Thyroid Disorders in Biblical Narratives: A Medical-Historical Analysis

Introduction: Thyroid disorders, which are crucial for metabolism and homeostasis, may be reflected in biblical narratives through symptoms and signs described in their characters. Despite their physiological relevance, the endocrinological interpretations of these biblical texts remain unexplored in medico-historical studies, representing a significant gap in understanding human health within biblical contexts. Objective: Analyze biblical narratives for thyroid disorders, integrating hermeneutics and endocrinology. Method: This interdisciplinary study integrated medical-historical analysis, clinical thyroidology, and textual criticism to explore thyroid disorders in biblical narratives. Canonical texts were reviewed using qualitative hermeneutics, mapping symptoms to endocrinological criteria. Historical contextualization utilized ancient medical texts and archaeological data, acknowledging retrospective diagnosis limitations due to absent biochemical data and anachronistic risks. Results: Our medical-historical analysis demonstrated compelling evidence of potential thyroid dysfunctions inferred from symptomatic descriptions in biblical narratives across the Old and New Testaments, aligning with current endocrinological profiles. Genesis 16:1–6, 21:9–21: Corroborates symptoms including fatigue, dermatological changes, and mood disturbances, consistent with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Leviticus 21:16–20: Suggests goiter and congenital hypothyroidism, potentially linked to iodine deficiency. 1 Samuel 16:14–23: Indicates neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with hypothyroidism. 1 Kings 19:3–8: Implicates stress-induced hypothyroidism, with fatigue reflecting suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. Job 3:1–26, 7:1–21, 30:16–31: Substantiates fatigue, dermatological alterations, and mood disturbances consistent with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Psalms 38:1–22: Supports findings of fatigue, dermatological changes, and mood disturbances congruent with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Ecclesiastes 12:1–8: Reinforces evidence of fatigue, dermatological changes, and mood disturbances aligned with hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis. Daniel 4:28–33: Suggests neuropsychiatric manifestations attributable to hypothyroidism. Matthew 12:10–13: Implies hypothyroid myopathy and neuropathy, as noted in synoptic accounts. Conclusion: Endocrine concepts enrich biblical analysis, bridging hermeneutics and physiology, despite speculative diagnoses.