מַדְוֶה (mad.veh)
mad.veh
disease
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun madveh refers to physical sickness or disease. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within Deuteronomy’s list of blessings and curses. In these passages, it describes a tangible affliction that strikes the land as a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness.
Its usage is straightforward and clinical, lacking the metaphorical weight found in some other terms for suffering. The word points to bodily illness rather than spiritual decay or emotional distress. By placing it among other natural disasters like drought and famine, the text frames disease as part of the broader cosmic order affected by human choices.
Translators typically render madveh as "disease" or "sickness," capturing its plain meaning without adding theological nuance. The rarity of the word highlights how specific it is; when the biblical authors wanted to discuss general suffering, they often chose different terms. Here, the focus remains on the physical reality of illness as a concrete experience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word madveh refers specifically to physical disease or bodily sickness. In the Old Testament, it appears only twice, both within Deuteronomy’s covenant blessings and curses. This rarity highlights its precise meaning: tangible illness rather than spiritual decay or emotional distress. When the biblical writers wanted to discuss general suffering, they often chose different terms; here, the focus remains on the concrete reality of bodily affliction.
These verses place disease within a broader context of covenant faithfulness. Deuteronomy 7:15 promises that God will remove sickness and keep away the specific diseases of Egypt from His people. Conversely, Deuteronomy 28:60 warns that unfaithfulness could bring those same afflictions back. This framing shows how ancient Israelites understood health as part of their relationship with God, linking physical well-being to spiritual standing.
For believers today, this word reminds us of the value of physical healing and the seriousness of our choices. While we live under the new covenant, the promise of God’s care for our bodies remains relevant. We can trust in a Creator who knows both our spiritual needs and our physical limitations, offering hope even in times of illness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] diseases of1×
- <the> disease of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַדְוֵי֩1×
- מַדְוֵ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 7:15
Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and he will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
This verse highlights God's protective role by promising to remove sickness and prevent the specific diseases of Egypt from affecting His people.
-
Deuteronomy 28:60
He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt, which you were afraid of; and they will cling to you.
Here the word describes a consequence of covenant unfaithfulness, where these diseases cling to the people as a form of judgment.