Matthew 9:12

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

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

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Matthew 9:12 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

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

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

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

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

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

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“And Jesus having heard, said to them, `They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
Open the full comparison
Cross references

Other passages that echo Matthew 9:12 — 14 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Psalms 6:2Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.
  2. Psalms 41:4I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.”
  3. Psalms 147:3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
  4. Jeremiah 17:14Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
  5. Jeremiah 30:17But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”
  6. Jeremiah 33:6Nevertheless, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal its people and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.
  7. Hosea 14:4I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
  8. Mark 2:17On 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.”
  9. Luke 5:31Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
  10. Luke 8:43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.
  11. Luke 9:11But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.
  12. Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
  13. Romans 7:9Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
  14. Revelation 3:17You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Keep exploring