God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 16:24
24Pleasant words are ⌞like⌟ honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the spirit and healthy for 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Context of Proverbs 16:24
22Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but stubborn fools punish themselves with their stupidity. 23A wise person’s heart controls his speech, and what he says helps others learn. Pleasant words are ⌞like⌟ honey from a honeycomb— sweet to the spirit and healthy for the body. 25There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death. 26A laborer’s appetite works to his advantage, because his hunger drives 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 12:18Careless words stab like a sword, but the words of wise people bring healing.
- Proverbs 15:23A person is delighted to hear an answer from his own mouth, and a timely word—oh, how good!
- Proverbs 23:16My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.
- Proverbs 25:11⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings, ⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.
- Proverbs 27:9Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the sweetness of a friend is a fragrant forest.
- Deuteronomy 32:2Let my teachings come down like raindrops. Let my words drip like dew, like gentle rain on grass, like showers on green plants.
- John 20:19That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!”
- Proverbs 24:13Eat honey, my son, because it is good. Honey that flows from the honeycomb tastes sweet.
- Psalms 19:10They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the drippings from a honeycomb.
- Psalms 119:103How sweet the taste of your promise is! It tastes sweeter than honey.
- Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I devoured them. Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight, because I am called by your name, O Lord God of Armies.
- Proverbs 3:8⌞Then⌟ your body will be healed, and your bones will have nourishment.
- Proverbs 4:22because they are life to those who find them and they heal the whole body.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries