θεραπεύω

The Greek verb *therapeuō* broadly means to serve or care for, encompassing a range of attendance or ministration. In its New Testament usage, it most frequently appears in the context of healing: physical ailments, casting out demons, and curing various diseases. This prevalence of "healing" reflects the significant role of miraculous healing in Jesus' ministry and the early church, demonstrating divine power and compassion. The term can also carry the sense of waiting on or ministering to someone, implying a dedicated service. While the primary emphasis in the New Testament is on physical healing, the underlying concept of attentive care remains: whether bringing restoration from sickness or providing diligent service.

Beyond physical healing, *therapeuō* can occasionally denote a more general sense of serving or rendering religious service, as seen in its use concerning the worship of God. This points to a broader application of the term beyond miraculous cures, touching on the concept of devotion and attending to divine needs, although God, of course, has no needs. However, the vast majority of its occurrences in the New Testament are directly tied to the restoration of health and the alleviation of suffering. The semantic range thus moves from general service to specific medical care and, in rare instances, even to religious devotion. Understanding *therapeuō* primarily as "to heal" within the New Testament context captures its most frequent and theologically significant usage.