### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἴασις (íasis, `{{G2392}}`) is derived from the verb ἰάομαι (iaomai, `{{G2390}}`), which means "to heal, cure, restore." Consequently, ἴασις refers to the *act* of curing, the process of healing, or the resulting state of being healed—a complete and effective remedy. It emphasizes the successful outcome of a restorative process, signifying a return to health or wholeness. While related to terms like θεραπεία (therapeia, `{{G2322}}`), which can refer to service or care (including medical treatment), ἴασις specifically highlights the *cure* itself, the definitive restoration from illness or infirmity. Its semantic range is tightly focused on the miraculous or divine aspect of healing, rather than human medical intervention.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἴασις appears four times in the New Testament, each instance underscoring a divine or miraculous act of healing:
* **[[Luke 13:32]]**: Jesus declares, "Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures [ἴασις] today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." Here, ἴασις refers to the miraculous acts of healing performed by Jesus, which are inextricably linked to His divine authority and His mission to inaugurate the Kingdom of God. The cures are presented as undeniable evidence of His power over spiritual and physical maladies.
* **[[Acts 4:22]]**: Describing the man healed at the Beautiful Gate by Peter and John, the text states, "For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing [ἴασις] was showed." This verse highlights the undeniable and public nature of the healing, which served as a powerful testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the efficacy of His name. The ἴασις here is a clear demonstration of divine power working through the apostles.
* **[[Revelation 22:2]]**: In the vision of the New Jerusalem, John writes concerning the Tree of Life, "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing [ἴασις] of the nations." This occurrence broadens the scope of ἴασις significantly. It is not merely individual physical healing but a universal, eschatological restoration. The "healing of the nations" implies a complete and holistic restoration from all effects of sin and brokenness—spiritual, physical, social, and ecological—in the new creation.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **ἰάομαι (iaomai, `{{G2390}}`)**: The verbal root of ἴασις, meaning "to heal, cure, make whole." This verb is frequently used in the New Testament to describe Jesus' acts of healing.
* **θεραπεία (therapeia, `{{G2322}}`)**: While also translated "healing," this word often carries the connotation of "service," "care," or "treatment." Unlike ἴασις which focuses on the *cure* or *outcome*, θεραπεία can refer to the *process* of care or the act of ministering to the sick.
* **σῴζω (sōzō, `{{G4982}}`)**: "To save, deliver, preserve, make whole." This verb has a broader theological scope, encompassing spiritual salvation, physical healing, and deliverance from danger. Physical healing is frequently presented as a manifestation of God's saving power.
* **ὑγίεια (hygieia, `{{G5198}}`)**: "Health, soundness." This noun describes the desired *state* of well-being that is the result of ἴασις.
* **δύναμις (dynamis, `{{G1411}}`)**: "Power, miraculous power." Miracles of healing are often referred to as δυνάμεις (powers/miracles) because they are demonstrations of divine power. ἴασις is the blessed *effect* of such δύναμις.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἴασις is profound, pointing to God's character and redemptive plan:
* **Divine Prerogative and Authority**: The consistent use of ἴασις in connection with Jesus and His apostles underscores that ultimate healing is a divine act. It is not merely human medical intervention but a manifestation of God's sovereign power over sickness, disease, and demonic oppression. This highlights God's unique authority over life and death.
* **Sign of the Kingdom of God**: Jesus' acts of ἴασις were not isolated events but powerful signs that the Kingdom of God had drawn near. They demonstrated that God's reign was actively breaking into the world, reversing the effects of the Fall and bringing restoration in anticipation of the new creation.
* **Holistic Restoration and Eschatological Hope**: The ultimate vision in [[Revelation 22:2]] expands ἴασις from individual physical cures to a comprehensive, cosmic restoration. The "healing of the nations" by the leaves of the Tree of Life signifies the complete eradication of all brokenness—physical, spiritual, social, and environmental—in the perfected new heavens and new earth. It offers a profound hope for universal well-being and the full realization of God's redemptive purposes.
* **God's Compassion and Power**: The concept of ἴασις reveals God's deep compassion for suffering humanity and His omnipotent power to intervene and restore. It testifies to His nature as the Great Physician, who not only cares for His creation but possesses the ultimate capacity to bring about complete healing and wholeness.
### Summary
The Greek term ἴασις (íasis, `{{G2392}}`) precisely denotes the act of curing or the state of being healed, emphasizing a complete and effective restoration. Rooted in ἰάομαι (`{{G2390}}`, "to heal"), its four New Testament occurrences consistently highlight divine or miraculous intervention. In the Gospels and Acts (e.g., [[Luke 13:32]], [[Acts 4:22]]), ἴασις signifies the powerful, supernatural cures performed by Jesus and His apostles, serving as irrefutable signs of God's sovereign power and the inaugurated Kingdom. Most profoundly, [[Revelation 22:2]] extends ἴασις to an ultimate, cosmic scale, depicting the leaves of the Tree of Life bringing "healing to the nations," symbolizing a comprehensive, eschatological restoration from all forms of brokenness—physical, spiritual, and communal—in the new creation. Thus, ἴασις is a potent theological term, testifying to God's compassionate nature, His absolute power over illness and death, and His ultimate design for a perfectly restored and whole creation.