נֶ֫גַע (ne.ga)
ne.ga
plague
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 59 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun nega refers to a physical blow or stroke, but in Scripture it carries a heavier weight as a divine affliction. It describes calamities that God inflicts upon people, such as the plagues sent against Egypt in Exodus 11:1 or the personal sorrows mentioned in Psalm 38:12. The word captures the idea of a sudden, painful impact that marks the recipient.
In the legal texts of Leviticus, the term shifts to describe visible signs on the skin, clothing, or houses. These are not merely medical conditions but specific "plague spots" that require priestly inspection. For instance, Leviticus 13 details how a nega manifests as a swelling or raw flesh, distinguishing it from ordinary sores by its ritual status rather than just its physical appearance.
This dual usage links physical disease with divine judgment. The same word applies to the plague of leprosy in garments (Leviticus 14:34) and the general misfortunes befalling nations. It suggests that visible marks on a person or object were understood as tangible signs of a deeper spiritual reality, serving as a warning to the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nega carries the weight of a sudden blow or stroke. In the Old Testament, it describes both the devastating plagues sent against Egypt and the personal afflictions felt by individuals like David in Psalm 38. This term reminds us that suffering is not always random; sometimes it serves as a divine signal calling people to attention or repentance.
Leviticus expands this meaning into the realm of ritual purity, where nega refers to visible marks on skin, clothing, or homes. These were not merely medical diagnoses but spiritual indicators requiring priestly inspection. The process highlighted how physical conditions could reflect deeper communal and spiritual realities, urging careful examination rather than hasty judgment.
For your faith life, this word invites you to view trials with both honesty and hope. Whether facing personal hardship or observing the struggles of others, remember that God remains sovereign over every affliction. His presence sustains us through every season, offering peace that surpasses understanding even when the path forward is unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 59 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ plague35×
- [is] a plague of5×
- the/ plagued [person]4×
- a plague of4×
- [the] plague of4×
- a plague3×
- wound2×
- plague2×
- a wound2×
- to/ [the] plague of1×
- plagues1×
- plague/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/נֶּ֖גַע9×
- נֶ֥גַע8×
- הַ/נֶּ֙גַע֙7×
- נֶ֣גַע6×
- הַ/נָּ֑גַע6×
- הַ/נֶּ֔גַע5×
- נֶֽגַע\־4×
- הַ/נֶּ֗גַע4×
- נֶ֖גַע3×
- הַ/נָּֽגַע\׃2×
- הַ/נֶּ֜גַע2×
- נָֽגַע\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 11:1
Yahweh said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether.
This verse marks a pivotal moment where God announces one final plague to secure Israel's freedom, showing how divine judgment can serve liberation.
-
Leviticus 13:2
“When a man shall have a swelling in his body’s skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests.
Here the word shifts from national calamity to personal examination, establishing the priestly role in discerning ritual purity through physical signs.
-
Leviticus 13:46
All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. His dwelling shall be outside of the camp.
This verse details the isolation required during the plague, illustrating how sin or impurity could temporarily separate a person from community worship.