θεραπεύω
therapeuō
to serve/heal
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word θεραπεύω (therapeuō) is a verb that encompasses two primary meanings: to serve and to heal. This dual definition is reflected in its 44 occurrences throughout the Bible. In its service-oriented sense, therapeuō implies a commitment to care for and attend to the needs of others. Conversely, when used to describe healing, it denotes a restoration of physical or emotional well-being. The range of usage for therapeuō is diverse, appearing in various contexts such as worship, medicine, and everyday life. In the New Testament, Jesus is often depicted as a healer, using therapeuō to describe his actions (e.g., Matthew 8:16, Luke 9:11). This verb also highlights the importance of compassionate care and service in the lives of believers, as seen in examples like Matthew 25:36, where Jesus commands his followers to serve others. The significance of therapeuō lies in its emphasis on the interconnectedness of service and healing. By attending to the needs of others, individuals can experience a deeper sense of restoration and wholeness. This verb encourages a holistic approach to care, recognizing that physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are intertwined.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
44 total occurrences across the text
And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?” that they might accuse him.
Matthew 4:23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Matthew 4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
Matthew 8:7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Matthew 8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;
Matthew 9:35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Matthew 10:1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Matthew 10:8Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.
Matthew 12:15Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
Matthew 12:22Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Matthew 14:14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
Matthew 15:30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down at his feet. He healed them,
Matthew 17:16So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
Matthew 17:18Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.
Matthew 19:2Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there.
Matthew 21:14The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
Mark 1:34He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 3:2They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
Mark 3:15and to have authority to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:
Mark 6:5He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.
Mark 6:13They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
Luke 13:14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
Luke 13:14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
Luke 4:23He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’ ”
Luke 4:40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
Luke 5:15But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luke 6:7The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him.
Luke 6:18as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed.
Luke 8:2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
Luke 8:43A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any
Luke 9:1He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
Luke 9:6They departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News and healing everywhere.
Luke 10:9Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
Luke 14:3Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
John 5:10So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
Acts 4:14Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Acts 5:16The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
Acts 8:7For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
Acts 17:25He isn’t served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.
Acts 28:9Then when this was done, the rest also who had diseases in the island came and were cured.
Mark 3:10For he had healed many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
Luke 7:21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
Revelation 13:3One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast.
Revelation 13:12He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.