But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Bible Verses About Healing
Healing in the Bible is broader than physical recovery. Isaiah 53:5 — 'by his wounds we are healed' — is a prophecy about atonement and spiritual restoration as much as physical health. Psalm 147:3 says God 'heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,' a promise that encompasses emotional and relational pain. Biblical healing is wholeness: shalom — a Hebrew word meaning not just the absence of sickness but the presence of everything that makes life complete.
The New Testament records Jesus healing everyone who came to him during his earthly ministry — blind, lame, sick, demon-oppressed. James 5:14–15 instructs the church to pray for the sick with anointing. At the same time, Paul prayed three times for his 'thorn in the flesh' and was told 'my grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Bible holds together both the promise of healing and the reality that not all healing comes in this life.
But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”
And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
saying, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and pay attention to His commands, and keep all His statutes, then I will not bring on you any of the diseases I inflicted on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took on our infirmities and carried our diseases.”
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
Praying for Healing
James 5:14–15 gives a straightforward instruction: call the elders, anoint with oil, pray in faith. Do not neglect this communal practice. At the same time, bring your specific request honestly to God (Philippians 4:6). Hold the tension the Bible itself holds: God heals, God is able, and God's grace is sufficient when the answer is 'not yet' or 'not in this way.' Both Psalms 22 and 23 belong in the same Bible — the cry of abandonment and the psalm of peace.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healing
What does 'by his stripes we are healed' mean (Isaiah 53:5)?
Isaiah 53:5 — 'by his wounds we are healed' — is a messianic prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. In its fullest meaning it refers to spiritual healing: atonement for sin, reconciliation with God, and restoration of the soul. 1 Peter 2:24 quotes this verse in the context of sin being removed ('he himself bore our sins'). Physical healing is often included in its scope, but the primary reference is to the whole-person restoration Jesus accomplished through his suffering.
Does God still heal today?
Most Christians affirm that God heals today, though interpretations vary on how and how frequently. James 5:14–16 instructs the church to pray for healing, suggesting it is an expected part of Christian community. Acts 10:38 describes Jesus healing all who were under the power of the devil. Many Christians have experienced healings they attribute to God's intervention. Others have prayed faithfully and not received physical healing — and Scripture addresses that reality too (2 Corinthians 12:8–9).
What is the best Bible verse for healing a broken heart?
Psalm 147:3 — 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds' — is direct and comforting. Psalm 34:18 — 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted' — adds the dimension of nearness in pain. For overall restoration, Isaiah 61:1–3 is beautiful: it speaks of binding up the brokenhearted, releasing captives, and bestowing a crown of beauty instead of ashes.