Proverbs 17:22

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Images for Proverbs 17:22

Proverbs 17:22 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
English Standard Version (ESV)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
The Message Bible (MSG)
22 A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.
American Standard Version (ASV)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one's strength.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
22 A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.

Proverbs 17:22 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doth good [like] a medicine
Does the body good, makes it healthful and vigorous. Cheerfulness of spirit has a great influence upon the body, and much contributes to the health and welfare of it; see ( Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 ) ; and especially a heart full of spiritual joy, peace of conscience, flowing from the blood of Christ, joy in the Holy Ghost, a rejoicing in Christ Jesus and his righteousness, and in hope of the glory of God, much affect even the outward man. Or, "a merry heart makes a good medicine" F24; it is a good medicine of itself; raises the spirits, invigorates the body, and fits it for service and business: or, "does a medicine good" F25; makes that operate kindly, and to a good purpose: or, as Jarchi, makes the countenance shine well, makes a serene countenance; which Schultens approves, and, from the use of the word in the Arabic language, confirms; but a broken spirit drieth the bones;
a spirit broken with sorrow, whether on spiritual or temporal accounts; as it weakens the nerves, it dries up the marrow in the bones, and emaciates the body, and reduces it to a skeleton: the joy or grief of the mind, those passions of the soul, have a very great influence upon the body, either for its good or hurt.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (hhg bjyy xmv bl) "cor hilare bonam facit sanationem", Michaelis.
F25 So R. Joseph Kimchi; "bonificat sive meliorem reddit medicinam", some in Valablus; "bene medicinam facit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Proverbs 17:22 In-Context

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Psalms 38:8
  • 2. S Exodus 12:46; Psalms 22:15; Proverbs 14:30; S Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 18:14
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