### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **riphʼûwth**, represented by `{{H7500}}`, means **a cure** or **health**. It appears only **1 time** in the entire Bible, making its single usage in Proverbs particularly significant. Its meaning is derived from its base, רָפָא (rapha), a common root for healing, and in its sole context, it signifies a deep and foundational state of well-being.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The only scriptural appearance of `{{H7500}}` is in [[Proverbs 3:8]], which states, "It shall be **health** to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." In this verse, `riphʼûwth` is presented as a divine promise. It is metaphorically applied to the "navel," symbolizing the center of one's physical being or life source, and is paired with "marrow for the bones," suggesting a thorough and invigorating restoration that permeates the entire person.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of `{{H7500}}` is enriched by the words used alongside it in its single context:
* `{{H8270}}` **shôr** (a string (as twisted ), i.e. (specifically) the umbilical cord (also figuratively, as the centre of strength); navel): This word connects `riphʼûwth` to the very source of life and sustenance. Its use in [[Ezekiel 16:4]] in the context of a newborn whose navel was not cut reinforces its link to foundational life and care.
* `{{H8250}}` **shiqqûwy** (a beverage; moisture, i.e. (figuratively) refreshment; drink, marrow): Used for "marrow" in [[Proverbs 3:8]], it is also translated as "drink" in other contexts, such as the provisions listed in [[Hosea 2:5]]. This highlights the idea of health as a form of deep, internal refreshment.
* `{{H6106}}` **ʻetsem** (a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame; body, bone, [idiom] life, (self-) same, strength, [idiom] very): This word represents the core frame of a person. It can signify strength [[Isaiah 58:11]], deep feeling [[Jeremiah 20:9]], or profound brokenness [[Psalms 51:8]], making health to the bones a deeply significant restoration.
### Theological Significance
Though used only once, the theological implications of `{{H7500}}` are profound when viewed through its context.
* **Holistic Wellness:** By connecting health to the "navel" and "bones," the term moves beyond surface-level healing. It points to a complete wellness that nourishes the center of one's being and strengthens the very structure of one's life.
* **A Divine Cure:** The promise of `riphʼûwth` in Proverbs is not achieved by human effort alone but is presented as a result of reverence for God. It is a form of spiritual, emotional, and physical nourishment that restores the whole person.
* **Restoration from the Core:** The concept of health for the bones `{{H6106}}` is powerful, as bones are elsewhere depicted as dry and lifeless [[Ezekiel 37:4]] or broken by sorrow [[Psalms 51:8]]. Thus, `riphʼûwth` signifies a cure that can bring life and strength to the deepest places of brokenness.
### Summary
In summary, **riphʼûwth** `{{H7500}}`, while rare, provides a powerful image of true health. It is not merely the absence of disease but a positive, restorative cure that invigorates a person from their core. Its singular use in [[Proverbs 3:8]] paints a picture of a foundational wellness—a refreshment to the life source and a strengthening of the very frame—that is presented as a blessing from God.
TRV