A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 18:14
What does Proverbs 18:14 mean?
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Proverbs 18:14
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What seems like a simple statement about resilience is actually a subtle warning: it's not just any spirit, but a sound and vigorous one, that can carry us through illness or trouble. The verse sharply contrasts this with a "wounded spirit"—one crushed by guilt, despair, or deep personal misery—implying that such internal brokenness is the truly unbearable burden that no earthly thing can fix.
A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Solomon is contrasting the resilience of a healthy spirit with the utter brokenness of a spirit crushed by despair. He's exploring how our inner fortitude, especially when bolstered by faith and integrity, can help us weather physical hardship or external troubles. However, he poses a rhetorical question about a spirit weighed down by guilt or deep sorrow, implying that such a state is almost unbearable without divine help.
We all face tough times, but what makes some people keep going when others falter? This proverb points to a hidden power within us.
Your Inner Resilience
The first part of this verse tells us that a person's 'spirit' – their inner core, their will, their mental fortitude – can actually help them endure physical sickness or outward troubles. It's like having an internal engine that keeps you moving even when the road is rough.
This isn't about denying pain or difficulty. It's about acknowledging that a strong inner life, a determined mindset, can provide a surprising amount of resilience. It’s the unseen force that helps us get out of bed, face another day, and push through when circumstances are against us.
We can often push through physical pain or external hardship. But what happens when the source of our strength itself is broken?
The Intolerable Burden
The second half of the verse offers a stark contrast: 'but a crushed spirit who can bear?' This isn't just about feeling sad; it's about a spirit that is deeply wounded, perhaps by guilt, despair, loss, or a profound sense of brokenness.
When our inner core is shattered, the very thing that usually helps us cope is gone. It's like trying to run a marathon with broken legs. This kind of suffering is often described as intolerable because it paralyzes us. It can stem from deep regret over sin, crushing disappointment, or a loss of hope, making even the simplest tasks feel impossible.
Ask a follow-up
The proverb presents a bleak picture of a crushed spirit. Does that mean there's no hope when we reach that point?
The Divine Intervention
While the proverb powerfully states how unbearable a wounded spirit is, the commentaries hint at a crucial element: divine help. The text implies that without God, such suffering is indeed beyond our capacity to bear.
This points to a core biblical truth: when our own inner strength fails, when our spirit is crushed by sin, guilt, or despair, our hope lies not within ourselves, but in God. He is the one who can lift us up, heal our brokenness, and restore what has been crushed. The proverb, by posing an unanswerable question, drives us to recognize our need for divine power and grace.
Understand the original words
ruach · Hebrew Noun
The immaterial part of a human being, representing one's vitality, courage, or inner disposition. It is the core of a person's capacity to persevere through external trials.
This Psalm speaks of a broken and contrite spirit being something God doesn't despise, hinting that while a 'wounded spirit' is hard to bear, God can restore it.
Isaiah 66:2This passage echoes the sentiment by stating God looks favorably on the one who is humble and contrite in spirit, reinforcing the idea that a deeply wounded spirit is a heavy burden that only God can address.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4Paul describes God as the 'Father of compassion and the God of all comfort' who comforts us so we can comfort others, showing that even in deep affliction ('wounded spirit'), God's comfort is the ultimate source of strength.
Philippians 4:7This verse promises that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. This divine peace is what can fortify a spirit against despair and make even suffering bearable.
Galatians 6:1This passage encourages believers to restore gently those overtaken in a fault, implying that spiritual wounds are serious and require compassionate care, much like how an unbearable wounded spirit needs support.
ellicottProverbs 18:14: "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?"
(14) The spirit of a man.— That is, one properly so called, who draws his strength from God, will “sustain his infirmity,” help him to bear up against trouble; “but a wounded spirit” (not one crushed with the sense of sin, for that God will lift up, Isaiah 66:2 ; Psalm 51:17 ), which retires into itself and nurses its griefs, “who can bear” the wear of it?
pooleProverbs 18:14: "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?"
The spirit, i.e. the soul, to wit, which is unwounded, as appears by the opposite branch of the verse; which is vigorous and cheerful, supported by the sense of God’s love, and the conscience of its own integrity, and the prospect of its present peace and future happiness. Will sustain his infirmity; will easily support him under any bodily or outward troubles, as God’s people have oft found by…
What seems like a simple statement about resilience is actually a subtle warning: it's not just any spirit, but a sound and vigorous one, that can carry us through illness or trouble. The verse sharply contrasts this with a "wounded spirit"—one crushed by guilt, despair, or deep personal misery—implying that such internal brokenness is the truly unbearable burden that no earthly thing can fix.
Solomon is contrasting the resilience of a healthy spirit with the utter brokenness of a spirit crushed by despair. He's exploring how our inner fortitude, especially when bolstered by faith and integrity, can help us weather physical hardship or external troubles. However, he poses a rhetorical question about a spirit weighed down by guilt or deep sorrow, implying that such a state is almost unbearable without divine help.
Solomon is contrasting the resilience of a healthy spirit with the utter brokenness of a spirit crushed by despair. He's exploring how our inner fortitude, especially when bolstered by faith and integrity, can help us weather physical hardship or external troubles. However, he poses a rhetorical question about a spirit weighed down by guilt or deep sorrow, implying that such a state is almost unbearable without divine help.
"A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?" — What seems like a simple statement about resilience is actually a subtle warning: it's not just any spirit, but a sound and vigorous one, that can carry us through illness or trouble. The verse s…
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Last reviewed October 2026