Read & explore together
Honor physicians and combine treatment with prayer
Sirach 38:1–15 teaches that care in sickness is not divided between God and medicine. This passage honours physicians, recognises medicines and skill as the Lord’s gifts, and calls a sick person to prayer, repentance, offering and practical treatment.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
In this prayer-like instruction, Sirach speaks directly about illness, healing and right response. The passage moves from honouring physicians and medicines as created by the Lord to urging prayer, turning from sin, giving an offering according to one’s means, and making room for the physician’s work.
Sirach 38:1–15Main takeaway
This passage teaches that in sickness a person should seek the Lord and also receive medical help as gifts that come from him.
Explore the prayer
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Honour the physicianThe passage begins by saying a physician should be honoured according to need, because the Lord created him.
Explanation
The passage begins by saying a physician should be honoured according to need, because the Lord created him. Healing comes from the Most High, yet the physician is still valued and respected. His skill is described as real skill that brings honour before important people, not something to be despised or ignored.
02Medicines and skill come from GodSirach says the Lord created medicines out of the earth, so a prudent person will not reject them.
Explanation
Sirach says the Lord created medicines out of the earth, so a prudent person will not reject them. The question about water made sweet with wood points to God making power known. Human skill is also given by God so that he may be glorified through healing, pain relief and careful preparation of remedies.
03Pray and turn from wrongdoing in sicknessWhen sickness comes, the instruction is not to be negligent. Instead, the sick person is told to pray to the Lord, who will heal, and to put away wrongdoing.
Explanation
When sickness comes, the instruction is not to be negligent. Instead, the sick person is told to pray to the Lord, who will heal, and to put away wrongdoing. Sirach adds acts of worship too: direct your hands in righteousness, cleanse your heart from sin, and give an offering according to your means.
04Make room for the physician’s workAfter prayer and repentance, Sirach says to give place to the physician and not let him leave, because he is needed.
Explanation
After prayer and repentance, Sirach says to give place to the physician and not let him leave, because he is needed. Recovery can be in their hands at the proper time. Even physicians depend on the Lord, asking him to prosper diagnosis and healing. The closing warning treats sin before the Maker as a serious matter.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Sirach say a physician should be honoured?
Look for the repeated reason in the passage: the physician is to be honoured because the Lord created him, while healing comes from the Most High.
02What does this passage say about medicines and medical skill?
Notice that medicines are said to be created out of the earth by the Lord, and skill is given to people so that God may be glorified.
03What responses to sickness are placed side by side in these verses?
Trace the commands in order: pray to the Lord, turn from wrongdoing, offer according to your means, and then give place to the physician.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 38:1–15
1Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the Lord has created him.
2For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king.
3The skill of the physician will lift up his head. He will be admired in the sight of great men.
4The Lord created medicines out of the earth. A prudent man will not despise them.
5Wasn’t water made sweet with wood, that its power might be known?
6He gave men skill that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.
7With them he heals and takes away pain.
8With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From him, peace is upon the face of the earth.
9My son, in your sickness don’t be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
10Put away wrong doing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin.
11Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means.
12Then give place to the physician, for truly the Lord has created him. Don’t let him leave you, for you need him.
13There is a time when recovery is in their hands.
14For they also shall ask the Lord to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life.
15He who sins before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the physician.