Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  4000 Creation  »  4800 Natural and supernatural phenomena  »  4843 plague

Affliction with disease, destruction or environmental disaster as an expression of divine judgment, usually resulting in death. The purpose may be as a punishment or to encourage repentance.

The nature of plague

Ezekiel 6:11-12 See also 2 Chronicles 20:9; Jeremiah 14:12; Jeremiah 27:8; Ezekiel 14:21; Revelation 6:8

Plagues sent upon Egypt

Plagues described

Exodus 7:17-18; Exodus 8:5-6,16-17,21,24; Exodus 9:6,9-10,22-25; Exodus 10:4-6,13-15,21-23; Exodus 11:4-6; Exodus 12:29-30

Plagues withdrawn in answer to prayer

Exodus 8:12-13,29; Exodus 9:29,33; Exodus 10:18-19

Plagues recalled and celebrated

Psalm 78:41-51; Psalm 105:26-36; Psalm 135:8-9; Amos 4:10; Acts 7:36

Plagues sent upon Israel

Plagues threatened for breaking God's covenant

Leviticus 26:23-26 See also Leviticus 26:14-16; Deuteronomy 28:20-24

Plagues experienced in fulfilment of God's covenant

Exodus 32:33-35; Numbers 11:31-34; Numbers 14:36-38; Numbers 16:41-50; Numbers 25:3-9; 2 Samuel 24:11-17 pp 1 Chronicles 21:9-17; Joel 1:2-12; Amos 4:6-11

Plagues withdrawn after intercession or obedience

Numbers 14:10-20; Numbers 16:46-48; Numbers 21:6-9; Numbers 25:6-11; 2 Samuel 24:18-25 pp 1 Chronicles 21:18-26; 1 Kings 8:37-40 pp 2 Chronicles 6:28-31; Psalm 106:23,28-31

Plagues announced by prophets as God's judgment

Jeremiah 21:5-10 See also Jeremiah 24:10; Jeremiah 29:17-19; Jeremiah 34:17; Jeremiah 44:13; Ezekiel 5:12,17; Ezekiel 33:27

Plagues sent upon other nations

1 Samuel 5:6-12; Isaiah 19:22; Jeremiah 28:8; Ezekiel 28:22-23; Habakkuk 3:5-6; Zechariah 14:12-15

Apocalyptic visions of plague as God's judgment

Luke 21:11 pp Matthew 24:7 pp Mark 13:8 See also Revelation 6:8; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 15:1,6-8; Revelation 16:1-21; Revelation 18:4-8; Revelation 22:18

Divine protection from plague

Psalm 91:3-8 See also Exodus 8:22-23; Exodus 9:4,6,26; Exodus 10:23; Exodus 11:7; Exodus 12:13,23,27; 2 Chronicles 20:9

See also

4669  locust
4815  drought
4822  famine
4828  hail
5295  destruction
5297  disease
7222  exodus, events of
9020  death