נֶ֫גֶף (ne.geph)
ne.geph
plague
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun negeph refers to a violent blow or striking that results in death, most commonly translated as "plague." It appears only five times in the Old Testament, primarily within the Priestly writings of Exodus, Numbers, and Joshua. The word carries a heavy weight, describing not just illness but a fatal divine intervention, such as the sudden deaths that struck Israel during their wilderness wanderings.
Its root sense is physical impact—a blow delivered with force. This distinguishes it from words for gradual disease or natural decay. In Exodus 12:23 and Numbers 16:49, negeph describes God’s direct action against Egypt and the rebels in the wilderness, emphasizing that the disaster was a specific, punitive strike rather than a random event.
Translators often use "plague" to capture this sense of divine judgment, though the Hebrew term is more visceral. It reminds readers that these events were understood as direct consequences of rebellion or covenant failure. The word underscores the seriousness of sin and the power of God to execute justice swiftly and decisively.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word negeph describes a sudden, violent strike rather than a slow decline. It reminds us that God’s actions are decisive. When we see this term in Scripture, it points to moments where divine justice meets human rebellion directly. The text does not shy away from the seriousness of sin and its consequences.
Yet these passages also reveal God’s desire to protect His people. In Exodus, the blood on the doorposts prevents the plague from entering homes. This shows that mercy is available when we heed God’s instructions. We are invited to trust in His protection rather than fear His power alone.
Reflecting on this word helps us understand the weight of our choices. It calls us to take sin seriously while resting in the hope that God provides ways to escape judgment. His justice is real, but so is His provision for those who seek Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a plague3×
- the/ plague1×
- striking1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נֶ֠גֶף1×
- נֶ֙גֶף֙1×
- נֶ֖גֶף1×
- נֶ֔גֶף1×
- הַ/נֶּ֖גֶף1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 12:13
The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
This verse highlights how the blood serves as a protective token that stops the plague from destroying those under its sign.
-
Numbers 8:19
I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tent of Meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near to the sanctuary.”
Here the text explains that appointed service and atonement are given specifically to prevent a plague when approaching the sanctuary.
-
Joshua 22:17
Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of Yahweh,
The reference to the plague at Peor serves as a historical warning against allowing sin to remain uncleansed within the community.