Exodus 15:26

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.

And said {H559}, If thou wilt diligently {H8085} hearken {H8085} to the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} thy God {H430}, and wilt do {H6213} that which is right {H3477} in his sight {H5869}, and wilt give ear {H238} to his commandments {H4687}, and keep {H8104} all his statutes {H2706}, I will put {H7760} none of these diseases {H4245} upon thee, which I have brought {H7760} upon the Egyptians {H4714}: for I am the LORD {H3068} that healeth {H7495} thee.

He said, "If you will listen intently to the voice of ADONAI your God, do what he considers right, pay attention to his mitzvot and observe his laws, I will not afflict you with any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians; because I am ADONAI your healer."

saying, β€œIf 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.”

and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee.

Commentary

Context

Exodus 15:26 stands at a pivotal moment in the Israelites' journey immediately after their miraculous deliverance through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31) and the triumphant Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19). They had just encountered their first major challenge in the wilderness: bitter waters at Marah (Exodus 15:23-24), which God miraculously made sweet. This verse serves as God's immediate covenantal instruction and promise given after this provision, setting the stage for the more extensive laws to be revealed at Mount Sinai. It is a foundational declaration of the relationship God desires with His people, emphasizing obedience as a prerequisite for divine blessing and protection.

Key Themes

  • Covenantal Obedience: The verse explicitly links God's blessings to Israel's diligent hearkening, doing right, and keeping His commandments and statutes. This highlights the conditional nature of the Old Covenant, where obedience was central to receiving God's favor and protection.
  • Divine Protection from Disease: God promises to protect His people from the very diseases He inflicted upon the Egyptians during the plagues (Exodus 7-12). This demonstrates His power and His specific care for Israel, distinguishing them from their former oppressors.
  • God as Healer (Jehovah Rapha): The profound declaration, "for I am the LORD that healeth thee," introduces one of God's significant covenant names: Jehovah Rapha (or Yahweh Ropheka in Hebrew). Rapha means "to heal, restore, make whole." This reveals God's character not just as a physical healer, but as one who restores well-being, wholeness, and spiritual health.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the LORD that healeth thee" is transliterated from the Hebrew as Yahweh Ropheka or Jehovah Rapha. The word Rapha (רָ׀ָא) is a verb meaning "to heal, to cure, to make whole." It encompasses not only physical healing but also spiritual and emotional restoration, signifying God's comprehensive ability to bring wholeness to His people. The repeated emphasis on "hearken," "do that which is right," "give ear," and "keep" (shamoa tishma in Hebrew, "diligently hearken") underscores the importance of attentive, continuous obedience rather than mere passive listening.

Practical Application

While the specific covenant context of Exodus 15:26 applies to ancient Israel, the underlying principles resonate deeply for believers today. God's character as Jehovah Rapha, the Healer, remains unchanged (Malachi 3:6). This verse encourages us to:

  • Trust in God's Providence: Acknowledge that God is the ultimate source of health and well-being, both physically and spiritually.
  • Embrace Obedience: Recognize that a life aligned with God's will and commandments often leads to spiritual blessing and protection, even if the "diseases" manifest differently in a modern context. While salvation is by grace through faith, a life of obedience to God's commands demonstrates love for Him and often results in a more flourishing life.
  • Seek Holistic Healing: Understand that God's healing extends beyond the physical to encompass our emotional, mental, and spiritual health, providing restoration for all our infirmities.

Exodus 15:26 serves as a powerful reminder that our relationship with God is foundational to our well-being, and His character as our Healer is a constant source of hope and trust.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
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Cross-References

  • Psalms 103:3

    Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

  • Deuteronomy 7:15

    And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all [them] that hate thee.

  • Exodus 23:25

    And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

  • Psalms 41:3

    The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

  • Psalms 41:4

    I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

  • Psalms 147:3

    He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

  • Jeremiah 33:6

    Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
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