יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ
Yahweh Rofekha / Jehovah Rapha
“The Lord Who Heals”
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ, Yahweh Rofekha) is a Hebrew name meaning “the lord who heals,” pronounced “yah-WEH ro-fe-KHA.” From YHWH (the LORD) + רֹפֵא (rofeh, 'healer/physician'). The root ר-פ-א (rapha) means 'to heal, to cure, to restore.' The form רֹפְאֶךָ (rofekha) means 'your healer' — addressed directly to the people of Israel.
| Hebrew | יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Yahweh Rofekha |
| English Name | Jehovah Rapha |
| Meaning | The Lord Who Heals |
| Pronunciation | yah-WEH ro-fe-KHA |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Category | Names of God |
| Variants | Yahweh Rofeh, Jehovah-Rapha, The LORD Your Healer |
| Key Scripture | Exodus 15:26 |
Three days after crossing the Red Sea, Israel found water — but it was bitter and undrinkable. The people grumbled, and God instructed Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water, making it sweet. Then God made a declaration that would echo through all of Scripture: 'I am the LORD who heals you' — YHWH Rofekha, 'Jehovah Rapha' (Exodus 15:26). This was not merely a promise of physical healing but a revelation of divine identity: healing is not just something God does; it is who He is. The root 'rapha' means 'to heal, to restore, to make whole,' and it encompasses physical, emotional, spiritual, and communal restoration.
Key Scripture: Exodus 15:26
“He said, 'If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes... I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.'”
What Does Jehovah Rapha Mean in Hebrew?
The root ר-פ-א (resh-pe-aleph) means 'to heal, to make whole.' The participle רֹפֵא (rofeh) means 'healer/physician.' The possessive suffix -ekha (your) makes it personal: 'your healer.' In modern Hebrew, 'rofeh' is still the word for doctor/physician, and 'refuah' means healing/medicine — all from this same biblical root.
Jehovah Rapha in the Bible
God revealed Himself as YHWH Rofekha at Marah (Exodus 15:26), making healing part of His covenantal relationship with Israel. The concept extends throughout Scripture: God heals disease (Psalm 103:3), broken hearts (Psalm 147:3), backsliding (Hosea 14:4), and the land itself (2 Chronicles 7:14). Healing is woven into the fabric of God's identity.
Cultural Context & Modern Usage
The Hebrew word 'rofeh' (healer), derived from this divine name, is used in modern Hebrew as the everyday word for 'doctor' or 'physician.' The famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides was both a rabbi and a physician — embodying the connection between spiritual wisdom and physical healing that Jehovah Rapha represents.
Jehovah Rapha is widely known in Christian healing ministries and worship. The name is frequently invoked in prayer for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Many churches and ministries use the name in their organizational titles.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jehovah Rapha
What does Jehovah Rapha mean in Hebrew?
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ, Yahweh Rofekha) means “The Lord Who Heals” in Hebrew. From YHWH (the LORD) + רֹפֵא (rofeh, 'healer/physician'). The root ר-פ-א (rapha) means 'to heal, to cure, to restore.' The form רֹפְאֶךָ (rofekha) means 'your healer' — addressed directly to the people of Israel.
How do you pronounce Jehovah Rapha in Hebrew?
The Hebrew pronunciation of Jehovah Rapha is “yah-WEH ro-fe-KHA.” The name is written יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ in Hebrew script.
What does Jehovah Rapha mean in Hebrew?
Jehovah Rapha (יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ, YHWH Rofekha) means 'The LORD Who Heals You' in Hebrew. The root 'rapha' (ר-פ-א) means 'to heal, restore, make whole.' God declared this as part of His identity at Marah after the Exodus: 'I am the LORD who heals you' (Exodus 15:26). It reveals that healing is not just something God does — it's who He is.
What kind of healing does Jehovah Rapha include?
The biblical concept of 'rapha' encompasses all forms of healing: physical disease (Psalm 103:3), emotional wounds ('He heals the brokenhearted,' Psalm 147:3), spiritual backsliding (Hosea 14:4), and even national restoration ('I will heal their land,' 2 Chronicles 7:14). It describes total restoration — making whole what was broken in any dimension of life.
Is 'rofeh' (doctor) related to Jehovah Rapha?
Yes — the modern Hebrew word 'rofeh' (רוֹפֵא, doctor/physician) comes directly from the same root as Rapha (ר-פ-א, to heal). Every time a Hebrew speaker says 'rofeh,' they are using a word that traces back to God's self-revelation as Israel's healer. The noun 'refuah' (medicine/healing) and the common wish 'refuah shlemah' (complete healing) also derive from this root.
Sources & Further Study
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