מַחֲלֶה
sickness
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַחֲלֶה (machăleh) refers to a state of physical sickness, disease, or infirmity. It encompasses a broad range of ailments, from the plagues and national judgments described in 1 Kings 8:37 and 2 Chronicles 6:28 to the personal, debilitating illness mentioned in Proverbs 18:14. In its usage, the word often implies a condition that weakens the body and spirit. A key passage is Exodus 15:26, where God promises that if Israel obeys, 'I will put none of these diseases (מַחֲלֶה) upon you' which I brought upon the Egyptians, linking it directly to divine action.
Biblical Usage
The word is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in contexts that connect physical sickness to a person's or nation's relationship with God. It appears in legal and covenantal promises (Exodus 15:26, 23:25), in Solomon's prayer dedicating the temple (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28), in a prophetic judgment against King Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:15), and in a wisdom proverb about the human spirit (Proverbs 18:14). The pattern shows it is not merely a medical term, but is often theological, framing sickness within the framework of covenant blessings, curses, and divine discipline.
Etymology
The noun מַחֲלֶה is derived from the root חָלָה (ḥālâ, H2470), which means 'to be weak,' 'to be sick,' or 'to be afflicted.' The feminine form is מַחֲלָה (machălâ). This root conveys the core idea of being made frail or brought low, whether physically or emotionally. The noun form thus concretizes the state of weakness resulting from the root action.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it frequently appears in passages that explore the connection between human suffering and divine sovereignty. In the covenant context of Exodus, disease is presented as a potential consequence of disobedience, but also as something God can prevent and heal. Solomon's prayer acknowledges that national disasters, including plague, can be instruments of God's discipline, prompting repentance. Understanding מַחֲלֶה enriches reading by showing that biblical authors saw sickness not just as a random biological event, but as part of the larger spiritual and covenantal relationship between God and His people.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, illness was often understood holistically, with less distinction between physical, spiritual, and moral causes than in modern Western thought. A disease (מַחֲלֶה) could be viewed as a manifestation of divine displeasure or a curse, as seen in the covenant warnings. This perspective explains why prayers for healing, like Solomon's, are coupled with prayers for forgiveness and national restoration.
חֹלִי (choliy, H2483) — A very close synonym also meaning 'sickness' or 'disease,' often used in parallel (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:61). תַּחֲלֻאִים (tachăluʼîm, H8463) — A rarer term for 'diseases,' used in Deuteronomy 29:22 and often associated with severe, enduring plagues.
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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