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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>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?</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/8-22.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/7/24_Jer_08_22.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 8:22 - Jeremiah Weeps for His People" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? 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Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/8.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/8.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/8.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br /><i>Is there</i> no balm in Gilead; <i>is there</i> no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/8.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br /><i>Is there</i> no balm in Gilead, <i>Is there</i> no physician there? Why then is there no recovery For the health of the daughter of my people?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/8.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people gone up?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the [spiritual] health of the daughter of my people been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why has the healing of my dear people not come about? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/8.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If medicine and doctors may be found in Gilead, why aren't my people healed? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/8.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Isn't there medicine in Gilead? Aren't there doctors there? Then why hasn't the health of my dear people been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/8.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Is there no medicine in Gilead? Are there no doctors there? Why, then, have my people not been healed? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/8.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? So why is there no healing for my people? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/8.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />There is still medicinal ointment available in Gilead! There is still a physician there! Why then have my dear people not been restored to health? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn't the health of the daughter of my people recovered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead: is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/8.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why has the health of the daughter of my people not gone up?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? For wherefore hath not the health of the daughter of my people gone up?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Is there no balsam in Gilead, or healing there? for wherefore did not the health of the daughter of my people go up?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Galaad? or is no physician there? Why then is not the wound of the daughter of my people closed? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Or is there no physician there? Then why has the wound of the daughter of my people not been closed?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/8.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead, no healer there? Why does new flesh not grow over the wound of the daughter of my people? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no healer there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people restored?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Is there no wax in Galad, or is there no Physician there? Why has the healing of the daughter of my people not resulted? <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is not the health Of the daughter of my people recovered?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And is there no balm in Galaad, or is there no physician there? why has not the healing of the daughter of my people taken place?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=2727" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/8.htm">Jeremiah Weeps for His People</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">21</span>For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am crushed. I mourn; horror has gripped me. <span class="reftext">22</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">Is there no</a> <a href="/hebrew/6875.htm" title="6875: ha·ṣo·rî (Art:: N-ms) -- (a kind of) balsam. Or tsoriy; from an unused root meaning to crack, hence, to leak; distillation, i.e. Balsam.">balm</a> <a href="/hebrew/1568.htm" title="1568: bə·ḡil·‘āḏ (Prep-b:: N-proper-fs) -- Probably from Gal'ed; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites.">in Gilead?</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">Is no</a> <a href="/hebrew/7495.htm" title="7495: rō·p̄ê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To heal. Or raphah; a primitive root; properly, to mend, i.e. to cure.">physician</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence.">there?</a> <a href="/hebrew/4069.htm" title="4069: mad·dū·a‘ (Interrog) -- Why? for what reason?. Or madduaa; from mah and the passive participle of yada'; what known?; i.e. why?.">Why</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">then</a> <a href="/hebrew/724.htm" title="724: ’ă·ru·ḵaṯ (N-fsc) -- Healing, restoration. Or rarukah; feminine passive participle of 'arak; wholeness.">has the health</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: baṯ- (N-fsc) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">of the daughter</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">of my people</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ā·lə·ṯāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">been restored?</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-5.htm">Isaiah 1:5-6</a></span><br />Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep rebelling? Your head has a massive wound, and your whole heart is afflicted. / From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/6-1.htm">Hosea 6:1</a></span><br />Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/9-12.htm">Matthew 9:12</a></span><br />On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/4-23.htm">Luke 4:23</a></span><br />Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/34-4.htm">Ezekiel 34:4</a></span><br />You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/2-17.htm">Mark 2:17</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-4.htm">Isaiah 53:4-5</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-3.htm">Psalm 103:3</a></span><br />He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/30-17.htm">Jeremiah 30:17</a></span><br />But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/13-15.htm">Matthew 13:15</a></span><br />For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/57-18.htm">Isaiah 57:18-19</a></span><br />I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, / bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/36-16.htm">2 Chronicles 36:16</a></span><br />But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/12-40.htm">John 12:40</a></span><br />“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they cannot see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/2-13.htm">Lamentations 2:13</a></span><br />What can I say for you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may console you, O Virgin Daughter of Zion? For your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can ever heal you?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-39.htm">Deuteronomy 32:39</a></span><br />See now that I am He; there is no God besides Me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?</p><p class="hdg">no balm.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm">Jeremiah 46:11</a></b></br> Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; <i>for</i> thou shalt not be cured.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm">Jeremiah 51:8</a></b></br> Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/37-25.htm">Genesis 37:25</a></b></br> And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry <i>it</i> down to Egypt.</p><p class="hdg">no physician.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/9-11.htm">Matthew 9:11,12</a></b></br> And when the Pharisees saw <i>it</i>, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/5-31.htm">Luke 5:31,32</a></b></br> And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/8-43.htm">Luke 8:43</a></b></br> And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,</p><p class="hdg">why.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/30-12.htm">Jeremiah 30:12-17</a></b></br> For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise <i>is</i> incurable, <i>and</i> thy wound <i>is</i> grievous… </p><p class="hdg">recovered.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/1-5.htm">Isaiah 1:5,6</a></b></br> Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/8-16.htm">Applied</a> <a href="/isaiah/57-3.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/genesis/43-11.htm">Balm</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-21.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/isaiah/22-12.htm">Dressing</a> <a href="/isaiah/25-11.htm">Expert</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Gilead</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-18.htm">Healing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-15.htm">Health</a> <a href="/psalms/65-11.htm">Life-Giving</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/16-12.htm">Medical</a> <a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Oil</a> <a href="/colossians/4-14.htm">Physician</a> <a href="/isaiah/39-1.htm">Recovered</a> <a href="/isaiah/38-16.htm">Restored</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-5.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/jeremiah/8-21.htm">Wound</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/51-9.htm">Applied</a> <a href="/jeremiah/27-9.htm">Arts</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm">Balm</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/jeremiah/33-6.htm">Dressing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-9.htm">Expert</a> <a href="/jeremiah/22-6.htm">Gilead</a> <a href="/jeremiah/14-19.htm">Healing</a> <a href="/jeremiah/30-17.htm">Health</a> <a href="/psalms/65-11.htm">Life-Giving</a> <a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm">Medical</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-12.htm">Oil</a> <a href="/matthew/9-12.htm">Physician</a> <a href="/jeremiah/41-16.htm">Recovered</a> <a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Restored</a> <a href="/jeremiah/9-12.htm">Wherefore</a> <a href="/jeremiah/10-19.htm">Wound</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 8</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/8-1.htm">The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/8-4.htm">He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitency.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/8-13.htm">He shows their grievous judgment;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/8-18.htm">and bewails their desperate estate.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/jeremiah/8.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Is there no balm in Gilead?</b><br />The word "balm" refers to a resinous substance used for healing and soothing wounds. In Hebrew, the term is "tsori," which was a valuable commodity in ancient times, often associated with the region of Gilead, known for its production of healing balms. Gilead, a region east of the Jordan River, was famous for its spices and medicinal ointments. The rhetorical question implies that there should be healing available, yet it is not being applied. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for the availability of God's grace and healing power, which the people of Israel were not accessing due to their disobedience and lack of faith.<p><b>Is there no physician there?</b><br />The term "physician" in Hebrew is "rophe," meaning healer or doctor. In ancient Israel, physicians were known for their knowledge of herbs and natural remedies. This question suggests that there should be someone capable of administering the balm, yet the people remain unhealed. From a spiritual perspective, it points to the failure of the leaders and prophets of Israel to guide the people back to spiritual health. In a broader sense, it highlights the ultimate need for a divine physician, which Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Great Physician who heals both physical and spiritual ailments.<p><b>Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?</b><br />The phrase "the daughter of my people" is a poetic expression referring to the nation of Israel. The "health" in question is not merely physical but also spiritual and moral. The Hebrew word for "health" is "arukah," which implies restoration and wholeness. The lack of restoration indicates a deeper issue beyond the physical realm, pointing to the spiritual decay and persistent sin of the people. Historically, this reflects the period of Jeremiah's ministry, where despite warnings and calls for repentance, the people continued in their idolatry and injustice. The rhetorical question underscores the tragedy of missed opportunities for healing and restoration due to the people's stubbornness and refusal to turn back to God.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(22) <span class= "bld">Is there no balm in Gilead . . .?</span>--The resinous gums of Gilead, identified by some naturalists with those of the terebinth, by others with mastich, the gum of the <span class= "ital">Pistaccia lentiscus, </span>were prominent in the pharmacop?ia of Israel, and were exported to Egypt for the embalmment of the dead (<a href="/genesis/37-25.htm" title="And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.">Genesis 37:25</a>; <a href="/genesis/43-11.htm" title="And their father Israel said to them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:">Genesis 43:11</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm" title="Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shall you use many medicines; for you shall not be cured.">Jeremiah 46:11</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm" title="Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.">Jeremiah 51:8</a>). A plaister of such gums was the received prescription for healing a wound. The question of the prophet is therefore a parable. "Are there no means of healing, no healer to apply them, for the spiritual wounds of Israel? The prophets were her physicians, repentance and righteousness were her balm of Gilead. <span class= "ital">Why has no balsam-plaister been laid on the daughter of my people? </span>Why so little result from the means which Jehovah has provided?" The imagery re-appears in <a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm" title="Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shall you use many medicines; for you shall not be cured.">Jeremiah 46:11</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm" title="Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.">Jeremiah 51:8</a>. The balm which was grown at Jericho under the Roman Empire (Tac, <span class= "ital">Hist. v.</span> 6; Plin., <span class= "ital">Nat. Hist. xii.</span> 25), and was traditionally reported to have been brought by the Queen of Sheba, was probably <span class= "ital">the Amyris Opobalsamum, </span>now cultivated at Mecca, which requires a more tropical climate than that of Gilead. Wyclif's version, "Is there no <span class= "ital">triacle </span>in Gilead?" may be noted as illustrating the history of a word now obsolete. "Triacle" was the English form of <span class= "ital">theriacum, </span>the mediaeval panacea for all wounds, and specially for the bites of serpents and venomous beasts. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 22.</span> - No hope or remedy is left; again a proverbial expression. <span class="cmt_word">No balm in Gilead</span>. Gilead appears to have been celebrated in early times for its balsam, which was expected by Ishmaelites to Egypt (<a href="/genesis/37-25.htm">Genesis 37:25</a>) and by Jewish merchants to Tyro (<a href="/ezekiel/27-17.htm">Ezekiel 27:17</a>). It was one of the most costly products of Palestine (<a href="/genesis/43-11.htm">Genesis 43:11</a>), and was prized for its medicinal properties in cases of wounds (comp. <a href="/jeremiah/46-11.htm">Jeremiah 46:11</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/51-8.htm">Jeremiah 51:8</a>). Josephus mentions this balsam several times, but states that it only grew at Jericho ('Antiq.,' 15:4,2), Tristram searched for balsam in its ancient haunts, but in vain; he thinks Jeremiah means the <span class="accented">Balsamodendron gileadense</span> or <span class="accented">opobalsamum</span>, which in Arabia is used as a medicine both internally and externally. But if Pliny ('Hist. Nat.,' 24:22) may be followed in his wide use of the term "balsam" so as to include the exudations of the "lentisens" or mastick tree, then "balm of Gilead" is still to be found; for the mastick tree "grows commonly all over the country, excepting in the plains and the Jordan valley" ('Nat. Hist. of Bible,' p. 336). <span class="cmt_word">Is there no physician there?</span> We hear but little of physicians in the Old Testament. They are only mentioned again in <a href="/genesis/1-2.htm">Genesis 1:2</a> (but with reference to Egypt, where medicine was much cultivated), and in <a href="/2_chronicles/16-12.htm">2 Chronicles 16:12</a>; <a href="/job/13-4.htm">Job 13:4</a>. From the two latter passages we may, perhaps, infer that physicians were rarely successful; and this is certainly the impression produced by Ecclus. 38:15, "He that sinneth before his Maker, let him fall into the hand of the physician." The remedies employed in the Talmudic period quite bear out this strong saying (see Lightfoot, 'Horae Hebraical,' on <a href="/mark/5-26.htm">Mark 5:26</a>). The physicians of Gilead, however, probably confined themselves to their one famous simple, the balsam. <span class="cmt_word">Is not the health... recovered</span>? Gesenius renders, less probably, "hath no bandage been applied to the daughter of my people?" <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Is there no</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֣ין</span> <span class="translit">(’ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">balm</span><br /><span class="heb">הַצֳרִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ṣo·rî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6875.htm">Strong's 6875: </a> </span><span class="str2">Distillation, balsam</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Gilead?</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּגִלְעָ֔ד</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḡil·‘āḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1568.htm">Strong's 1568: </a> </span><span class="str2">Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Is no</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֣ין</span> <span class="translit">(’ên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> </span><span class="str2">A non-entity, a negative particle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">physician</span><br /><span class="heb">רֹפֵ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(rō·p̄ê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7495.htm">Strong's 7495: </a> </span><span class="str2">To mend, to cure</span><br /><br /><span class="word">there?</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(šām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8033.htm">Strong's 8033: </a> </span><span class="str2">There, then, thither</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Why</span><br /><span class="heb">מַדּ֙וּעַ֙</span> <span class="translit">(mad·dū·a‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4069.htm">Strong's 4069: </a> </span><span class="str2">Why? for what reason?</span><br /><br /><span class="word">then</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has the health</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲרֻכַ֖ת</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ru·ḵaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_724.htm">Strong's 724: </a> </span><span class="str2">Healing, restoration</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the daughter</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּת־</span> <span class="translit">(baṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of my people</span><br /><span class="heb">עַמִּֽי׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘am·mî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">been restored?</span><br /><span class="heb">עָֽלְתָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·lə·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/8-22.htm">Jeremiah 8:22 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/8-22.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/8-21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 8:21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 8:21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/9-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 9:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 9:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>