What does it mean that God is Jehovah-Rapha in the Bible?
Jehovah Rapha Meaning
The origin of Jehovah Rapha can be traced back to two Hebrew words, which in combination can mean “God who heals.”
“Jehovah,” which is derived from the Hebrew word Havah can be translated as “to be,” “to exist,” or “to become known.” The Hebraic translation of Rapha (râpâ) means “to restore” or “to heal.”
Jehovah-Rapha is also recognized as Yahweh-Rapha.
What does jehovah rapha means
The Lord that heals.
Enforcement
God has provided in Jesus Christ ultimate healing for spiritual, physical, and emotional illness. God can heal us.
Jehovah Rapha verse, Bible references
Exodus 15:25-27 Psalms 103:3; 147:3 1 Peter 2:24.
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
When does God first reveal Himself as Jehovah-Rapha in the Bible?
God first revealed Himself as Jehovah-Rapha to the Israelites after their exodus out of Egypt.
After three days of wandering in the Desert of Shur, the Israelites were in desperate need of water. The discovered a river. However, the waters were unfit to drink. As a reflection of the quality of the water and their emotional disposition, the Israelites named the river Mahra (bitter).
God divinely cleansed the waters by instructing Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water, thereby making it drinkable.
Following this miracle, God declared HImself as Jehovah Rapha to His people by proclaiming, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)
This promise was also a gesture of assurance from God to the Israelites, who had borne witness to the ten plagues that God had released over all of Egypt prior to their release from slavery.
Jehovah-Rapha has the power to heal physically (2 Kings 5:10), emotionally (Psalm 34:18), mentally (Daniel 4:34), and spiritually (Psalm 103:2–3). Neither impurity of body nor impurity of the soul can withstand the purifying, healing power of Jehovah-Rapha.
Jesus Christ showed that He was the Great Physician who heals the sick. In Galilee, Jesus went from town to town, “healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23). In Judea “large crowds followed him, and he healed them there” (Matthew 19:2). In fact, “wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed” (Mark 6:56).
Not only did Jesus heal people physically, but He also healed them spiritually by forgiving their sins (Luke 5:20). Every day, in every way, Jesus proved Himself to be Jehovah-Rapha in the flesh.
In what ways does God heal as Jehovah-Rapha?
The varying manifestations of God’s tremendous healing power as Jehovah-Rapha can be found in the following biblical passages to combat the following:
- Sickness and infirmity (Psalm 41:3)
- Healing from mental affliction (Jonah 2:5-7)
- Spiritual fatigue (Psalm 23:3)
- Emotional suffering (Psalm 147:3)
- Anxiety or worry (John 14:27)
Old Testament References to God as the Healer
The following are a few biblical references that refer to Jehovah-Rapha in the Old Testament:
Psalm 103:3: “(W)who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,”
Psalm 147:3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Isaiah 30:26: “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.”
Jeremiah 30:17: “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.”
Jeremiah 33:6: “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
Hosea 6:1: “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has injured us, but he will bind up our wounds.
Bible Verses for Healing from the Gospel and New Testament
Jesus miraculously healed people during His earthly ministry. Jesus is the Great Physician.
And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
-Matthew 4:23
It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.
– Mark 2:17
He [Jesus] said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
-Mark 5:34
And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
-Luke 13:13
The Holy Spirit gave the apostles supernatural power to heal people through Jesus’ name.
While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
-Acts 4:30
And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately, he rose.
– Acts 9:34
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
-Acts 10:38
Physical healing on earth is a foreshadow of complete healing when we reach Heaven, and we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually healed.
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
-1 Corinthians 15:43
He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, you have been healed.
-1 Peter 2:24
The same apostolic power to heal that was granted through the Holy Spirit is still active today.
Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
-James 5:14-16
Bible Verses for healing:
While we wait for healing, we should encourage one another and serve one another. And keep asking God for healing.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this, you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
-Colossians 3:15
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
-Colossians 3:16
Is anyone of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
-James 5:13
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for the asking.
-James 1:5
