English Standard Version
Proverbs 16:24
24Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- New International Version (NIV)Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Context of Proverbs 16:24
22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. 23The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. 25There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 26A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.
Read all of Proverbs 16Proverbs 16:24 word by word
צוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 16:24
- Proverbs 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 15:23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
- Proverbs 23:16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.
- Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
- Proverbs 27:9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
- Deuteronomy 32:2May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb.
- John 20:19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
- Proverbs 24:13My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
- Psalms 19:10More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:103How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
- Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
- Proverbs 3:8It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
- Proverbs 4:22For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
Commentaries on Proverbs 16:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Pleasant words are as a honey-comb - The honey of which is sweeter than that which has been expressed from it, and has a much finer flavour before it has come in contact with the atmospheric air.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24Honey took its place not only among the luxuries, but among the medicines of the Israelites. This two-fold use made it all the more suitable to be an emblem both of the true Wisdom which is also true obedience, and of the “pleasant words” in which that Wisdom speaks.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24Verse 24 The word of God cures the diseases that weaken our souls.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. (Compare Pr 15:26). Gentle, kind words, by soothing the mind, give the body health.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 16:24
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries