שַׁחֶפֶת
emaciation
Definition
The Hebrew noun שַׁחֶפֶת (shachepheth) refers to a severe state of bodily wasting or emaciation, often translated as 'consumption' or 'wasting disease.' In its two biblical occurrences, it describes a specific curse or affliction sent by God. In Leviticus 26:16 and Deuteronomy 28:22, it is listed among the covenant curses for disobedience, portraying it as a divinely imposed physical deterioration that results in fever and weakness.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the context of divine covenant curses within the legal portions of the Torah. It appears in the parallel lists of curses in Leviticus 26:16 and Deuteronomy 28:22. In both passages, it is paired with 'fever' (קַדַּחַת, qaddachath, H6920), indicating a specific, severe wasting illness understood as a direct consequence of breaking God's covenant.
Etymology
שַׁחֶפֶת is a noun derived from the root שָׁחַף (shachaph), which carries a sense of being thin, lean, or polished. It is related to the noun שַׁחַף (shachaph, H7828), meaning 'a bare or polished spot' or 'a crag.' The development of meaning moves from a physical state of being worn down or bare to a medical condition of bodily wasting.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is embedded in the covenant framework of the Torah. It portrays suffering not as random misfortune but as a potential consequence of covenant unfaithfulness, emphasizing the tangible, physical reality of blessings and curses in Israel's relationship with God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the seriousness with which God views the covenant and the holistic (spiritual and physical) nature of the consequences for breaking it.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, illness was often understood in a theological framework, directly linked to divine action or displeasure. A 'wasting disease' like שַׁחֶפֶת would have been seen not merely as a medical condition but as a potent sign of a broken relationship with Yahweh, differentiating it from a modern, purely clinical understanding of disease.
חֳלִי (choli, H2483) — a more general term for sickness or disease. דֶּלֶק (deleq, H1816) — a burning fever or inflammation, sometimes paired with shachepheth. קַדַּחַת (qaddachath, H6920) — fever, specifically mentioned alongside shachepheth in the curse lists.
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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