Physician, heal thyself

Physician, heal thyself (Greek: Ἰατρέ, θεράπευσον σεαυτόν — Iatre, therapeuson seauton), sometimes quoted in the Latin form Cura te ipsum ("heal thyself"), is a proverb found in Luke 4:23.

23 Then he said, "You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself'—meaning, 'Do miracles here in your home town like those you did in Capernaum.'"

The usual interpretation of this passage is that, during the Rejection of Jesus, Jesus expected to hear natives of his home town of Nazareth use this phrase to criticize him.[1] Luke the Evangelist, to whom Christian tradition attributes the gospel, was himself a physician.[2]

The moral of the proverb is counsel to attend to one's own defects rather than criticizing defects in others,[3] a sentiment also expressed in the discourse on judgmentalism.

The Latin form of the proverb, Cura te ipsum, was made famous in the Latin translation of the Bible, the Vulgate, and is a shortening of the phrase medice, cura te ipsum.

Some commentators claim that the proverb is also an echo of the insults that he would hear while hanging on the cross, that is, the words may be interpreted as echoing the taunts to come down from the cross himself.[4]

Cultural references

Similar proverbs can be found in other classical and Jewish literature.

"Physician, Physician, Heal thine own limp!" can be found in Genesis Rabbah 23:4.[5]

In lines 473–5 of Prometheus Bound by the Greek playwright Aeschylus the Chorus berate Prometheus, saying that "Like some inferior doctor who's become ill | You're in despair and are unable to discover | By what medicine you yourself can be cured."

It was a reference included in the mini-series 'Night of the Doctor' of the popular TV show Doctor Who. In the episode the Eighth Doctor after being convinced by Ohila of the sisterhood of Karn into drinking an elixir to become a warrior says these memorable lines[6] before gulping down the drink to become the War Doctor.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Martin, Gary. "Physician, heal thyself". The Phrase Finder. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  2. ↑ Colossians 4:14
  3. ↑ E. D. Hirsch, Jr.; Joseph F. Kett; James Trefil, eds. (2002). "Physician, heal thyself". The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-22647-8. OCLC 50166721. Retrieved 2008-12-05.
  4. ↑ Matthew 27:42 - He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
    Mark 15:31 - Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
    Luke 23:35 - And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
  5. ↑ Freedman, H., Simon, Maurice. Midrash Rabbah, Translated into English., vol 1, pg 195
  6. ↑ "The Night of the Doctor (TV story)". Tardis. Retrieved 2017-04-15.
Physician, heal thyself
Preceded by
Samaritan woman at the well		 New Testament
Events 		Succeeded by
Calling of Matthew
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