitigate and sweeten his authority ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxii of the first.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... Whence should this man have water to give them to drink? How could he sweeten Marah? ...
To sweeten a fountain"is that more difficult than to cleanse a sea? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

Joy
... Cant 1:1. They are a Christian's festival; they are the golden pot and the manna,
they are so sweet, that they make everything else sweet: sweeten health and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 joy.htm

Peace
... He cannot take comfort in worldly blessings, health, estate, relations; he wants
that inward peace, which should be a sauce to sweeten his comforts. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 peace.htm

To the Right Honourable the Earl of Lichfield.
... 10. 'Twas given, to make a civet of their song. Obscene, and sweeten ordure
to perfume. Wit, a true Pagan, deifies the brute,. And ...
/.../young/youngs night thoughts/to the right honourable the.htm

Never! Never! Never! Never! Never!
... possesses real power. Cast this divine tree into the bitter waters of
your Marah, and learn how it will sweeten them. Take this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/never never never never never.htm

The Next Season
... This will prepare you for whatever may take place. This will so sweeten your
temper and calm your mind as to secure you against surprises. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/viii the next season.htm

The Excellencies of the Saints' Rest.
... were written on it! And will not, then, the death and blood of our Lord
everlastingly sweeten our possessed glory? As we write down ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter iii the excellencies of.htm

Sweeten (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea. ...
3. (v.) To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper. ...
/s/sweeten.htm - 7k

Sweet (147 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) One who is dear to another; a darling; -- a term of endearment. 14. (adv.)
Sweetly. 15. (vt) To sweeten. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SWEET CANE. ...
/s/sweet.htm - 40k

Assuage (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vi) To abate or subside. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASSUAGE. a-swaj'
(the King James Version Asswage):Lit,. "sweeten," "soften down"; then, "mitigate ...
/a/assuage.htm - 7k

Honey (62 Occurrences)
... complimentary; to fawn. 5. (vt) To make agreeable; to cover or sweeten with, or
as with, honey. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HONEY. hun'-i ...
/h/honey.htm - 34k

Sweeter (4 Occurrences)

/s/sweeter.htm - 7k

Sweeten: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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