Proverbs 17:22

Proverbs 17:22 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
• New International Version (NIV)A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
• New King James Version (NKJV)A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Context of Proverbs 17:22

20One who has a crooked mind finds nothing good, And one who is corrupted in his language falls into evil. 21He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy. A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. 23A wicked person accepts a bribe from an inside pocket To pervert the ways of justice. 24Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 17:22 word by word

לֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣ב גֵּהָ֑ה וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּֽרֶם׃Read the interlinear

• joyfulשָׂמֵחַώâmêach · gladH8056
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• isיָטַבyâţab · be goodH3190
• medicineגֵּהָהgêhâh · cureH1456
• But a brokenנָכֵאnâkê' nâkâ' · strickenH5218
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• driesיָבֵשׁyâbêsh · to witherH3001
• the bonesגֶּ֫רֶםgerem · boneH1634

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:22

• Proverbs 12:25Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.
• Proverbs 15:13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
• Proverbs 18:14The spirit of a person can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can endure it?
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go then, eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works.
• Romans 5:2through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.
• Psalms 22:15My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery, And my tongue clings to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death.
• Psalms 32:3When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.
• Psalms 102:3For my days have ended in smoke, And my bones have been scorched like a hearth.
• 2 Corinthians 2:7so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
• 2 Corinthians 7:10For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22A 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.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 22Doeth good like a medicine - Better, worketh a good healing. Omit “like.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22Verse 22 It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. (Compare Pr 14:30; 15:13). 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:22

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Contentment
• Disease
• Medicine

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Bone; Bones
• Cure; Cures
• Medicine

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings