Proverbs 3:8
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Original Language Analysis
תְּהִ֣י
H1961
תְּהִ֣י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 5
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְשָׁרֶּ֑ךָ
to thy navel
H8270
לְשָׁרֶּ֑ךָ
to thy navel
Strong's:
H8270
Word #:
3 of 5
a string (as twisted ), i.e., (specifically) the umbilical cord (also figuratively, as the center of strength)
Cross References
Proverbs 4:22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.Psalms 147:3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.Job 21:24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.Proverbs 16:24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Isaiah 1:6From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Historical Context
Ancient medicine was primitive by modern standards, but biblical wisdom recognized connections between spiritual/emotional states and physical health. The Levitical priesthood combined spiritual and physical hygiene laws, reflecting holistic understanding of human wellness.
Questions for Reflection
- What physical ailments might be connected to spiritual or emotional unhealth in your life?
- How does pursuing God's wisdom contribute to holistic wellness beyond merely physical fitness?
- In what ways does modern healthcare need to recover the biblical integration of spiritual and physical health?
Analysis & Commentary
Physical health is connected to spiritual obedience. The Hebrew 'riphuwth' (health/healing) to the navel and 'shiqquwth' (refreshment) to the bones suggest that fearing God and turning from evil produces bodily wellness. While this isn't mechanical cause-effect promising perfect health, it recognizes the psychosomatic connection - anxiety, bitterness, and guilty conscience produce physical stress, while peace with God promotes holistic health. Modern medicine increasingly validates the mind-body connection that Scripture has always affirmed.