דַּלֶּקֶת
a burning fever
Definition
The Hebrew noun דַּלֶּקֶת (dalleqeth) refers to a severe, burning fever or inflammation. It describes a specific type of febrile illness characterized by intense heat and likely associated with the symptoms of a high fever. In its single biblical occurrence, it is listed among the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:22, indicating a divine instrument of judgment. The term conveys a sense of a consuming, fiery sickness that wastes the body.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 28:22. It appears within a list of curses that would befall Israel if they broke their covenant with God. The context is specifically theological and covenantal, where physical ailments like fever, consumption, and inflammation are presented as consequences of disobedience. There is no pattern of general medical usage elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible.
Etymology
דַּלֶּקֶת (dalleqeth) is a feminine noun derived from the root דָּלַק (dālaq, H1814), which means 'to burn, to flame, to kindle.' The noun form essentially means 'a burning thing' or 'that which burns.' This etymological connection directly informs its meaning as a 'burning fever,' linking the physical sensation of feverish heat to the action of fire.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears exclusively in a covenant context. In Deuteronomy 28:22, דַּלֶּקֶת is not merely a medical condition but a specific covenant curse, a tangible sign of God's disciplinary judgment for national unfaithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this passage by highlighting the direct link between spiritual breach and physical consequence, framing illness within the framework of God's justice and the seriousness of the covenant relationship.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, illness was often understood in a holistic framework that did not separate the physical from the spiritual or divine. A 'burning fever' like דַּלֶּקֶת would have been perceived not just as a random biological event but as a potential manifestation of divine displeasure or curse, especially when described in a legal-covenantal document like Deuteronomy. This differs from a modern, purely clinical understanding of disease.
קַדַּחַת (qaddaḥath, H6920) — another word for fever or burning heat, also used in the curse list of Deuteronomy 28:22, possibly indicating a different intensity or type of febrile illness.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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