רָפָא
Properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does רָפָא (rāpāʾ) mean in the Bible?
רָפָא (rāpāʾ) is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure". properly, to mend (by stitching), i. Healing reveals God’s restorative purpose beyond judgment.
Meaning
Physical restoration through binding or stitching extends metaphorically to spiritual and covenantal healing of broken relationship.
properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure BDB: heal Usage: cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, × thoroughly, make whole. See 7503.
Why This Word Matters
Healing reveals God’s restorative purpose beyond judgment. Hosea 14:4-8
Describes God’s restorative intervention. Hosea 6:1-3
Describes divine restoration of apostasy. Hosea 7:1-7
Reveals restorative purpose of discipline. Isaiah 19:18-22
Divine mercy precedes exposure of sin. Isaiah 38:1-8
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 9×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 11×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 6×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Showing 8 of 69 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.