λοιμός (loimos)
loimos
pestilence
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun loimos refers to a widespread disease or plague that causes many deaths. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, usually alongside war and earthquakes as signs of distress in the end times (Luke 21:11; Acts 24:5). The word carries a heavy weight, describing not just illness but a catastrophic event that sweeps through populations.
Interestingly, the sources note that this term can also be used metaphorically for people. In Acts 24:5, Paul’s accusers call him a "pest" or a "plague-bringer." This usage reflects an older tradition where dangerous individuals were compared to diseases. The word thus bridges the physical reality of epidemic sickness and the social danger of corrupting influences.
Its root meaning is tied to destruction and decay, often linked in the Septuagint to words for violence or wickedness. Translators typically render it as "pestilence," though this English term can feel distant today. The Greek loimos reminds readers that disease was once seen as a direct, terrifying force of judgment or chaos, making its mention in prophetic texts all the more urgent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word loimos describes more than simple illness; it points to a devastating plague that sweeps through populations with terrifying speed. In the New Testament, this heavy term appears alongside war and earthquakes as signs of distress in the end times. These passages remind us that history is not random but unfolds under God’s sovereign watch. When chaos surrounds us, we are not abandoned to fear.
Interestingly, the word also bridges physical sickness with social corruption. In Acts, Paul’s accusers call him a 'plague-bringer,' using medical language to attack his character. This shows how deeply people understood the power of such words to destroy reputations and incite violence. We see here that false accusations can be as harmful as any disease.
Yet even in these dark descriptions, there is hope. The same God who allows trials also promises to sustain us through them. Rather than fearing the unknown, we can trust in Christ’s presence during every storm. His peace remains steady when the world shakes, offering a refuge that no plague can touch.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- pestilences2×
- a pest1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λοιμοὶ2×
- λοιμὸν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 24:7
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.
This verse places loimos alongside war and famine to signal the beginning of birth pains, showing how catastrophic events serve as markers of God’s unfolding plan rather than random chaos.
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Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Luke expands the list with 'terrors' and 'great signs,' emphasizing that these plagues are not just physical disasters but divine warnings meant to awaken hearts to spiritual readiness.
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Acts 24:5
For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Here the word shifts from disease to character attack, as Paul’s enemies label him a 'plague' to justify silencing his message, revealing how language can weaponize fear against truth.