Proverbs 17:22
WEB
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
BSB
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
KJV
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3820
n-m — heart, feelings, will, intellect, centre
Derivation: a form of 3824;
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
KJV: care for, comfortably, consent, × considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), × heed, × I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), × regard(-ed), × themselves, × unawares, understanding, × well, willingly, wisdom.
n.m — inner man
לֵב 599 n.m. (f.) inner man, mind, will, heart
I. seldom of things in the midst of the sea
II. elsewhere of men
1. the inner man in contrast with the outer
2. the inner man, indef., soul, comprehending mind, affections and will
3. specific reference to mind
4. spec. ref. to inclinations, resolutions and determinations of the will
5. spec. ref. to conscience
6. [various]
7. for the man himself
8. as seat of appetites
9. as seat of emotions and passions
10. seat of courage
H8056
a — blithe, gleeful
Derivation: from 8055;
blithe or gleeful
KJV: (be) glad, joyful, (making) merry((-hearted), -ily), rejoice(-ing).
adj.verb — glad
שָׂמֵחַ adj.verb. glad, joyful, merry
H3190
v — be, make well
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be (causative) make well, literally (sound, beautiful) or figuratively (happy, successful, right)
KJV: be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make) better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, be content, diligent(-ly), dress, earnestly, find favour, give, be glad, do (be, make) good(-ness), be (make) merry, please ( well), shew more (kindness), skilfully, × very small, surely, make sweet, thoroughly, tire, trim, very, be (can, deal, entreat, go, have) well (said, seen).
vb — be good
[יָטַב] vb. be good, well, glad, pleasing
Qal
1. be glad, joyful
2. be well placed
3. impers. be well for or with, go well with
4. be pleasing
Hithp.
1. make glad, rejoice
2. do good to, deal well with
3. do well or thoroughly
4. make a thing good, right, beautiful
5. do well, right, ethically
H1456
n-f — cure
Derivation: from 1455;
a cure
KJV: medicine.
H7307
n-f — wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, region of the sky, spirit
Derivation: from 7306;
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
n.f — breath
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
2. wind (117 t.)
3. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
4. spirit of the living, breathing being
5. spirit as seat of emotion
6. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
7. rarely of the will
8. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
9. spirit of God (94 t.)
H5218
a — smitten, afflicted
Derivation: or נָכָא; from 5217;
smitten, i.e. (figuratively) afflicted
KJV: broken, stricken, wounded.
adj — a stricken spirit
נָכֵא adj. id. [n.di.ab], alw. f. a stricken spirit
H3001
v — be ashamed, confused, disappointed, dry up, wither
Derivation: a primitive root;
to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
KJV: be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up), (do) shame(-fully), × utterly, wither (away).
vb — be dry
יָבֵשׁ vb. be dry, dried up, withered
Qal
1. be dry, dried up without moisture
2. be dried up
Pi. make dry, dry up
Hiph. dry up, make dry
1. dry up water
2. make dry, wither
3. exhibit dryness
H1634
n-m — bone, self, very
Derivation: from 1633;
a bone (as the skeleton of the body); hence, self, i.e. (figuratively) very
KJV: bone, strong, top.
n.[m.] — bone
גֶּ֫רֶם n.[m.] bone, strength, self (?)
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Verse 22
Proverbs 17:22
Note, 1. It is healthful to be cheerful. The Lord is for the body, and has provided for it, not only meat, but medicine, and has here told us that the best medicine is a merry heart, not a heart addicted to vain, carnal, sensual mirth; Solomon himself said of that mirth, It is not medicine, but madness; it is not food, but poison; what doth it? But he means a heart rejoicing in God, and serving him with gladness, and then taking the comfort of outward enjoyments and particularly that of pleasant conversation. It is a great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful and cause to be cheerful, especially if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. This does good to a medicine (so some read it); it will make physic more efficient. Or it does good as a medicine to the body, making it easy and fit for business. But, if mirth be a medicine (understand it of diversion and recreation), it must be used sparingly, only when there is occasion, not turned into food, and it must be used medicinally, sub regimine - as a prescribed regimen, and by rule. 2. The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body: A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with the sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow, and makes the body a mere skeleton. We should therefore watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions, for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation.