# Is “Physician, heal thyself” in the Bible?

> Yes. “Physician, heal thyself” is in the Bible, at Luke 4:23.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/physician-heal-thyself
By Andrew Kittridge · November 9, 2026

Jesus quotes it as a proverb, in the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown.

## The verse

> He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown the things we heard you did in Capernaum.’”
>
> — [Luke 4:23](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/4#23) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently.

## What it means there

He expects the crowd to throw it at him: do here what we heard you did elsewhere. It was already a common saying. The Bible records it but did not coin it.

## Common questions

### Is “Physician, heal thyself” in the Bible?

Yes. “Physician, heal thyself” is in the Bible, at Luke 4:23. These exact words are in the King James Bible. The Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible, is quoted here, and it words the verse differently. Jesus quotes it as a proverb, in the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown.

### Where in the Bible is “Physician, heal thyself”?

In Luke 4:23. In the Lumin Translation, Luke 4:23 reads: “He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown the things we heard you did in Capernaum.’””

### Who said “Physician, heal thyself”?

Jesus quotes it as a proverb, in the synagogue at Nazareth, his hometown.

### What does “Physician, heal thyself” mean in the Bible?

He expects the crowd to throw it at him: do here what we heard you did elsewhere. It was already a common saying. The Bible records it but did not coin it.

## More

- [Is “Seek and you shall find” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/seek-and-you-shall-find.md)
- [Is “There is nothing new under the sun” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/there-is-nothing-new-under-the-sun.md)
- [Is “Turn the other cheek” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/turn-the-other-cheek.md)
- [Is “The writing on the wall” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-writing-on-the-wall.md)
- [Where is “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/they-that-wait-upon-the-lord-shall-renew-their-strength.md)
- [Where is “If God is for us, who can be against us” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/if-god-is-for-us-who-can-be-against-us.md)
- [Where is “Do not worry about tomorrow” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/do-not-worry-about-tomorrow.md)
- [Where is “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/weeping-may-endure-for-a-night-but-joy-comes-in-the-morning.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)