ἰατρός (G2395) — Greek Lexicon

ἰατρός

iatrós

G2395 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A practitioner of the art of healing; one who diagnoses, treats, or heals illness or injury; a physician or healer. In a broader sense, can refer to someone skilled in remedies or medicine, though most often implying a professional or recognized practitioner of medical arts. In wider Greek usage, may also denote one who helps restore well-being (literal or metaphorical).

Semantic Range

physician, doctor, healer, one who applies medical treatment, metaphorical restorer or savior, one skilled in remedies or healing

Root / Etymology

From the root ἰατ- as found in ἰάομαι ('to heal, cure'), with the agentive suffix -τρός indicating a person who performs the action. Cognate with other Greek words related to healing and medicine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἰατρός referred to a practitioner of medicine, recognized either by skill, apprenticeship, or local reputation; differing from would-be healers or charlatans (ἀλαζών) by their specialized knowledge. In the Septuagint, ἰατρός sometimes translates Hebrew רוֹפֵא (ropeʾ), used of human physicians or healing in general. In the New Testament, it refers both to professional healers and metaphorically to one who restores or saves (e.g., Luke 4:23). English 'physician' is an accurate rendering for most contexts, though in Greek, the term could have broader connotations, sometimes including minor surgery, medicine, and what would now be called folk healing. While the root is associated with healing, the professionalization and social standing of the ἰατρός varied over time and by context; in some periods they were esteemed, while in others viewed with skepticism. The word differs from θεραπευτής (therapeutēs, attendant or servant, but later also used for healers and religious attendants), and is distinct from non-professional healers or wonderworkers.

Translation Consistency

primary "doctor" 0 occurrences

'Doctor' is the most natural, commonly used modern English term for a professional medical practitioner and easily covers the primary senses of ἰατρός (physician, healer, restorer). It reads naturally in both literal medical contexts and broader/metaphorical usages while remaining concise and consistent.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"healer" (3x) "physicians" (2x) "o healer" (1x) "physician" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἰάομαι; a physician:--physician.

Root Family

ἰατρ- (iatrós) — to heal, to treat medically, curing

Root ἰατρ- to heal, to treat medically, curing

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2395-05`	ἰατροῦ	iatrou	`N GEN M SG`	of a physician	of a healer	of a healer	3
`G2395-01`	ἰατρέ	iatre	`N VOC M SG`	Physician	O healer	O healer	1
`G2395-02`	ἰατροῖς	iatrois	`N DAT M PL`	on physicians	to physicians	to physicians	1
`G2395-03`	ἰατρῶν	iatron	`N GEN M PL`	physicians	of healers	physicians	1
`G2395-04`	ἰατρὸς	iatros	`N NOM M SG`	physician	healing practitioner	physician	1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2395-05`	Matthew 9:12	ἰατροῦ	iatrou	`N GEN M SG`	of a physician	of a healer	of a healer
`G2395-05`	Mark 2:17	ἰατροῦ	iatrou	`N GEN M SG`	of a physician	of a healer	of a healer
`G2395-03`	Mark 5:26	ἰατρῶν	iatron	`N GEN M PL`	physicians	of healers	physicians
`G2395-01`	Luke 4:23	ἰατρέ	iatre	`N VOC M SG`	Physician	O healer	O healer
`G2395-05`	Luke 5:31	ἰατροῦ	iatrou	`N GEN M SG`	of a physician	of a healer	of a healer
`G2395-02`	Luke 8:43	ἰατροῖς	iatrois	`N DAT M PL`	on physicians	to physicians	to physicians
`G2395-04`	Colossians 4:14	ἰατρὸς	iatros	`N NOM M SG`	physician	healing practitioner	physician

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