Healer
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In the biblical context, the term "Healer" primarily refers to God as the ultimate source of healing, as well as to Jesus Christ, who performed numerous healings during His earthly ministry. Healing in the Bible encompasses physical, spiritual, and emotional restoration, reflecting God's compassion and power over creation.

God as Healer

The concept of God as a healer is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. One of the earliest references is found in Exodus 15:26, where God declares to the Israelites, "If you listen carefully to the voice of 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." This passage introduces God as Jehovah-Rapha, "The LORD who heals."

Throughout the Old Testament, God's healing is often linked to His covenant relationship with Israel. In Psalm 103:2-3, David praises God, saying, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases." Here, healing is associated with forgiveness, indicating a holistic approach to restoration.

Jesus Christ as Healer

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the central figure of healing. His ministry is marked by numerous miraculous healings, which serve as signs of His divine authority and compassion. In Matthew 4:23, it is recorded, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people."

The healings performed by Jesus include curing the blind (John 9:1-7), the lame (Matthew 9:2-7), and those with leprosy (Luke 17:12-19). These acts not only demonstrate His power over physical ailments but also signify the coming of God's kingdom and the restoration it brings. In Mark 2:9-12, Jesus heals a paralytic, emphasizing His authority to forgive sins, thus linking physical healing with spiritual restoration.

Healing in the Early Church

The early church continued the healing ministry of Jesus through the apostles. In Acts 3:6-8, Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate, saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" This act, performed in Jesus' name, underscores the belief that healing power comes from Christ.

The apostle Paul also speaks of spiritual gifts of healing within the church in 1 Corinthians 12:9, indicating that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to continue the work of healing. James 5:14-15 instructs the church, "Is any one 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."

Healing and Faith

Faith plays a crucial role in biblical healing. Many of Jesus' healings are accompanied by a call to faith, as seen in Mark 5:34, where He tells a woman healed of a bleeding disorder, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." This highlights the importance of trust in God's power and willingness to heal.

Healing and the Atonement

Some theological perspectives link healing to the atonement of Christ. Isaiah 53:5, a prophetic passage about the suffering servant, states, "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." This verse is often interpreted to mean that Christ's sacrificial death provides for both spiritual and physical healing.

Conclusion

The biblical portrayal of healing is multifaceted, encompassing God's compassion, the redemptive work of Christ, and the ongoing ministry of the church. Healing serves as a testament to God's power and love, offering hope and restoration to a broken world.
Greek
2390. iaomai -- to heal
... [2390 ("to heal") draws the attention , the supernatural Healer, ie beyond the physical
healing itself and its benefits (as with 2323 ).]. Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2390.htm - 8k
Strong's Hebrew
609. Asa -- perhaps "healer," an Israelite name
... 608, 609. Asa. 610 . perhaps "healer," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Asa Phonetic Spelling: (aw-saw') Short Definition: Asa. ...
/hebrew/609.htm - 5k

2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... Definition to bind, bind on, bind up NASB Word Usage bandage (1), bandaged (1),
bind (5), binds (2), bound (3), dams (1), gives relief (1), healer (1), rule (1 ...
/hebrew/2280.htm - 6k

8655. teraphim -- (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol
... idolatry, images, teraphim. Plural from rapha'; a healer; Teraphim (singular or
plural) a family idol -- idols(-atry), images, teraphim. see HEBREW rapha'. ...
/hebrew/8655.htm - 6k

7495. rapha -- to heal
... root Definition to heal NASB Word Usage become fresh (3), completely healed (1),
heal (24), healed (22), healer (1), healing (2), heals (3), physician (1 ...
/hebrew/7495.htm - 6k

Library

Christ the True Healer.
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 10."Christ the True Healer.
Accordingly, the apostle shows that the same medicine ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 10 christ the true healer.htm

The Touch of Faith and the Touch of Christ
... enough! Therefore she had her desire, and her Healer recognised her faith
as true, though blended with much ignorance of Him. Her ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the touch of faith and.htm

The Third Miracle in John's Gospel
... He only knew Him as a Healer, and he trusted Him as such. The contents of
a man's faith have nothing to do with the reality of his ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the third miracle in johns.htm

The Healing of the Man Born Blind.
... But there is another and a higher aspect of it, since Christ has come, and is really
the Healer of all disease and evil by being the Remover of its ultimate ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ix the healing of.htm

A Refused Bequest
... able to learn some lessons? The first thing I would notice is, the clinging
of the healed man to his Healer. Think of him half an ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/a refused bequest.htm

March the Twenty-Eighth the Choice of Barabbas
... When I choose revenge rather than forgiveness, I am preferring Barabbas to Christ.
For revenge is a murderer, while forgiveness is a healer and saviour of men. ...
/.../march the twenty-eighth the choice.htm

August the Fifteenth Withered Limbs
... They have been withered by sin and sinful negligence. And the Lord is the healer
of withered limbs. ... We must surrender to the Healer. We must obey. ...
/.../august the fifteenth withered limbs.htm

Where are the Nine?
... conceptions of Him, and their consciousness of their own necessities, did not rise
above the purely physical region, and He was nothing to them but a healer. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/where are the nine.htm

The Healing Christ
... our transgressions.'. It is, therefore, this point of view of Christ, as
the Healer, which I desire to bring before you now. I. First ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the healing christ.htm

The Power of Feeble Faith
... on His equal love; He has leisure of heart to feel for each, and fulness of power
for all; and none can rob another of his share in the Healer's gifts, nor any ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the power of feeble faith.htm

Thesaurus
Physician (6 Occurrences)
... fi-zish'-an (rophi; iatros): To the pious Jew at all times God was the healer
(Deuteronomy 32:39): "It was neither herb nor mollifying plaister that cured them ...
/p/physician.htm - 14k

Healer (2 Occurrences)
...Healer (2 Occurrences). ... Isaiah 3:7 In that day he will cry out, saying, I will
not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. ...
/h/healer.htm - 7k

Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... The healer himself is a person of great faith (Matthew 17:19 f), while his power
of inspiring the patient with confidence points to the possession of strong ...
/g/gifts.htm - 61k

Raphael
... of the Enoch books there are "four presences," and Raphael is one of them (En
40:9; 54:6). In the first of these passages Raphael is the healer; in the second ...
/r/raphael.htm - 8k

Asa (54 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASA. a'-sa ('aca', "healer"; Asa): (1) A king
of Judah, the third one after the separation of Judah and Israel. ...
/a/asa.htm - 29k

Mantle (35 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 3:7 in that day shall he lift up his voice, saying, I will not be a healer;
for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: ye shall not make me ruler of ...
/m/mantle.htm - 21k

Teaching (372 Occurrences)
... 1. Christ's Life: In the New Testament we find that Jesus is pre-eminently the
teacher, though He was also preacher and healer (Matthew 4:23). ...
/t/teaching.htm - 62k

Teacher (103 Occurrences)
... 1. Christ's Life: In the New Testament we find that Jesus is pre-eminently the
teacher, though He was also preacher and healer (Matthew 4:23). ...
/t/teacher.htm - 61k

Teach (172 Occurrences)
... 1. Christ's Life: In the New Testament we find that Jesus is pre-eminently the
teacher, though He was also preacher and healer (Matthew 4:23). ...
/t/teach.htm - 65k

Cloak (73 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 3:7 In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my
house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. ...
/c/cloak.htm - 30k

Resources
Are faith healers for real? Does a faith healer heal with the same power as Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

How does psychology work with Christian counseling? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian rehab? When should a Christian consider going to rehab? | GotQuestions.org

Healer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Concordance
Healer (2 Occurrences)

Exodus 15:26
and He said: 'If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that healeth thee.'
(See NAS RSV)

Isaiah 3:7
In that day he will cry out, saying, I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing. You shall not make me ruler of the people.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Healer

Related Terms

Healers (1 Occurrence)

Healer (2 Occurrences)

Healest (1 Occurrence)

Healed
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