Original Word: אֲרוּכָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: aruwkah
Pronunciation: ah-roo-KAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-oo-kaw')
KJV: health, made up, perfected
NASB: health, repair, recovery
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of H748 (אָרַך - prolong) (in the sense of restoring to soundness)]

1. wholeness (literally or figuratively)

health, made up, perfected

Or rarukah {ar-oo-kaw'}; feminine passive participle of 'arak (in the sense of restoring to soundness); wholeness (literally or figuratively) -- health, made up, perfected.

Word Origin
from arak
Definition
healing, restoration
NASB Translation
health (3), recovery (1), repair (2).

אֲרוּכָה noun feminine healing of a wound, restoration (properly the new flesh that grows at the wounded spot, Arabic ; Fi^{JPh xiii. 114-6}, so Fl De on Isaiah 58:8; see also Di) — ׳א2Chronicles 24:13; Nehemiah 4:1; אֲרֻכָה Jeremiah 30:17; Jeremiah 33:6; construct אֲרֻכַת Jeremiah 8:22; אֲרֻכָֽתְךָ Isaiah 58:8; — alwaysfig.

a. healing, restoration of Israel Isaiah 58:8, here with verb צָמַח, elsewhere with עָלָה; Jeremiah 8:22 ("" רָפָא), with עָלָה Hiph`il, subject ׳י, Jeremiah 30:17; Jeremiah 33:6 ("" id.)

b. restoration of walls of temple 2 Chronicles 24:13, of walls of Jerusalem (compare Fi above) Nehemiah 4:1 (both with עלה).

Meaning and Nuance

אֲרוּכָה (ʾărûkâ) denotes the process or state of healing, restoration, or mending—whether of a body, a structure, or an entire community. The term evokes the picture of a wound knit together or a breach closed, emphasizing not merely relief but full wholeness. Because it comes from a root connected with length or prolongation, the word suggests a complete, durable recovery.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. 2 Chronicles 24:13 – describes the physical repair of the temple: “They restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it.”
2. Nehemiah 4:7 – reports that Jerusalem’s wall “was being rebuilt and the gaps were closing,” provoking opposition.
3. Isaiah 58:8 – links corporate obedience and charity with divine blessing: “Your healing will come quickly.”
4. Jeremiah 8:22 – laments the absence of recovery: “Why has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?”
5. Jeremiah 30:17 – promises national renewal: “I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD.”
6. Jeremiah 33:6 – expands the promise to citywide restoration: “I will bring to it health and healing… and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.”

Physical and Structural Repair

The first two occurrences focus on tangible reconstruction. In 2 Chronicles, the temple—heart of Israel’s worship—receives “אֲרוּכָה,” portraying skilled craftsmen reversing years of neglect. Nehemiah applies the same word to shattered walls, presenting civic defense as a form of healing. Together they illustrate that biblical “healing” is not confined to flesh; God’s people, spaces, and institutions may all bear wounds needing repair.

Spiritual and National Restoration

Isaiah 58 frames healing within covenant faithfulness. Acts of justice and mercy unblock the channels through which God’s wholeness flows. Jeremiah amplifies the theme. In 8:22, the prophet mourns a nation spiritually gangrenous; in 30:17 and 33:6 he records God’s sovereign pledge to reverse that condition. The shift from question to promise anchors Judah’s hope, showing that even self-inflicted maladies are not beyond divine remedy.

Theological Threads

1. Divine Initiative – In every context, ultimate healing issues from the LORD. Human hands may apply the plaster, yet God supplies the life that knits the wound.
2. Holistic Salvation – Scripture refuses to separate the inner from the outer. Broken masonry, diseased flesh, and fractured covenant bonds are all objects of God’s redeeming concern.
3. Conditional Blessing – Isaiah’s link between repentance and “healing” warns that sin obstructs recovery, while humble obedience accelerates it.
4. Eschatological Hope – Jeremiah’s oracles project beyond near-term return from exile to the final peace and truth God will unveil.

Christological Fulfillment

The Old Testament’s longing for אֲרוּכָה converges in Jesus Christ. His ministry reveals the Servant who “healed many” (Mark 1:34) and whose atoning wounds ensure believers that “by His stripes you are healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Physical miracles authenticated His authority, but the cross delivered the deeper cure for sin that Jeremiah anticipated. The empty tomb seals the assurance of comprehensive restoration—body, soul, and cosmos.

Ministry Implications

• Proclamation – Preach God’s sufficiency to mend lives, homes, churches, and cities.
• Intercession – Pray Jeremiah 30:17 over individuals and communities, trusting the same covenant God.
• Compassion – Like the builders of 2 Chronicles and Nehemiah, engage in practical acts that close society’s breaches.
• Discipleship – Encourage holiness and justice, for Isaiah 58 teaches that ethical living invites swift healing.

Conclusion

אֲרוּכָה embodies the Bible’s expansive vision of healing: a divine work that restores what sin and time have ruined. Whether stones in Jerusalem or hearts estranged from God, nothing lies beyond the reach of the LORD who still speaks, “I will restore your health and heal your wounds.”

אֲרֻכַ֖ת אֲרֻכָ֥ה אֲרוּכָ֛ה אֲרוּכָה֙ ארוכה ארכה ארכת וַאֲרֻכָתְךָ֖ וארכתך ’ă·ru·ḵāh ’ă·rū·ḵāh ’ă·ru·ḵaṯ ’ăruḵāh ’ărūḵāh ’ăruḵaṯ aruChah aruChat vaaruchateCha wa’ăruḵāṯəḵā wa·’ă·ru·ḵā·ṯə·ḵāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts