Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words [are as] a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
24. health ] i.e. healthy or wholesome. There is no necessary reference to any medicinal properties in honey. Comp. Pro 4:22, Pro 12:18, Pro 13:17; and Jonathan’s experience, when he was exhausted with pursuing the enemy: “See, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey,” 1Sa 14:29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Honey 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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 24. Pleasant 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Pleasant words; the discourses of the wise last mentioned, Pro 16:23, which yield both profit and delight; their wholesome counsels and refreshing comforts.
To the bones; to the body, synecdochically expressed by the bones, the strongest and greatest parts of it, and the supporters of the rest.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. (Compare Pr15:26). Gentle, kind words, by soothing the mind, give the bodyhealth.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb,…. Jarchi interprets it of the words of the law; but it may be much better understood of the doctrines of the Gospel; such as the doctrines of God’s everlasting love, eternal election, the covenant of grace, the person of Christ as God-man; of peace and reconciliation by his blood; of remission of sins through his atoning sacrifice; of justification by his righteousness; of life and salvation by his obedience, sufferings, and death; all the doctrines of grace, which show that salvation in all its parts is owing entirely to the free grace of God; these are all pleasant to the ear of him that knows the joyful sound, and to the taste of everyone that has tasted that the Lord is gracious. The precious promises of the Gospel may be meant; which are free and unconditional, irrevocable, and immutable, never fail of accomplishment; are yea and amen in Christ, and are suited to the various cases of God’s people; these are very pleasant and delightful, when they are fitly spoken, and seasonably applied. Moreover, the speech of such as are wise in heart, true believers in Christ; their words, whether expressed in prayer or in praise, are pleasant to the Lord, and very grateful and acceptable to him: so their speech one to another, when about spiritual things; when it is with grace, then it ministers grace, and is very pleasant. Now all these, and especially the doctrines of the Gospel, are as “an honeycomb”; they are like unto it for the manner of its production; it is wrought and filled by the laborious bee, which goes from flower to flower, and gathers honey, and brings it into the hive, and there disposes of it: so laborious ministers of the Gospel gather their doctrines from the sacred Scriptures, which they diligently search, and go from one to another, and gather something from each; and, being richly laden with the fulness of the blessing Of the Gospel of Christ, bring it into the hive of the church, and there feed men with knowledge and understanding: and the doctrines of the Gospel are like unto the honeycomb for the manner of its communication, by dropping freely, gradually, and constantly; so Gospel ministers drop the pleasant words of the Gospel freely, and without pressing, having no other constraint but love to Christ and the souls of men; they do it gradually, as men are able to bear; and constantly preach the word, in season and out of season: and as the honey which drops from the honeycomb is the choicest honey, called “life honey”; such are the truths of the Gospel, they are excellent things, the most excellent. Likewise these are as the honeycomb for the honey in it; they are like the honey out of the rock the Israelites ate of; and like that out of the lion Samson fed upon; and like that which Jonathan tasted, that enlightened his eyes. The Gospel flows from Christ, the Rock; and is to be found in him, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and as slain, and has an enlightening virtue in it; and particularly these pleasant words are said to be as the honeycomb for its sweetness and healthfulness, as follows:
sweet to the soul, and health to the bones; they are “sweet” to the “soul” of him that understands them, and that has a spiritual taste of them; not to a natural and unregenerate man, whose natural taste remains in him, and is not changed; who calls evil good, and good evil; puts bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter; to him the doctrines of the Gospel are insipid, tasteless, and disagreeable things: nor are they sweet to a carnal professor; who, though he may express some value for them, has no spiritual gust and relish of them; but to them that believe, to whom Christ is precious, who have tasted that he is gracious; to these they are sweet, even sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb, Ps 19:10. And they are “health to the bones”; they are the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus; they are the means of curing the diseases of the mind; of healing wounded spirits, and broken hearts, and broken bones; they make the bones which were broken to rejoice; what heals the bones strengthens the whole man, a man’s strength lying much in his bones; these strengthen the inward man, cause believers to go from strength to strength, and to hold on and persevere to the end.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
24 A honeycomb are pleasant words,
Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
Honeycomb, i.e., honey flowing from the , the comb or cell ( favus ), is otherwise designated, Psa 19:11. , with , is neut. are, according to Pro 15:26, words which love suggests, and which breathe love. Such words are sweet to the soul of the hearer, and bring strength and healing to his bones (Pro 15:30); for is not only that which restores soundness, but also that which preserves and advances it (cf. , Rev 22:2).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
The pleasant words here commended must be those which the heart of the wise teaches, and adds learning to (v. 23), words of seasonable advice, instruction, and comfort, words taken from God’s word, for that is it which Solomon had learned from his father to account sweeter than honey and the honey-comb, Ps. xix. 10. These words, to those that know how to relish them, 1. Are pleasant. They are like the honey-comb, sweet to the soul, which tastes in them that the Lord is gracious; nothing more grateful and agreeable to the new man than the word of God, and those words which are borrowed from it, Ps. cxix. 103. 2. They are wholesome. Many things are pleasant that are not profitable, but these pleasant words are health to the bones, to the inward man, as well as sweet to the soul. They make the bones, which sin has broken and put out of joint, to rejoice. The bones are the strength of the body; and the good word of God is a means of spiritual strength, curing the diseases that weaken us.
| Malice and Envy. | |
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Pleasant Words Beneficial
Verse 24 suggests that as honey is sweet and beneficial to the physical well being, so pleasant words when appropriate, are comforting and beneficial to the spiritual health, Pro 15:26; Pro 24:13-14; Pro 4:20-22; Pro 17:22; Psa 19:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(24) Pleasant words.Comp. Pro. 15:26.
Health to the bones.Comp. 1Sa. 14:27.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Pleasant words Or, words of kindness. Comp. Pro 15:26. Honey-comb Comp. Psa 19:10.
Bones The word “bones” stands for the whole body or person. It often happens that a few kind words do a man’s body good as well as his soul. In certain forms of disease they are better than any medicine.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 24. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones;
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 16:24 Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Ver. 24. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb. ] Dainty and delicious, such as “the preacher set himself to search out”; Ecc 12:10 such as his father David found God’s words to be; Psa 119:103 “wells of salvation.” Isa 12:3 “Breasts of consolation”; Isa 66:11 the honey drops of Christ’s mouth. Son 5:16 Oh, hang upon his holy lips, as they did! Luk 19:48 Hast thou found honey with Samson? Eat it as he did. Pro 25:16 Eat God’s book as John did; Rev 10:9 find fatness and sweetness in it. Psa 63:5 Get “joy and gladness” out of it. Psa 51:8 And if at any time the word, in searching our wounds, put us to pain, as honey will cause pain to exulcerate parts, let us bear it, and not be like children, who, though they like honey well, yet will they not endure to have it come near their lips when they have sore mouths.
Sweet to the soul, health to the bones,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
words = sayings. Hebrew. ‘imrah. App-73.
health = healing. Compare Pro 6:8.
bones. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part), App-6, for whole body.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 16:24
Pro 16:24
“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
“Friendly conversation is agreeable and useful. It relaxes the mind, dispels anxiety, provides information, promotes mutual love and kindness, and enables us to return to life’s business with renewed vigor.
Pro 16:24. Another proverb on speech. The ancients sweetening was from the honey. Pleasant words are pure words (Pro 15:26) and sweet words (this verse). Pleasant words come from a sweet soul and one who is blessed with a healthy outlook, and they bring sweetness to the soul of the hearer and health to him too. Nothing can destroy this sweetness of soul and the consequent health of the body more than angry, hateful, and untrue words.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Pleasant: Pro 12:18, Pro 15:23, Pro 15:26, Pro 23:16, Pro 25:11, Pro 25:12, Pro 27:9, Deu 32:2, Son 4:11, Joh 20:19-21
an: Pro 24:13, Pro 24:14, Psa 19:10, Psa 119:103, Jer 15:16
health: Pro 3:8, Pro 4:22
Reciprocal: Job 4:4 – upholden Pro 12:25 – but Pro 15:4 – A wholesome Pro 16:21 – the sweetness Pro 20:15 – but Pro 31:26 – in her Son 7:9 – the roof Rev 10:10 – sweet