Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Scripture ·228 of 348
"Physician, heal thyself."
They never said that.
What people say
"Physician, heal thyself."
What was actually said
"Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself." Jesus — Luke 4:23 (KJV, 1611)
Why it stuck
Jesus is quoting a proverb he expects his listeners to throw at him — not issuing a command. The isolated form is used by centuries of commentators as though Jesus coined it; he's citing.
The Greek προφῆται ἐν τῇ πατρίδι translates more naturally as "You might as well say…" — the proverb-as-quotation framing is explicit.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.