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Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
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Interpretation

Wisdom shapes a cheerful heart that is embodied in study and play. Proverbs 17:22: trace "cheerful" and "heart". Choose cheerful heart in hospitality and listening—brighten hope by remembering.

Context

In Proverbs (Poetry/Wisdom), highlighting cheerful heart. Within ch. 17, a small unit frames the emphasis. It edges toward wisdom & worship. Watch the terms “cheerful” and “heart”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Proverbs with Solomon & sages. Many scholars judge Proverbs as follows: Anthology shaped through successive compilations.. Scholars commonly date Proverbs Monarchic into post‑exilic eras.. Wisdom & Worship is especially relevant in this line. Short sayings train long faithfulness.

More details
Traditional:Solomon & sages
Modern scholarship:Wisdom anthology compiled in stages.
Date:Monarchic to post‑exilic.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Hebrew text is preserved in the Masoretic tradition, stabilized between the 6th-10th centuries CE. The the Dead Sea Scrolls (found 1947-1956) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that do not affect the core meaning. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the probably reflects the initial text text.
Sources & witness notes
MT