Matthew 9:12
New International Version
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

New Living Translation
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”

English Standard Version
But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Berean Standard Bible
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Berean Literal Bible
And having heard, He said, "Not those being strong have need of a physician, but those being sick.

King James Bible
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

New King James Version
When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

New American Standard Bible
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

NASB 1995
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

NASB 1977
But when He heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

Legacy Standard Bible
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.

Amplified Bible
But when Jesus heard this, He said, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but [only] those who are sick.

Christian Standard Bible
Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But when He heard this, He said, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do.

American Standard Version
But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus heard them and answered, "Healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do.

English Revised Version
But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Jesus heard that, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do.

Good News Translation
Jesus heard them and answered, "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick.

International Standard Version
When Jesus heard that, he said, "Healthy people don't need a physician, but sick people do.

Majority Standard Bible
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

NET Bible
When Jesus heard this he said, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.

New Heart English Bible
When he heard it, he said to them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

Webster's Bible Translation
But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Weymouth New Testament
He heard the question and replied, "It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick.

World English Bible
When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus having heard, said to them, “They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

Berean Literal Bible
And having heard, He said, "Not those being strong have need of a physician, but those being sick.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus having heard, said to them, 'They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus having heard, said to them, They being strong have no need of a physician, but they having evils.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But Jesus, hearing this, said: “It is not those who are healthy who are in need of a physician, but those who have maladies.

New American Bible
He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

New Revised Standard Version
But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But when Jesus heard it, he said to them, Those who are well need no doctor, but those who are seriously sick.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But when Yeshua heard, he said to them, “The healthy do not need a doctor, but those who have become ill.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
When Jesus heard it, he said to them: Those who are in health have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus hearing said to them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.

Haweis New Testament
But Jesus hearing it, said unto them, They who are in the vigour of health have no need of the physician, but they who have illness.

Mace New Testament
Jesus hearing that, said to them, they that are in health don't want a physician, but they that are sick.

Weymouth New Testament
He heard the question and replied, "It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick.

Worrell New Testament
And Jesus, hearing it, said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are ill.

Worsley New Testament
But Jesus hearing them, said unto them, They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill: go therefore and learn what that means,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Calling of Matthew
11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”…

Cross References
Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5:31
Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Ezekiel 34:16
I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the broken, and strengthen the weak; but the sleek and strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with justice.’

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 9:39
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. / But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, ...

Romans 5:6-8
For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. / Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. / But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,


Treasury of Scripture

But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

They that be whole.

Psalm 6:2
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

Psalm 41:4
I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

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Matthew 9
1. Jesus heals a paralytic
9. calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14. defends his disciples for not fasting;
20. cures the sick woman;
23. raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27. gives sight to two blind men;
32. heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36. and has compassion on the multitude.














On hearing this
This phrase indicates Jesus' immediate response to the situation at hand. The context is crucial here; Jesus is responding to the Pharisees' criticism of His association with tax collectors and sinners. The Greek word for "hearing" (ἀκούσας, akousas) implies not just the act of hearing but understanding and perceiving the underlying intent of the Pharisees' question. Jesus' awareness and discernment are highlighted, showing His divine insight into human hearts and motives.

Jesus said
The authority of Jesus is underscored in this phrase. In the Gospels, when Jesus speaks, it is with the authority of God Himself. The Greek verb "said" (εἶπεν, eipen) is often used in the New Testament to denote not just casual conversation but authoritative teaching. Jesus' words are not merely responses but divine pronouncements that carry weight and truth.

It is not the healthy
The term "healthy" (ἰσχύοντες, ischyontes) in Greek refers to those who are strong or well. In the context of this passage, it metaphorically represents those who perceive themselves as righteous or without need of spiritual healing. Historically, the Pharisees considered themselves spiritually "healthy" due to their strict adherence to the law. Jesus challenges this self-perception, suggesting that spiritual health is not about outward compliance but inward transformation.

who need a doctor
The word "doctor" (ἰατρός, iatros) in Greek refers to a healer or physician. In the ancient world, doctors were seen as essential for physical healing, and Jesus uses this metaphor to illustrate His role as the spiritual healer. The implication is that just as the physically sick need a doctor, the spiritually sick need Jesus. This highlights Jesus' mission to bring healing and restoration to those who recognize their need for Him.

but the sick
The term "sick" (κακῶς ἔχοντες, kakōs echontes) refers to those who are ill or in poor condition. In the spiritual sense, it represents sinners who are aware of their brokenness and need for redemption. Jesus' ministry was focused on reaching those who were marginalized and aware of their spiritual poverty. This phrase emphasizes the inclusivity of Jesus' mission and His compassion for those who are often overlooked by society.

(12) They that be whole.--Literally, They that are strong. St. Luke gives, with a more professional precision, "They that are in health." That, speaking from the thoughts and standpoint of those addressed (which in another than our Lord we might term grave irony), which enters so largely into our Lord's teaching, appears here in its most transparent form. Those of whom He speaks were, we know, suffering from the worst form of spiritual disease, but in their own estimation they were without spot or taint, and as such. therefore, He speaks to them. On their own showing, they ought not to object to His carrying on that work where there was most need of it. The proverb cited by Him in Luke 4:23 shows that it was not the first time that He had referred to His own work as that of the Great Physician.

Verse 12. - But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole. Οἱ ἰσχύοντες (so also Mark) may include an arriere-pensee of moral self-assertion which St. Luke entirely loses by his alteration to οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες: cf. 1 Corinthians 4:10. Need not; have no need of (Revised Version). These are the emphatic words in the sentence. Christ takes the Pharisees at their own estimate of themselves, and, without entering into the question of whether this was right or wrong, shows them that on their own showing he would be useless to them. A physician, but they that are sick. "Sed ubi dolores sunt, air, illic festinat medicns," Ephr. Syr., in his exposition of Tatian's 'Diatess.' (Resch, 'Agrapha,' p. 443).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[On]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

hearing this,
ἀκούσας (akousas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

[Jesus] said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“[It is] not
Οὐ (Ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

healthy
ἰσχύοντες (ischyontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2480: To have strength, be strong, be in full health and vigor, be able; meton: I prevail. From ischus; to have force.

[who]
ἔχουσιν (echousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

need
χρείαν (chreian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5532: From the base of chraomai or chre; employment, i.e. An affair; also occasion, demand, requirement or destitution.

a doctor,
ἰατροῦ (iatrou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2395: A physician. From iaomai; a physician.

but
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sick.
κακῶς (kakōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2560: Badly, evilly, wrongly. From kakos; badly.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 9:12 When Jesus heard it he said (Matt. Mat Mt)
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