4:22

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

22a For they are life to those who find them

22b and health to the whole body.

4:22a

For: The word For introduces the reason why the young man should obey the commands of 4:20–21.

they are life: For this phrase, see the notes on 3:22a and 4:13b.

those who find them: The verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as find means to find something after searching for it intentionally. It does not mean to find accidentally. To find a person’s words (the referent of them, 4:20) means to accept and understand them. For example:

anyone who discovers their meaning (New Living Translation (1996))

It also implies to heed or obey them.

4:22b

and health to the whole body: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as body is literally translated as “flesh” by the English Standard Version. It is a figure of speech (synecdoche) that refers to the body and perhaps more generally to a person’s whole being. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

good health for you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
health to their whole being (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 4:22a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. See 4:22a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display.

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