Proverbs 15:13 Meaning and Explanation
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Inner joy shows in the face; inner sorrow breaks the spirit.
The Context of Proverbs 15:13
The condition of the heart shapes both appearance and inner resilience.
What Does Proverbs 15:13 Mean?
This verse observes the visible effects of internal states. A merry heart produces a cheerful countenance—the joy inside radiates outward in the face. Sorrow, by contrast, does not simply show; it actively breaks the spirit, crushing the inner person.
The asymmetry is notable: joy generates cheerfulness (almost outwardly), while sorrow damages the person internally. This suggests that emotional states have real, observable consequences both for how we appear and for our inner health.