Original Word: רָפָא
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: rapha'
Pronunciation: rah-fah'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-faw')
KJV: cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole See H7503
NASB: heal, healed, physicians, become fresh, heals, healing, purified
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. (properly) to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure
Or raphah {raw-faw'}; a primitive root; properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure -- cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole. See raphah.
see HEBREW raphah
Qal Perfect3masculine singular consecutive ׳וְר Isaiah 6:10, suffix וּרְפָאָם Isaiah 19:22, 1singular suffix consecutive וּרְפָאתִיו Isaiah 57:19, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְמָּא 2 Kings 20:8 +, suffix יִרְמָּאֵנוּ Hosea 6:1, 1singular אֶרְמָּא Hosea 14:5 +, אֶרְמָּה (Ges§ 75pp) Jeremiah 3:22; 3feminine plural תִּרְמֶּינָה (Idib. qq) Job 5:18, etc.; Imperative masculine singular רְפָא Numbers 12:13, רְפָה (Idib. pp) Psalm 60:4, רְפָאָ֫ה Psalm 41:5, etc.; Infinitive absolute רָפוֺא Isaiah 19:22; construct לִרְמֹּא Hosea 5:13, etc.; Participle רֹפֵא 2 Kings 20:5 +, etc.; — heal:
1 literally,
a. of God, with accusative of person Genesis 20:17 (E), Psalm 107:20 (suffix), with ל person Numbers 12:13 (JE) 2 Kings 20:5,8.
b. of men, absolute Ecclesiastes 3:3 (opposed to הרג); participle as substantive healer, physician, Genesis 50:2 (twice in verse) (J) 2Chronicles 16:12.
2 figurative, heal hurts of nation, involving ׳יs (restored) favour (and, often, forgiveness):
a. subject ׳י, with suffix person, Hosea 6:1; Hosea 11:3 (yet compare We Now), Exodus 15:26 (J), Isaiah 19:22b Isaiah 57:18,19; Jeremiah 33:6; Psalm 30:3, compare Psalm 6:3; with accusative עַם2Chronicles 30:20, with accusative אֶרֶץ2Chronicles 7:14; with ל of nation Hosea 7:1, and (indefinite subject) Isaiah 6:10 (lest) one heal them (= passive, they be healed); with accusative of hurt, מִחַץ מַכָּתוֺ Isaiah 30:26, שְׁבָרִים (of land) Psalm 60:4, so מְשׁוּבָה Hosea 14:5; Jeremiah 3:22 (including the consequences of backsliding); with ל of hurt Psalm 103:3; accusative nation (personified) + מִן of hurt Jeremiah 30:17 I will heal thee of thy wounds ("" אֶרְמָּאֵךְ); absolute Isaiah 19:22a (opposed to נגף), Deuteronomy 32:39 (opposed to מחץ); participle as substantive healer, physician Jeremiah 8:22.
b. human subject, with ל of nation, Hosea 5:13, compare Lamentations 2:13.
3. a. figurative, heal individual distresses, with suffix person Jeremiah 17:14, with accusative נַפְשִׁי = me Jeremiah 41:5, with ל person, לִשְׁבוּרֵי לֵב Psalm 147:3 (i.e. longing exiles, compare Isaiah 61:3); absolute Job 5:18 (opposed to מחץ); participle as substantive Job 13:4.
Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִרְמָּא Leviticus 13:37 +, 3 feminine singular נִרְמָּ֑תָה (Ges§ 75qq) Jeremiah 51:9; 3plural וְנִרְמּאו consecutive Ezekiel 47:8; Imperfect2masculine singular תֵּרָפֵא Jeremiah 51:8; 3masculine plural יֵרָֽפְאוּ Ezekiel 47:9,11, וַיֵּרָפו (Gesl.c.) 2 Kings 2:22, etc.; Infinitive construct הֵרָפֵא Jeremiah 15:18 +, הֵרָפֵה (Idib.) Jeremiah 19:11; — be healed:
1 literally, of person 1 Samuel 6:3; + accusative of disease Deuteronomy 28:27,35; subject disease Leviticus 13:18,37; Leviticus 14:3,48; of (bad) water 2 Kings 2:22, salt waters (prediction), i.e. be made fresh, Ezekiel 47:8,9,11; of (broken) pottery, i.e. be made whole, Jeremiah 19:11 (in simile).
2 figurative, be healed:
a. of national hurts, subject city Jeremiah 51:8,9; involving forgiveness and ׳יs blessing, impersonal with ל of people, נִרְמָּאלָֿנוּ Isaiah 53:5 i.e. healing has come to us.
b. of personal distress, subject person Jeremiah 17:14, subject the distress Jeremiah 15:18.
Pi`el Perfect1singular רִמִּאתִי 2 Kings 2:21; 2masculine plural רְמֵּאתֶם Ezekiel 34:4; 1plural רִמִּאנוּ Jeremiah 51:9; Imperfect3masculine singular יְרַמֵּא Exodus 21:19; Zechariah 11:16, וַיְרַמֵּא 1 Kings 18:30; 3masculine plural וַיְרַמְּאוּ Jeremiah 6:14, וַיְרַמּוּ (Ges§ 75qq) Jeremiah 8:11; Infinitive absolute רַמֹּא Exodus 21:19; — have healed, heal, usually human subject:
1 literal, רַמּאֹ יְרַמֵּא Exodus 21:19 he shall have (him) well healed; with accusative of altar, = repair, 1 Kings 18:30; with ל of water (subject ׳י) 2 Kings 2:21.
2 figurative of healing national defects and hurts, accusative of person, Ezekiel 34:14; Zechariah 11:16; work at healing, treat (accusative of hurt) Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:11 (both עַלנְֿקַלָּה, see [ קָלַל] Niph`al 2), Jeremiah 51:9.
Hithpa`el Infinitive construct of purpose, לְהִתְרַמֵּא, literally, in order to get healed, + מִן of wounds 2 Kings 8:29 = 2 Kings 9:15, so "" 2Chronicles 22:6 (read with m5 מִן for כִּי, compare Be Kau Benz).
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The verb רָפָא occurs about sixty-seven times in the Old Testament and always carries the idea of bringing wholeness where damage, disease, or disorder have intruded. It is used for mending water, land, cities, personal bodies, broken hearts, and covenant relationships. The subject of the verb is nearly always the Lord, underscoring His unique prerogative to restore what has been marred.
Divine Self-Revelation as Healer
On the shore of the Red Sea the Lord declares, "For I am the LORD who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). This statement both explains Israel’s deliverance from plague and establishes "Yahweh-Ropheka" as a permanent aspect of His character (compare Deuteronomy 32:39; Job 5:18). From the outset, healing is presented as an act of covenant faithfulness rather than a mere therapeutic intervention.
Individual Bodily Healing
• Genesis 20:17 – "God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could bear children."
• Numbers 12:13 – Moses pleads, "O God, please heal her," and Miriam’s leprosy is lifted after discipline.
• 2 Kings 20:5 – "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you," the promise given to dying Hezekiah.
• Psalms 6:2; 30:2; 41:4 – Personal prayers that assume the Lord’s readiness to heal bodily affliction.
In each narrative God alone resolves the crisis, revealing that even when human means (such as Isaiah’s poultice for Hezekiah) are used, the efficacy comes from Him.
Corporate and National Restoration
Healing language widens to embrace land and nation. "Then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Elisha "healed the waters" of Jericho (2 Kings 2:21), a prophetic sign that covenant blessing could reverse curses at the most basic level of daily life. Jeremiah pictures national restoration in the same terms: "For I will restore you to health and heal your wounds" (Jeremiah 30:17; 33:6).
Moral and Spiritual Renewal
The prophets repeatedly shift the word from the clinic to the heart:
• Isaiah 6:10 – Hardened hearts "might turn and be healed."
• Hosea 6:1 – "Come, let us return to the LORD. ... He will heal us."
• Jeremiah 3:22 – "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your backslidings."
Sin is described as a festering wound men cannot close (Jeremiah 15:18), and shallow religion is condemned for claiming, "‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace" and for "healing the wound of My people superficially" (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11).
Healing Through Providence and Means
The Lord is free to heal instantly (1 Kings 13:6) or through created agents. Salt is used at Jericho, a lump of figs for Hezekiah, and balm for Gilead (Jeremiah 8:22), teaching that secondary causes do not diminish divine sovereignty. Though physicians are mentioned (Genesis 50:2; Jeremiah 8:22), Scripture never portrays medicine as an autonomous power; success belongs to God.
Limits of Human Physicians
King Asa "even in his illness... sought help from the physicians and not from the LORD" (2 Chronicles 16:12, context). Jeremiah’s lament, "Is there no physician there?" (Jeremiah 8:22), exposes the futility of purely human remedies when the underlying problem is covenant breach. True health demands reconciliation with God.
Prophetic Vision of Messianic Healing
Isaiah foresees a Servant "pierced for our transgressions... and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Here רָפָא reaches its theological summit: the impending atonement will address both sin’s guilt and its corrupting effects. The Gospels later reveal Jesus embodying this promise, healing diseases as signs of a deeper redemption (Matthew 8:16–17 echoing Isaiah 53).
Pastoral and Ministry Implications
1. Prayer remains the primary avenue for seeking healing (Psalm 30:2; James 5:14–16 builds on this heritage).
2. Confession and repentance often accompany petitions for health (Psalm 41:4; Hosea 14:4).
3. Leaders are warned not to promise superficial cures; genuine ministry must address root causes (Jeremiah 6:14).
4. Hope for ultimate wholeness rests on God’s covenant fidelity: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).
Intertextual and Theological Connections
The Hebrew concept of healing merges seamlessly with the New Testament’s salvation vocabulary (Greek sōzō, "to save/heal"). Physical restoration serves as a tangible pledge of eschatological renewal when "the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2). Thus the Old Testament usage of רָפָא lays a canonical foundation: God not only forgives but also brings comprehensive shalom to His people and His creation.
Genesis 50:2
HEB: עֲבָדָיו֙ אֶת־ הָרֹ֣פְאִ֔ים לַחֲנֹ֖ט אֶת־
NAS: his servants the physicians to embalm
KJV: his servants the physicians to embalm
INT: Joseph his servants the physicians to embalm his father
Genesis 50:2
HEB: אָבִ֑יו וַיַּחַנְט֥וּ הָרֹפְאִ֖ים אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
NAS: his father. So the physicians embalmed
KJV: his father: and the physicians embalmed
INT: his father embalmed the physicians Israel
Exodus 15:26
HEB: אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה רֹפְאֶֽךָ׃ ס
NAS: for I, the LORD, am your healer.
KJV: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.
INT: I the LORD am your healer
Exodus 21:19
HEB: שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ יִתֵּ֖ן וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא׃ ס
NAS: for his loss of time, and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.
KJV: [for] the loss of his time, and shall cause [him] to be thoroughly healed.
INT: his loss pay and shall take care
Exodus 21:19
HEB: יִתֵּ֖ן וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא׃ ס
NAS: and shall take care of him until he is completely healed.
KJV: and shall cause [him] to be thoroughly healed.
INT: pay and shall take care
Leviticus 13:18
HEB: בְעֹר֖וֹ שְׁחִ֑ין וְנִרְפָּֽא׃
NAS: a boil on its skin and it is healed,
KJV: thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
INT: skin A boil is healed
Leviticus 13:37
HEB: צָֽמַח־ בּ֛וֹ נִרְפָּ֥א הַנֶּ֖תֶק טָה֣וֹר
NAS: in it, the scale has healed, he is clean;
KJV: up therein; the scall is healed, he [is] clean:
INT: and black has grown has healed the scale is clean
Leviticus 14:3
HEB: הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהִנֵּ֛ה נִרְפָּ֥א נֶֽגַע־ הַצָּרַ֖עַת
NAS: of leprosy has been healed in the leper,
KJV: of leprosy be healed in the leper;
INT: the priest and if has been healed the infection of leprosy
Leviticus 14:48
HEB: הַבַּ֔יִת כִּ֥י נִרְפָּ֖א הַנָּֽגַע׃
NAS: because the mark has not reappeared.
KJV: clean, because the plague is healed.
INT: the house because reappeared the mark
Numbers 12:13
HEB: אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ׃
NAS: saying, O God, heal her, I pray!
KJV: saying, Heal her now, O God,
INT: God pray heal pray
Deuteronomy 28:27
HEB: לֹא־ תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵרָפֵֽא׃
NAS: from which you cannot be healed.
KJV: whereof thou canst not be healed.
INT: not canst be healed
Deuteronomy 28:35
HEB: לֹא־ תוּכַ֖ל לְהֵרָפֵ֑א מִכַּ֥ף רַגְלְךָ֖
NAS: you cannot be healed, from the sole
KJV: that cannot be healed, from the sole
INT: not cannot be healed the sole of your foot
Deuteronomy 32:39
HEB: מָחַ֙צְתִּי֙ וַאֲנִ֣י אֶרְפָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין מִיָּדִ֖י
NAS: I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one
KJV: I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver
INT: have wounded I heal is no my hand
1 Samuel 6:3
HEB: אָשָׁ֑ם אָ֤ז תֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙ וְנוֹדַ֣ע לָכֶ֔ם
NAS: Then you will be healed and it will be known
KJV: him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known
INT: A guilt Then will be healed will be known why
1 Kings 18:30
HEB: הָעָ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו וַיְרַפֵּ֛א אֶת־ מִזְבַּ֥ח
NAS: came near to him. And he repaired the altar
KJV: came near unto him. And he repaired the altar
INT: the people to him repaired the altar of the LORD
2 Kings 2:21
HEB: אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה רִפִּ֙אתִי֙ לַמַּ֣יִם הָאֵ֔לֶּה
NAS: the LORD, I have purified these
KJV: the LORD, I have healed these waters;
INT: says the LORD have purified waters these
2 Kings 2:22
HEB: וַיֵּרָפ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם עַ֖ד
NAS: So the waters have been purified to this
KJV: So the waters were healed unto this day,
INT: have been purified the waters against
2 Kings 8:29
HEB: יוֹרָ֨ם הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל מִן־
NAS: returned to be healed in Jezreel
KJV: went back to be healed in Jezreel
INT: Joram King to be healed Jezreel at
2 Kings 9:15
HEB: יְהוֹרָ֨ם הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בִיְזְרְעֶ֗אל מִן־
NAS: to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds
KJV: was returned to be healed in Jezreel
INT: Joram King to be healed to Jezreel at
2 Kings 20:5
HEB: דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ רֹ֣פֶא לָ֔ךְ בַּיּוֹם֙
NAS: behold, I will heal you. On the third
KJV: thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third
INT: your tears behold will heal day the third
2 Kings 20:8
HEB: א֔וֹת כִּֽי־ יִרְפָּ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לִ֑י
NAS: that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go
KJV: that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up
INT: will be the sign for will heal the LORD shall go
2 Chronicles 7:14
HEB: וְאֶסְלַח֙ לְחַטָּאתָ֔ם וְאֶרְפָּ֖א אֶת־ אַרְצָֽם׃
NAS: their sin and will heal their land.
KJV: their sin, and will heal their land.
INT: will forgive their sin and will heal their land
2 Chronicles 16:12
HEB: יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֖י בָּרֹפְאִֽים׃
NAS: the LORD, but the physicians.
KJV: not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
INT: the LORD but the physicians
2 Chronicles 22:6
HEB: וַיָּ֜שָׁב לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בְיִזְרְעֶ֗אל כִּ֤י
NAS: So he returned to be healed in Jezreel
KJV: And he returned to be healed in Jezreel
INT: returned to be healed Jezreel because
67 Occurrences
Strong's Hebrew 7495
67 Occurrences
bā·rō·p̄ə·’îm — 1 Occ.
’er·pā — 2 Occ.
’er·pā·’êḵ — 1 Occ.
’er·pāh — 1 Occ.
hā·rō·p̄ê — 2 Occ.
hā·rō·p̄ə·’îm — 2 Occ.
hê·rā·p̄ê — 1 Occ.
kə·rā·p̄ə·’î — 1 Occ.
lə·hê·rā·p̄ê — 2 Occ.
lə·hê·rā·p̄êh — 1 Occ.
lə·hiṯ·rap·pê — 3 Occ.
lir·pō·w — 2 Occ.
nir·pā — 4 Occ.
nir·pā·ṯāh — 1 Occ.
rə·p̄ā — 1 Occ.
rə·p̄ā·’āh — 1 Occ.
rə·p̄ā·’ê·nî — 2 Occ.
rə·p̄āh — 1 Occ.
rə·p̄ā·ṯîm — 1 Occ.
rip·pê·ṯem — 1 Occ.
rip·pî·nū — 1 Occ.
rip·pi·ṯî — 1 Occ.
rō·p̄e — 2 Occ.
rō·p̄ə·’e·ḵā — 1 Occ.
rō·p̄ə·’ê — 1 Occ.
tê·rā·p̄ê — 1 Occ.
tê·rā·p̄ə·’ū — 1 Occ.
tir·pe·nāh — 1 Occ.
ū·rə·p̄ā·’ām — 1 Occ.
ū·rə·p̄ā·ṯîm — 1 Occ.
ū·rə·p̄ā·ṯîw — 1 Occ.
way·yê·rā·p̄ū — 1 Occ.
way·yir·pā — 2 Occ.
wat·tir·pā·’ê·nî — 1 Occ.
way·rap·pê — 1 Occ.
way·rap·pə·’ū — 1 Occ.
way·rap·pū — 1 Occ.
wə·’ê·rā·p̄ê — 1 Occ.
wə·’er·pā — 1 Occ.
wə·’er·pā·’ê·hū — 1 Occ.
wə·nir·pā — 1 Occ.
wə·nir·pū — 1 Occ.
wə·rā·p̄ā — 1 Occ.
wə·rā·p̄ō·w — 1 Occ.
wə·rap·pō — 1 Occ.
wə·yê·rā·p̄ə·’ū — 1 Occ.
wə·yir·pā·’êm — 1 Occ.
wə·yir·pā·’ê·nū — 1 Occ.
yê·rā·p̄ə·’ū — 1 Occ.
yə·rap·pê — 2 Occ.
yir·pā — 3 Occ.