What Are Pestilences in the Bible?
Pestilences are described in the Bible as judicial characters sent by God as punishment for human injustice. These plagues are consuming illnesses, which have a destructive effect. However, God may also send them for other reasons. This article explains the role of pestilences in the Bible.
God sends pestilences as punishment for injustice
According to the Bible, God has the right to send pestilences to punish injustice. The Israelites sinned so much that the anger of God became very strong. The plagues that God sent caused the Israelites to die by the thousands. But the Israelites still showed some obedience to God’s command during the census. God had given Moses instructions to take the census among the Israelites.
A pestilence is a disease that can affect an entire community. It is contagious and can cause massive destruction. The Black Plague, which killed more than thirty percent of the European population during the late Middle Ages, was a pestilence. Regardless of the severity, pestilences are typically God’s punishment for injustice. Jesus warned that the end times would be filled with pestilence. In Revelation 18:8, God promises to send a plague to punish those who violate his law.
It is a judicial character in the bible
Pestilences are often associated with the judicial character of God. This theme is repeated in other passages of the Bible. For example, in the dedication prayer of Solomon, pestilences are given special value. Pestilences are also called “noisome.” The word noisome comes from the Latin word noisio, which means annoyance. In modern English, the word is usually used to describe something that is loathsome or odious.
It is a consuming sickness
The Bible often describes pestilence as a consuming sickness. It is a disease that affects entire communities, is highly contagious and can be devastating. One of the most famous examples is the Black Plague that struck Europe during the late Middle Ages and killed over 30% of the population. Traditionally, pestilence has been associated with famine or war, but the Bible has a different interpretation. Jesus warns that the end times will be plagued with pestilence.
This consuming sickness is brought about by the Lord’s judgments on humanity. He will strike the people with fever, inflammation, fiery heat, and sword, and will destroy their crops and people. He will send pestilence and wasting diseases throughout the land until all of the people are destroyed.
Pestilence is a consuming sickness described in Deuteronomy 28:21. According to this passage, the plague would clench around the people, consume their flesh, and kill them. The Bible talks about the consuming sickness as a warning against sinning.
As Paul taught the Corinthian church, sickness was a judgment from God. If the people of the world disobeyed the Lord, He would punish them with sickness. In fact, this punishment was a warning by the Holy Spirit. In fact, God even warned the nation of Israel with sickness if they disobeyed Him.
The biblical version of plague has two types, one caused by external forces while the other caused internal bleeding. These diseases spread through contact and airborne germs. The plague caused whole towns to die and destroyed social structures. Many people did not bury the dead due to their fear of contagion and lack of concern. One writer recorded that five thousand bodies were scattered in a field.
In the Bible, this disease is called leprosy. In ancient times, the Jews did not view leprosy as contagious. They also believed it was a curable affection. Ancient Greeks did not use the word lepra, but used the word elephantiasis.
It is a deadly disease
The Bible speaks of pestilence as a deadly disease that affects entire communities. One example of this is the Black Plague, which killed over 30% of the European population in the late Middle Ages. In the Bible, pestilence is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, so it is important to be aware of the signs and prevent pestilence whenever possible. Pestilence kills crops and animals, and causes widespread destruction.
Pestilence occurs in many places in the Bible, but it is most often associated with the unfaithfulness of Israel. When Israel strayed from God, their enemies invaded the land and caused death and destruction. As the siege wore on, famine and contagious diseases spread. Eventually, the people were driven to exile.
The Old Testament is written in ancient Hebrew, and one of the word for contagious disease or pandemic is dever. This word has the meaning of “destroying” and “pestilence,” and is usually associated with animals. Nevertheless, the Bible does not say that pestilence is a contagious disease, as we’d expect.
The Bible uses pestilence in several contexts, including the census, the destruction of Jerusalem, and God’s punishment of sinners. God intended to use the pestilence to scare away the Canaanites – the local inhabitants of Canaan – who were an obstacle to Israel’s entry into the promised land. Similarly, in our world, pandemics can create panic and irrational behavior in people.
While the Bible mentions these diseases, it does not mention the COVID-19 virus. However, it does mention famines, earthquakes, and pestilences. Pestilences, famines, and earthquakes are mentioned in Matthew 24:7-8 (NASB).