Lexical Summary qaddachath: Fever Original Word: קַדַּחַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance burning ague, fever From qadach; inflammation, i.e. Febrile disease -- burning ague, fever. see HEBREW qadach NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qadach Definition fever NASB Translation fever (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs צֹ֫עַר, צ֫וֺעַר proper name, of a location Zoar (understood as insignficance, compare Genesis 19:20); — Σηλωρ, ᵐ5L Σιλωρ, but Genesis 13:10; Jeremiah 48:34 Ζογορ(α); on ᵐ5 compare further LagBN 54 f.: city at southeast end of Dead Sea, צֹעַר Genesis 13:10; Genesis 14:2,8 (both = בֶּלַע) Deuteronomy 34:3; Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:34; צוֺעַר Genesis 19:22,30 (twice in verse); with ה locative, צֹ֫עֲרָה Genesis 19:23 + Jeremiah 48:4 (for ᵑ0 צעוריה), ᵐ5 Ζαλορα, JDMich Ew Gf Gie and others — (compare BuhlGeogr. 271. 274 GASmGeogr.506 f. 678 (App.). קַדַּ֫חַת noun feminine fever; — Deuteronomy 28:22; Leviticus 26:16. Topical Lexicon Biblical Context קַדַּחַת enters Scripture only twice, both times inside covenant-curse catalogues addressed to Israel. In Leviticus 26:16 the LORD forewarns, “I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life”. In Deuteronomy 28:22 the fever reappears among a cluster of agricultural and bodily judgments designed to humble a rebellious nation. The rarity of the word heightens its intensity; it is reserved for passages describing the most grievous physical consequences of covenant infidelity. Covenantal Theology The Mosaic covenant paired obedience with blessing and disobedience with escalating chastisement (Leviticus 26:3-39; Deuteronomy 28:1-68). קַדַּחַת sits within the first stage of that chastisement: personal affliction meant to drive the nation to repentance before harsher measures (sword, exile) are applied (Leviticus 26:14-17). Fever here is not random illness but a divinely sent discipline, underscoring the moral dimension of sickness in the Old Testament economy. The passage teaches the inseparability of personal holiness and national health when Yahweh is Israel’s suzerain. Historical Background Ancient Near Eastern texts often link epidemics to divine displeasure, yet Scripture uniquely situates such scourges inside a relational covenant. Archaeological data from Egypt and Mesopotamia describe malarial and typhoid-like fevers that decimated populations; Israel would have been well aware of these threats. The Torah’s warnings thus communicated through concrete experiences familiar to every agrarian society. Medical Perspective in the Ancient World Without germ theory, fever was observed as both symptom and scourge. It signaled systemic breakdown, could lead to blindness (cf. “destroy your sight,” Leviticus 26:16), and often accompanied famine as malnourished bodies succumbed to infection. The Hebrew term is broader than a single diagnosis; it encompasses smoldering, consuming maladies that shrink the flesh and sap vitality, matching the imagery of “wasting disease.” Theological Implications 1. Divine ownership of the body: The LORD claims authority not only over land and harvest but over the health of His people. Christological Fulfillment Where the Law exposes sin and its penalties, the Gospel reveals their remedy. Jesus’ healing of “every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23) and His specific rebuke of “the fever” in Simon’s house (Luke 4:38-39) display sovereign power over the very curses threatened in the Torah. Matthew applies Isaiah 53:4—“He took our infirmities and bore our diseases”—to Christ’s ministry (Matthew 8:17), indicating that the Messiah absorbs covenant curses to bestow covenant blessings (Galatians 3:13-14). Practical Ministry Applications • Intercession: When illness strikes, believers may petition the Lord who “forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3). Related Biblical Themes and References Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:15; 2 Chronicles 24:20; Psalm 32:3-5; Isaiah 38:1-8; Mark 1:30-31; Acts 28:8. Summary קַדַּחַת represents more than a high temperature; it embodies the covenantal principle that obedience brings life and rebellion invites decay. Yet the very severity of the curse magnifies the glory of the One who “heals the brokenhearted” (Psalm 147:3) and who, by His stripes, provides a sure antidote to both sin and sickness. Forms and Transliterations הַקַּדַּ֔חַת הקדחת וּבַקַּדַּ֜חַת ובקדחת hakkadDachat haq·qad·da·ḥaṯ haqqaddaḥaṯ ū·ḇaq·qad·da·ḥaṯ ūḇaqqaddaḥaṯ uvakkadDachatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 26:16 HEB: הַשַּׁחֶ֣פֶת וְאֶת־ הַקַּדַּ֔חַת מְכַלּ֥וֹת עֵינַ֖יִם NAS: consumption and fever that will waste away KJV: consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume INT: A sudden consumption and fever will waste the eyes Deuteronomy 28:22 2 Occurrences |
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