“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 but He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”
–Isaiah 53:3-5 NASB1995
The ancient Hebrew word for “griefs” in Isaiah 53:3-4 is the same Hebrew word for “sickness.” (1) Why does the Hebrew use the same word for both “griefs” and “sickness”? Why might those terms sometimes be interchangeable? Could it be that there is a connection between grief and sickness?
By looking at Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 17:22, and 2 Corinthians 7:10, we can begin to understand how emotional grief can produce physical sickness. By implication, if that grief can be removed from our mindset or heart, then the sickness can also be plucked out by its roots.
“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.”
–Proverbs 15:13 NASB1995
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
–Proverbs 17:22 NASB1995
“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
–2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB1995
Grief and sorrow are closely related. Isaiah 53:3-4 puts “sorrow[s]” and “grief[s]” close to each other. The Hebrew word for “sorrow[s]” also means “pains.” Proverbs 15:13 NKJV says, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
If a heart is sad or sorrowful, is that heart not also grieved? Since grief and sorrow work together, just as pain and sickness often come together, sometimes “grief” and “sorrow” may be used interchangeably.
How can grief, sorrow of heart, or sadness lead to sickness? Proverbs 17:22, 2 Corinthians 7:10, and modern medical science give us clues. How does the body become sick? We get sick if our immune system gets compromised.
The immune system is the body’s defense system against sickness, as it is designed to destroy foreign invaders such as harmful bacteria and viruses. Where is the immune system contained within the human body? Primarily it is contained within the bone marrow.
According to Proverbs 17:22, a joyful heart causes good healing, works like a cure, or is good medicine. By contrast, a broken, downcast, or crushed spirit dries up the bones. (2) If a broken spirit dries up the bones, then what causes a broken spirit? Proverbs 15:13 has established that one’s spirit is broken when his/her heart remains sad.
What results from a broken spirit? A broken spirit dries up the bones. Since the bone marrow within the bones contains the body’s immune system, then what is the implication of a person’s bones drying up? That person with the broken heart experiences a compromised immune system, resulting in sickness or disease.
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
–2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV
The phrases “worldly grief” and “worldly sorrow” are used interchangeably across various translations of 2 Corinthians 7:10. How does “worldly grief” produce death?
Death is frequently a byproduct or end result of disease. As established by Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 17:22, etc., grief or chronic sorrow dries up the bones (and/or compromises the immune system), resulting in disease, which produces death.
“Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.”
–Psalm 69:20 NASB1995
“Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.”
–Psalm 69:20 NKJV
Psalm 69:20 bears out the same principle that one’s broken heart is connected to sickness. Although the NASB1995 says “I am so sick,” the NKJV says “I am full of heaviness.” “Heaviness” implies deep sorrow or even depression. Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) speaks of a “spirit of heaviness” which is overcome, exchanged, or replaced by “the garment of praise.”
It can be established that just as sorrows and pains are interconnected, and as griefs and sickness are nearly interchangeable, so also are “heaviness” (depression) and sickness nigh inseparable.
Mental health and physical health are nigh inseparable, for the mind and physical body have been wired together by design. Modern science has called this the “mind-body connection.”
How do we overcome grief, sadness, or sorrow? How can we experience joy? How can we put on “the garment of praise” in place of “the spirit of heaviness” (chronic sorrow or depression)?
According to Proverbs 15:30 (NKJV), “The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and a good report makes the bones healthy.” Although a broken spirit dries up the bones, good news refreshes the bones, restoring the immune system to its original design, so that healing will manifest (or come).
Would you like to discover how the good news about Jesus can restore joy to your life? Read and discover “Four Spiritual Laws for Experiencing Joy” to find out more.
