Balm (Good News Translation “medicine”) is mentioned six times in the Bible (Gen 37.25; 43.11; Jer 8.22; 46.11; 51.8; Ezek 27.17). Although it is known to have been an aromatic resin or gum, used for medicinal purposes, its exact identity cannot be established. Bible en français courant translates it as “soothing balm,” and others use “healing ointment.” Gilead was a region east of the Jordan River; it was famous for plants that could be used for medicinal purposes.

The singular no physician is expressed as a plural “no doctors” in Good News Translation. Translators should use whatever is best for their readers.

All the questions in this verse are rhetorical; that is, they are not asking for information and are not looking for an answer. Rather, they are a way of making a strong affirmation. If there are languages where readers might not understand this, translators can have something such as:

• Surely there is medicine in Gilead.
Surely there are doctors there.
And yet my people have not been healed.

In Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch the verse is translated in prose form:

• Is there no salve in Gilead, and is no doctor to be found there? Is there no healing for my people? Their wounds will not heal up.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .