58 Bible Verses about Health to Nourish Your Body and Soul

In the heart of the tumultuous 16th century, Martin Luther emerged as a beacon of change. This theological giant, renowned as the father of the Reformation, courageously questioned the status quo and revolutionized religious thought. Yet, beneath his spiritual fervor and relentless determination, Luther was, like all of us, a man contending with the frailties of the human body.

His chronicles reveal that he was no stranger to physical afflictions. From chronic digestive problems to kidney stones, dizziness, and heart disease, he faced a slew of health complications throughout his life. But Luther didn't allow these ailments to derail his mission. Rather, he viewed them through the lens of his faith.

In the midst of physical distress, Luther turned to the most trusted source in his life: the Bible. He found within its pages not only spiritual comfort but also profound insights into health and well-being. The Scriptures became his sanctuary, a place where he could seek understanding and comfort. His letters and sermons are peppered with references to biblical verses that provided guidance, reassurance, and strength during his battles with illness.

This period of Luther's life underscores the integral role that the Bible can play in our understanding and approach to health. It speaks to the nourishment of our body, mind, and soul, offering timeless wisdom and guidance that can help us navigate our own health challenges, just as it did for Martin Luther. The following Bible verses about health provide wisdom and guidance on how to maintain both personal and communal wellbeing.

God Restores Health

Exodus 15:26

“If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”

Psalm 73:26

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 103:2-4

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.”

Psalm 147:3

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Jeremiah 30:17

"For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’"

Jeremiah 33:6

"Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security."

3 John 1:2

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

Healthy Living

Psalm 104:14

“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts.”

Proverbs 3:7-8

"Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones."

Proverbs 17:22

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Proverbs 20:1

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”

Proverbs 40:20-22

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.”

Daniel 1:12-16

“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.' So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.”

1 Corinthians 3:17

"If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 10:31

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Ephesians 5:18

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."

1 Timothy 4:4-5

"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer."

1 Timothy 4:8

"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

1 Timothy 5:23

“No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.”

Self-care

Exodus 20:8-10

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates."

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Mark 6:31

"And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat."

Mental and Emotional Health

Proverbs 12:25

"Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad."

Proverbs 13:12

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

Proverbs 14:30

"A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."

Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Spiritual and Physical Health

Exodus 23:25

"You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you."

Proverbs 4:20-22

"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh."

Proverbs 16:24

"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Isaiah 53:5

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 58:11

"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

Galatians 5:22-23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

1 Peter 2:24

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed."

Community Health

Isaiah 58:6-8

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard."

Jeremiah 29:5-7

"Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Matthew 22:39

"And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Acts 4:34-35

“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

Romans 12:13

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

Romans 15:2

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up."

1 Corinthians 12:25-26

"That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

Galatians 6:2

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Hebrews 10:24-25

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Trusting God in Times of Illness

Psalm 6:2

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.”

Psalm 30:2

"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me."

Psalm 41:3

“The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 41:10

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Romans 8:28

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

1 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

The Power of Faith for Healing

Matthew 9:22

"Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well."

Mark 10:52

"And Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way."

Luke 8:50

"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.'"

Acts 14:9

"He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,"

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Prayers for Healing in the Bible

Jeremiah 17:14

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."

James 5:14-15

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

A Prayer for Personal and Communal Health

Heavenly Father,

I approach Your throne of grace and mercy, knowing that You are the source of all things good, including our health and well-being. I pray that You would touch my life and the lives of those in my community with Your healing hands.

Lord, You know our bodies better than we do. You created us wonderfully and intricately. As such, I pray for personal health. Strengthen me where I am weak, heal me where I am hurt, and renew my mind, body, and spirit daily.

I also lift up my community to You, dear God. In Your wisdom, You have placed us together to support and care for one another. I pray that You will provide health and wellness in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and homes. Remove all infirmities and protect us from harm.

Help us to be stewards of good health in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Let us encourage each other, share our burdens, and seek to promote an atmosphere of good health and wellness.

I pray for Your divine healing and protection against diseases. Give our healthcare professionals the wisdom and knowledge to help those in need. Strengthen those who are weak and comfort those who are in pain.

May we not forget that our bodies are the temple of Your Holy Spirit. Guide us so that we can treat them with respect and care, nourishing them correctly, and exercising them well.

Lastly, Father, let us remember that while we value our physical health, our spiritual health is of utmost importance. Let us grow in faith and love for You and for each other, for a healthy spirit contributes to a healthy body.

In the name of Jesus Christ, the Great Healer, I pray. Amen.