Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

JEREMIAH 17:14KJV
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Jeremiah 17:14 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 17:14 mean?

Jeremiah 17:14 is a prayer where the prophet Jeremiah asks the LORD to heal and save him, expressing confidence that only God can truly restore and deliver. Jeremiah declares that the LORD is his source of praise, showing his trust and gratitude even in a difficult time.

Jeremiah is speaking directly to God during a period of personal and national crisis. He feels the weight of his calling and the hostility of those around him. By asking for healing and salvation, Jeremiah is admitting his own weakness and dependence on God’s power, not just for physical help but for spiritual and emotional restoration as well.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:14

  • Heal (רָפָא, raphaʾ) and healed (רָפָא, raphaʾ): This Hebrew word means to restore to health or wholeness. Jeremiah’s use of it shows he is seeking more than just relief from illness—he wants complete restoration from God.
  • Save (יָשַׁע, yashaʿ) and saved (יָשַׁע, yashaʿ): This word often means to deliver or rescue, not just in a physical sense but also from danger or trouble. Jeremiah’s plea is for God’s intervention in every area of his life.
  • Praise (תְּהִלָּה, tehillah): This word refers to praise or song of thanksgiving. By calling God his “praise,” Jeremiah is saying that God is the reason for his hope and gratitude, even before the answer comes.

Why Jeremiah 17:14 matters

  • Jeremiah 17:14 shows that even a prophet needs God’s help and is not self-sufficient, which can correct the idea that spiritual leaders are always strong or untroubled.
  • The verse highlights the personal relationship Jeremiah has with God, making his faith both honest and vulnerable, not just formal or ritualistic.
  • This prayer ties into the wider context of Jeremiah 17, where trust in God is contrasted with trust in human strength, emphasizing that true healing and salvation come only from the LORD.

Where else these words appear

“praise” Hebrew H8416 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • Psalms 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
  • Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

“Heal” Hebrew H7495 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
  • 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
  • Jeremiah 3:22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.