divine healing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowReligious/Spiritual, Literary, Metaphorical
Quick answer
What does “divine healing” mean?
A supernatural cure or restoration of health, believed to be brought about by the direct intervention of God or a divine power.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A supernatural cure or restoration of health, believed to be brought about by the direct intervention of God or a divine power.
The religious or spiritual concept or practice of seeking or receiving health benefits, often miraculous, attributed to divine agency rather than medical science. Can also be used metaphorically to describe something that feels profoundly restorative.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The phrase is used identically in religious communities in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more likely to be associated with established Christian traditions (e.g., Church of England, Catholicism) in UK contexts, while in the US it may have stronger associations with non-denominational evangelical and televangelist movements.
Frequency
Equally low in general discourse, but relatively higher frequency within specific faith communities in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “divine healing” in a Sentence
[Subject] believes in/experiences/ministers divine healing.The congregation prayed for divine healing for [Recipient].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “divine healing” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – not a verb. Use 'heal divinely' or 'heal by divine means'.
American English
- N/A – not a verb. Use 'perform divine healing'.
adverb
British English
- N/A – no direct adverb. Use 'through divine healing'.
American English
- N/A – no direct adverb. Use 'by means of divine healing'.
adjective
British English
- The service had a divine-healing focus.
- She attended a divine-healing ministry.
American English
- They are part of a divine-healing church.
- He gave a divine-healing testimony.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, anthropology, and medical humanities papers discussing intersections of faith and health.
Everyday
Rare outside of religious discussion. Figurative use: 'That holiday was divine healing for my soul.'
Technical
Not a medical term. Used as a defined concept in pastoral care and theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “divine healing”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “divine healing”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “divine healing”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He divine-healed me' – incorrect). It is a noun phrase. Correct: 'He performed divine healing' or 'I was healed by divine intervention.'
- Confusing it with 'alternative medicine' – divine healing is explicitly theological.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often used interchangeably, but 'divine healing' specifically emphasises God as the direct agent, while 'faith healing' can place more emphasis on the believer's faith as the catalyst, and can sometimes be used in a broader, non-specific spiritual context.
Many religions have concepts of miraculous healing, but the term 'divine healing' is predominantly Christian. Beliefs about its frequency, mechanism, and relationship to medicine vary widely between and within denominations.
Yes, but only figuratively. For example, 'Listening to that music was divine healing for my stress' means it was profoundly soothing and restorative, not literally a miracle.
In a theological sense, there isn't a direct single opposite. Conceptually, it is contrasted with 'medical/science-based healing', 'secular treatment', or sometimes 'natural recovery'.
A supernatural cure or restoration of health, believed to be brought about by the direct intervention of God or a divine power.
Divine healing is usually religious/spiritual, literary, metaphorical in register.
Divine healing: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˌvaɪn ˈhiːlɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˌvaɪn ˈhilɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A touch of the divine (in a healing context)”
- “Healing from on high”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'divine' (heavenly) doctor whose medicine is prayer, not pills.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOD IS A PHYSICIAN; PRAYER/FAITH IS MEDICINE; ILLNESS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'divine healing' LEAST likely to be used?