ἴασις (iasis)
iasis
healing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun iasis refers to the act or result of being healed, appearing in only three verses across the New Testament. It is closely related to the verb iaomai, which describes the process of curing. In Luke 13:32, Jesus speaks of completing his work before returning to Jerusalem, using the plural form to refer to the healings he has performed. This usage highlights the tangible, physical restoration that marked his ministry.
In Acts, the term carries significant weight in describing the power available to the early church. In Acts 4:22 and 4:30, it appears alongside requests for signs and wonders, linking healing directly to the authority granted by God through Jesus. The word underscores that these cures were not merely medical improvements but divine interventions confirming the apostles' message. While synonyms like therapeia exist, iasis often focuses on the outcome—the state of being made whole—rather than the method.
Its root connects to the idea of bringing health or safety. The scarcity of the word in the New Testament suggests it was reserved for moments where the healing served as a clear sign of God's presence. Translators typically render it simply as "healing" or "cure," capturing the straightforward nature of the term without adding theological complexity beyond what the context provides.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word iasis points to the tangible result of God’s care: a person made whole. In Luke 13:32, Jesus describes His ministry as casting out demons and performing cures. This shows that healing is not an abstract idea but a real, physical restoration that marks God’s presence among us. It reminds us that God cares about our bodies as well as our souls.
In Acts 4:22 and 4:30, the early church prayed for this same power to continue through them. The healing of the forty-year-old man was not just a medical improvement; it was a sign confirming the apostles’ message. When we face illness or brokenness, we can look to these verses with hope. God’s power is available to bring restoration, and He invites us to trust in His ability to heal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of healing.1×
- healing1×
- cures1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἴασιν1×
- ἰάσεως.¶1×
- ἰάσεις1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 13:32
He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
Jesus uses this term to describe the tangible, physical cures that marked His ministry before completing His mission.
-
Acts 4:22
For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
This verse highlights the lasting nature of the healing performed on a man who had been ill for over forty years.
-
Acts 4:30
while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
The early church prayed for this power to continue, linking physical healing directly to God’s authority through Jesus.