Inner strength can help a person endure illness, but a crushed spirit is a far heavier burden to bear.
A proverb about endurance follows: The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it? (v. 14). Proverbs 18:14 recognizes the power and fragility of the inner life.
A person’s spirit can sustain him through physical illness because inward resolve, hope, and courage often help carry bodily weakness. There is a strength of heart that enables endurance even in hard conditions.
But a broken spirit who can bear it? When the inner person is crushed, the burden becomes far heavier. This proverb reminds us that spiritual and emotional collapse can be more debilitating than bodily pain. Wisdom therefore does not treat the inner life lightly. The condition of the spirit matters deeply.
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Proverbs 18:14 meaning
A proverb about endurance follows: The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it? (v. 14). Proverbs 18:14 recognizes the power and fragility of the inner life.
A person’s spirit can sustain him through physical illness because inward resolve, hope, and courage often help carry bodily weakness. There is a strength of heart that enables endurance even in hard conditions.
But a broken spirit who can bear it? When the inner person is crushed, the burden becomes far heavier. This proverb reminds us that spiritual and emotional collapse can be more debilitating than bodily pain. Wisdom therefore does not treat the inner life lightly. The condition of the spirit matters deeply.