Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 12:25
What does Proverbs 12:25 mean?
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Proverbs 12:25
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This verse reveals that the weight of anxiety isn't just a feeling; it physically causes a person to "stoop" or be crushed. But notice how powerful a simple "good word" is – it doesn't just cheer someone up, it can lift that crushing weight and bring gladness.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This proverb is part of a larger collection of wisdom, offering practical advice on living a good life. It follows verses about diligence and dishonesty, contrasting the outcomes of righteous living with wickedness. The verse itself stands as a concise observation on the emotional and spiritual impact of internal burdens versus external comfort, setting the stage for further discussions on speech and its consequences within the wisdom literature.
Ever feel like worry is a physical burden? This verse explains why.
The verse paints a vivid picture of anxiety. It's not just an emotion; it's a 'heaviness' that makes a person 'stoop.' This means it can literally drag you down, sap your energy, and make it hard to stand tall or function. Think about the times you've been overwhelmed by worry – did it feel like a physical weight? This heaviness affects our ability to do what we need to do, to face challenges, and to live with strength. It isolates us, making us feel prostrate before our troubles.
What kind of 'good word' can lift such a heavy burden?
The verse contrasts the debilitating effect of anxiety with the restorative power of 'a good word.' This isn't just any casual remark; it's a word of comfort, encouragement, kindness, or good news. It's a word that comes from a place of compassion and understanding, like a friend speaking truth in love or even God's own assurance of forgiveness. Such words can instantly change our perspective, lifting our spirits and giving us the strength to face our burdens with renewed peace and even joy.
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de'agah · Hebrew Noun
A state of mental or emotional distress, worry, or heavy-heartedness. It represents a lack of peace and a soul burdened by fear or overwhelming circumstances.
This passage directly warns against the kind of anxiety that weighs down the heart, echoing Proverbs' observation that worry is a heavy burden.
1 Peter 5:7Here, believers are exhorted to cast their anxieties on God, offering a divine antidote to the 'heaviness' that Proverbs describes, and finding relief in Him.
Psalm 37:5This psalm encourages committing our way to the Lord and trusting in Him, which is the foundational step to overcoming the heart's oppressive anxiety described in Proverbs.
Luke 24:32The disciples' hearts were set aflame when Jesus spoke to them, illustrating how 'a good word' from Christ Himself could bring immense gladness and overcome their despondency.
bensonProverbs 12:25: "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."
Proverbs 12:25 . Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop — Anxious cares and grief depress the spirit of a man, and disable him from exerting himself with any vigour in fulfilling his duty in his place and station, and from bearing with fortitude the sufferings to which he is exposed, in the course of divine providence; but a good word maketh it glad — A compassionate and encouraging word, fro…
clarkeProverbs 12:25: "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."
Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop - Sorrow of heart, hopeless love, or a sense of God's displeasure - these prostrate the man, and he becomes a child before them. But a good word maketh it glad - A single good or favorable word will remove despondency; and that word, "Son, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee," will instantly remove despair.
This verse reveals that the weight of anxiety isn't just a feeling; it physically causes a person to "stoop" or be crushed. But notice how powerful a simple "good word" is – it doesn't just cheer someone up, it can lift that crushing weight and bring gladness.
This proverb is part of a larger collection of wisdom, offering practical advice on living a good life. It follows verses about diligence and dishonesty, contrasting the outcomes of righteous living with wickedness. The verse itself stands as a concise observation on the emotional and spiritual impact of internal burdens versus external comfort, setting the stage for further discussions on speech and its consequences within the wisdom literature.
This proverb is part of a larger collection of wisdom, offering practical advice on living a good life. It follows verses about diligence and dishonesty, contrasting the outcomes of righteous living with wickedness. The verse itself stands as a concise observation on the emotional and spiritual impact of internal burdens versus external comfort, setting the stage for further discussions on speech and its consequences within the wisdom literature.
"Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad." — This verse reveals that the weight of anxiety isn't just a feeling; it physically causes a person to "stoop" or be crushed. But notice how powerful a simple "good word" is – it doesn't just cheer som…
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Last reviewed October 2026