Proverbs 17:22
in Proverbs 17A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
KJV
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
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This verse in Proverbs 17
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Instead of גהה gehah, a medicine, it appears that the Chaldee and Syriac had read in their copies גוה gevah, the body, as they translate in this way. This makes the apposition here more complete: “A merry heart doeth good to the body; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death.
This site's exposition
He that hath a froward heart
on Proverbs 17:20-23
A froward heart finds no good and a perverse tongue falls into trouble, the inward condition producing the outward ruin the chapter keeps returning to. A fool's father grieves without joy, but a merry heart works like medicine while a broken spirit dries the bones, a physical image for what emotion does to the body that the commentators note anticipates later medical observation without claiming to be one. Taking a bribe out of the bosom to bend judgment closes the unit on the same corruption named at verse 15.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A joyful soul makes a flourishing age, etc. He who rejoices in the inner consolation of the Holy Spirit is also adorned with the flower of good action and expects the fruits of heavenly rewards. But he who is distressed by worldly sorrow, which works …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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 Ecc 9:7; 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.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The effect of the mind on the body is well known. medicine--or, "body," which better corresponds with "bone." drieth--as if the marrow were exhausted.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Doeth good like a medicine - Better, worketh a good healing. Omit “like.”
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֵ֣ב | lev | a heart | H3820 → | 595 times |
| שָׂ֭מֵחַ | sameach | joyful | H8056 → | 21 times |
| יֵיטִ֣ב | yeitiv | it makes good | H3190 → | 117 times |
| גֵּהָ֑ה | gehah | healing | H1456 → | |
| וְר֥וּחַ | veruach | and a spirit | H7307 → | 378 times |
| נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה | nekheah | stricken | H5218 → | 4 times |
| תְּיַבֶּשׁ־ | teyabesh- | it dries up | H3001 → | |
| גָּֽרֶם׃ | garem | bone[s] | H1634 → |
לֵ֣בa heart
levH3820 →595 times
שָׂ֭מֵחַjoyful
sameachH8056 →21 times
יֵיטִ֣בit makes good
yeitivH3190 →117 times
גֵּהָ֑הhealing
gehahH1456 →
וְר֥וּחַand a spirit
veruachH7307 →378 times
נְ֝כֵאָ֗הstricken
nekheahH5218 →4 times
תְּיַבֶּשׁ־it dries up
teyabesh-H3001 →
גָּֽרֶם׃bone[s]
garemH1634 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 12:25Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
it leads to
- Proverbs 15:13
A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
- Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
- Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
- Proverbs 15:13
Through
2 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
it leads to
- Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Acts 11:18
When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
- Acts 3:19
Where this verse is studied
About Proverbs
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Proverbs; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.