Bible Strands
Proverbs 18:14
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The speaker is a wisdom teacher addressing a general audience with practical instructions. This verse follows a warning against answering before hearing and precedes a statement about the discerning heart acquiring knowledge.
The words — The Hebrew term יְכַלְכֵּ֣ל (ye.khal.Kel) literally means "it will endure," while נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה (ne.khe.'Ah) translates directly to "stricken." The closing verb יִשָּׂאֶֽ/נָּה (yi.sa.'E./nah) carries the sense of "will he bear" or "will he survive."
The thread — The contrast between physical endurance and spiritual collapse appears in Proverbs 15:13 and Proverbs 17:22.
Why it lands — The text states that while a person's spirit can withstand physical illness, no one can naturally withstand a stricken spirit. It asks the reader to recognize the severe weight of spiritual desolation and the need for external support or divine intervention when that state occurs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Cross-references
- Proverbs 15:13 A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit.
- Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
- 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
- Psalms 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
- James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Psalms 77:2 In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
- Job 2:7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
- Job 6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.