Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5298 doctors

People who are qualified in medicine and treat those who are ill. Doctors do not feature extensively in Scripture; rather God is portrayed as the source of health and healing for his people. Prophets were sometimes intermediaries in healing and priests were responsible for diagnosing certain diseases in accordance with the law. Luke, the author of the Gospel of that name and Acts, was a doctor.

God as the source of physical health and healing

Exodus 15:26 See also Numbers 12:10-15; Numbers 21:4-9; Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 6:2

God as the source of spiritual healing

Job 5:18 See also Isaiah 53:5; Jeremiah 33:6; Hosea 6:1

Jesus Christ as a healer

Matthew 8:16-17 pp Mark 1:32-34 pp Luke 4:40 See also Isaiah 53:4; Matthew 4:24; Matthew 14:14 pp Luke 9:11

Prophets as intermediaries in healing

2 Kings 5:1-14; Kings 20:1-7 pp 2 Chronicles 32:24 pp Isaiah 38:1-5; Isaiah 38:21

Priests in a medical role

Leviticus 13:1-46; Leviticus 15:1-33

Medical treatments mentioned in Scripture

Use of oils and emollients on wounds

Isaiah 1:6 See also Jeremiah 46:11

Splinting and bandaging of broken limbs

Ezekiel 30:21

Poultices

2 Kings 20:7 See also Isaiah 38:21

Human doctors mentioned in Scripture

Their limited ability contrasted with God's power

2 Chronicles 16:12-13 See also Job 13:4; Mark 5:25-29 pp Luke 8:43-44

Non-Israelite doctors

Genesis 50:2 These were Egyptian physicians. See also Colossians 4:14 Luke was a Greek.

Figurative use

Mark 2:17 pp Matthew 9:12 pp Luke 5:31 See also Luke 4:23

See also

2351  Christ, miracles
4490  ointment
5285  cures
5296  disabilities
5297  disease
5333  healing
5334  health
5405  medicine
5410  midwife
5428  nurse
5571  surgery