Heal (To) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words
Usage Number: 1
Strong's Number: H7495
Original Word: rapa’
Usage Notes: "to heal." This word is common to both ancient and modern Hebrew. It occurs approximately 65 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, appearing first in Gen. 20:17: "… God healed Abimelech."
"To heal" may be described as "restoring to normal," an act which God typically performs. Thus, appeals to God for healing are common: "…O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed" (Psa. 6:2); "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed …" (Jer. 17:14). Not only are human diseases "healed," (2 Kings 2:22); salt water is "healed" or made fresh (Ezek. 47:8); even pottery is "healed" or restored (Jer. 19:11).
A large number of the uses of rapa’ express the "healing " of the nation, such "healing" not only involves God's grace and forgiveness, but also the nation's repentance. Divine discipline leads to repentance and "healing": "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us…" (Hos. 6:1). God promises: "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord…" (Jer. 30:17). Even foreign cities and powers can know God's "healing" if they repent (Jer. 51:8-9).
False prophets are condemned because they deal only with the symptoms and not with the deep spiritual hurts of the people: "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jer. 6:14; also Jer. 8:11).