OlivePress
Pressing the Word of God for Deeper Understanding.
Greek · G2323 · unreviewed

θεραπεύω

To serve/heal

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

θεραπεύω G2323
Pronunciation therapeúō

What does θεραπεύω (therapeúō) mean in the Bible?

θεραπεύω (therapeúō) is a Greek word meaning "to serve/heal". θεραπεύω [in LXX for יָשַׁב, etc. Demonstrates tangible expressions of kingdom mercy. This term runs through the canonical themes of Kingdom.

Full entry for θεραπεύω (G2323) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to serve/heal
Extended definition

To heal or cure, often emphasizing therapeutic treatment rather than instantaneous miraculous restoration.

1to do service, serve: with accusative of person(s), pass., Act.17:25.
2As medical term, to treat (MM, Exp., xv), cure, heal: Mat.12:10, Mrk.6:5, Luk.6:7, al.; with accusative of person(s), Mat.4:24, Mrk.1:34, al.; before ἀπό, Luk.5:15 6:18 7:21 8:2, 43; θ. νόσον (μαλακίαν), Mat.4:23, al SYN: ἰάομαι (see Field, Notes, 60; MM, Exp., l.with)
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Demonstrates tangible expressions of kingdom mercy. Luke 14:1–6
Highlights restoration as central to Sabbath purpose. Luke 4:38–44
Shows ongoing compassionate ministry. Mark 1:29–34
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Aorist Present Imperfect Future Perfect
Voices
Active Passive
Indicative states a fact or reality 26×
Aorist Active Matt 4:24 · Matt 8:16 · Matt 12:15 · Matt 12:22 · Matt 14:14 · Matt 15:30 · Matt 19:2 · Matt 21:14 · Mark 1:34 · Mark 3:10 · Mark 6:5 · Luke 7:21 · Luke 13:14 13×
Aorist Passive Matt 17:18 · Rev 13:3 · Rev 13:12 · Acts 8:7 4×
Imperfect Passive Luke 6:18 · Acts 5:16 · Acts 28:9 3×
Future Active Matt 8:7 · Mark 3:2 2×
Imperfect Active Mark 6:13 · Luke 4:40 2×
Present Active Luke 6:7 1×
Present Passive Acts 17:25 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 7×
Present Active Matt 10:1 · Matt 12:10 · Luke 9:1 3×
Aorist Active Matt 17:16 · Luke 14:3 2×
Present Passive Luke 5:15 1×
Aorist Passive Luke 8:43 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 6×
Present Active Matt 4:23 · Matt 9:35 · Luke 9:6 3×
Perfect Passive Luke 8:2 · John 5:10 · Acts 4:14 3×
Imperative command or strong request 4×
Present Active Matt 10:8 · Luke 10:9 2×
Aorist Active Luke 4:23 1×
Present Passive Luke 13:14 1×
43 total occurrences across all forms in the biblical text Morphology: MorphGNT SBLGNT — CC BY-SA 3.0
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 41 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 17 ongoing 2 prospective 2 imperative 4 background 5 infinitive 7 participle 4
Tense
aorist 21 present 11 imperfect 5 perfect 2 future 2
Voice
active 28 passive 13
Mood
indicative 26 infinitive 7 participle 4 imperative 4
NT Occurrences
Matthew 4:23 θεραπεύων present active participle participle Matthew 4:24 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 8:16 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 8:7 θεραπεύσω future active indicative prospective Matthew 9:35 θεραπεύων present active participle participle Matthew 10:1 θεραπεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 10:8 θεραπεύετε present active imperative imperative Matthew 12:10 θεραπεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 12:15 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 12:22 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 14:14 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 15:30 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 17:16 θεραπεῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 17:18 ἐθεραπεύθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 19:2 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 21:14 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 1:34 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 3:10 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 3:2 θεραπεύσει future active indicative prospective Mark 6:13 ἐθεράπευον imperfect active indicative background Mark 6:5 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 4:23 θεράπευσον aorist active imperative imperative Luke 4:40 ἐθεράπευεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 5:15 θεραπεύεσθαι present passive infinitive infinitive Luke 6:18 ἐθεραπεύοντο imperfect passive indicative background Luke 6:7 θεραπεύει present active indicative ongoing Luke 7:21 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 8:43 θεραπευθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Luke 9:1 θεραπεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 10:9 θεραπεύετε present active imperative imperative Luke 13:14 ἐθεράπευσεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 13:14 θεραπεύεσθε present passive imperative imperative Luke 14:3 θεραπεῦσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive John 5:10 τεθεραπευμένῳ perfect passive participle participle Acts 4:14 τεθεραπευμένον perfect passive participle participle Acts 5:16 ἐθεραπεύοντο imperfect passive indicative background Acts 8:7 ἐθεραπεύθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Acts 17:25 θεραπεύεται present passive indicative ongoing Acts 28:9 ἐθεραπεύοντο imperfect passive indicative background Revelation 13:12 ἐθεραπεύθη aorist passive indicative completed +1 more occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes
Kingdom
Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
Luke 14:1–6 θεραπεῦσαι therapeúō Infinitive · Aorist Active
to heal
Luke 4:38–44 ἐθεράπευεν therapeúō Indicative · Imperfect Active
was healing
Mark 1:29–34 θεραπεύω therapeúō Indicative · Aorist Active
to heal or restore
Additional Occurrences
Luke 22:47–53 ἐθεράπευσεν therapeúō
He healed
Mark 1:29–34 θεραπεύω therapeúō
to heal, restore
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.

θεραπεύω · νόσος G2323, G3554
to heal or cure diseases
θεραπεύω · οὐ · ἰσχύω G2323, G3756, G2480
was not able to be healed
θεραπεύω · σάββατον G2323, G4521
he healed on the Sabbath
ἰάομαι · θεραπεύω G2390, G2323
to heal, restore from disease
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Luke 14 — Kingdom Humility, Banquet Mercy, and the Cost of Discipleship Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details