מַרְפֵּא
𐤌𐤓𐤐𐤀
marpêʼ
H4832 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A means or state of healing, restoration of health, or remedy. מַרְפֵּא refers to something that brings healing, whether a physical medicine or remedy, or the process or result of being healed, including in psychological, social, and moral contexts. It is used both concretely for healing agents or medical cures, and abstractly for the condition or result of being healed (health, soundness, calmness). Occasionally it describes the effect of words or wisdom as producing restoration, tranquility, and well-being.
Semantic Range
healing, cure, remedy, restoration of health, soundness, tranquility, remedy for distress, restoration to wholeness, medicine
Root / Etymology
From the root רפא (to heal, restore, make whole). מַרְפֵּא is a noun formed with the mem-prefix, indicating the place, means, or state relating to the action of the root—thus, 'means of healing,' 'healing,' or 'restoration.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַרְפֵּא is used primarily in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs) to describe both literal healing (physical health and remedy) and metaphorical restoration (peace, tranquility, goodwill, or deliverance from distress). The word is not limited to physical restoration but often extends to psychological and communal states. For instance, a gentle tongue is said to be מַרְפֵּא (Prov 15:4), implying that comforting words can bring healing to relationships or the spirit. In contrast to the English term 'medicine,' which is generally limited to physical ailments, מַרְפֵּא covers a wider range of restorative actions, including those that address social or emotional well-being. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term's range narrows somewhat, more commonly referring to medical healing. The root itself is productive throughout the Semitic languages and is the source for several related terms, including רֹפֵא (physician, healer) and רְפוּאָה (healing, remedy). English translations like 'cure,' 'healing,' or 'remedy' sometimes fail to reflect the full scope of the word's application in the Hebrew Bible, particularly regarding its metaphorical and social connotations. The term was not clearly distinguished from other words for health or well-being in ancient usage, but it does differ from terms such as שָׁלוֹם (shalom), which emphasizes completeness or peace rather than remedy or restoration.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָפָא; properly, curative, i.e. literally (concretely) a medicine, or (abstractly) a cure; figuratively (concretely) deliverance, or (abstractly) placidity; (in-)cure(-able), healing(-lth), remedy, sound, wholesome, yielding.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רפא (r-p-ʾ) — heal, restore, mend, make whole
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3416 | יִרְפְּאֵל | El Heals |
| H7495 | רָפָא | with the healers |
| H7496 | רָפָא | Rephaim giants |
| H7497 | רָפָא | the Rephaite |
| H7498 | רָפָא | Rapha |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4832-01 |
מַרְפֵּ֑א | marepe | HNcmsa |
healing | healing remedy | 12 |
H4832-03 |
וּ/מַרְפֵּ֖א | umarepe | HC/Ncmsa |
and healing | and healing | 3 |
H4832-02 |
מַרְפֵּ֖ה | marepeh | HNcmsa |
of healing | healing remedy | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
16 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4832-02 |
Jeremiah 8:15 | מַרְפֵּ֖ה | marepeh | HNcmsa |
of healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Jeremiah 14:19 | מַרְפֵּ֑א | marepe | HNcmsa |
healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Jeremiah 14:19 | מַרְפֵּ֖א | marepe-2 | HNcmsa |
of healing | healing remedy |
H4832-03 |
Jeremiah 33:6 | וּ/מַרְפֵּ֖א | umarepe | HC/Ncmsa |
and healing | and healing |
H4832-03 |
Malachi 3:20 | וּ/מַרְפֵּ֖א | umarepe | HC/Ncmsa |
and-healing | and healing |
H4832-01 |
Proverbs 4:22 | מַרְפֵּֽא | marepe | HNcmsa |
healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Proverbs 6:15 | מַרְפֵּֽא | marepe | HNcmsa |
healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Proverbs 12:18 | מַרְפֵּֽא | marepe | HNcmsa |
brings healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Proverbs 13:17 | מַרְפֵּֽא | marepe | HNcmsa |
brings healing | healing remedy |
H4832-01 |
Proverbs 14:30 | מַרְפֵּ֑א | marepe | HNcmsa |
is healing | healing remedy |