What does the Bible say about plagues and diseases?
The Bible, encompassing both the Old and New Testaments, frequently references plagues, and within its pages are numerous significant verses that shed light on their biblical importance, offering insights into various accounts of plagues and exploring the theological reasons behind their occurrence as divine acts.
Discover relevant Bible verses about plagues in this collection of scripture quotes.
Revelation 15:1-10 NIV
In the biblical book of Revelation, specifically chapter 15, a profound vision unfolds, revealing a significant and wondrous sign in heaven, where seven angels appear bearing the seven last plagues, signifying the culmination of God’s wrath; this scene depicts a sea of glass mingled with fire, alongside which stand those triumphant over the beast, its image, and the numerical representation of its name, holding divinely bestowed harps and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, extolling the greatness and righteousness of the Lord God Almighty, whose just and true ways inspire reverence and worship from all nations as His righteous acts are made manifest; following this, the temple in heaven, identified as the tabernacle of the covenant law, is opened, and from it emerge the seven angels carrying the seven plagues, adorned in pure, radiant linen with golden sashes, whereupon one of the four living creatures presents them with seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of the eternally living God, causing the temple to be filled with smoke emanating from God’s glory and power, rendering it inaccessible until the completion of the seven plagues carried out by the seven angels.
Read Revelation 15
Revelation 22:18 NIV
The biblical text of Revelation 22:18 issues a solemn warning to all who hear the prophetic words contained within that scroll, stating unequivocally that should anyone presume to add to these divinely inspired pronouncements, God will, in turn, add to that individual the very plagues that are meticulously detailed within the same sacred writing.
Read Revelation 22
Revelation 15:8 NIV
The biblical narrative in Revelation 15:8 recounts how the temple became so saturated with smoke, emanating from the divine glory and power of God, that it was rendered inaccessible, with no one permitted to enter until the full cycle of the seven plagues, carried out by the seven angels, had reached its conclusion.
Read Revelation 15
Revelation 18:4 NIV
Subsequently, as recorded in Revelation 18:4, another voice resonated from heaven, issuing a clear and imperative call to God’s people to “come out of her,” urging their separation from a particular entity or system to avoid complicity in its sins and, consequently, to escape the infliction of its impending plagues.
Read Revelation 18
Revelation 16:9 NIV
The biblical passage in Revelation 16:9 describes a scene where individuals are scorched by an intense heat, leading them to respond by cursing the name of God, who held dominion over these afflictions; despite experiencing such severe suffering under these plagues, they nonetheless persisted in their refusal to repent and offer glory to Him.
Read Revelation 16
Exodus 9:1-14 NIV
In the biblical book of Exodus, specifically chapter 7, the Lord instructs Moses to approach Pharaoh with a divine decree, stating that the God of the Hebrews commands Pharaoh to release His people for the purpose of worship; the Lord warns that continued refusal to let them go and their continued detainment will result in a devastating plague upon the livestock of Egypt in the fields, affecting horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats; however, the Lord assures that a clear distinction will be made between the livestock of Israel and Egypt, ensuring the survival of all Israelite animals; subsequently, the Lord sets a specific time for this event, declaring its occurrence the following day; as prophesied, the next day witnesses a widespread death of Egyptian livestock, while not a single animal belonging to the Israelites perishes; despite Pharaoh’s investigation confirming the absence of death among the Israelite animals, his heart remains obstinate, and he refuses to release the people; following this, the Lord instructs Moses and Aaron to take handfuls of soot from a furnace and for Moses to toss it into the air before Pharaoh, which transforms into fine dust spreading across Egypt, causing festering boils to erupt on both people and animals throughout the land; even the Egyptian magicians are unable to stand before Moses due to the severity of these boils afflicting them and all the Egyptians; yet, the Lord hardens Pharaoh’s heart, causing him to disregard the pleas of Moses and Aaron, consistent with the Lord’s earlier pronouncement to Moses; subsequently, the Lord commands Moses to confront Pharaoh early in the morning with another message: the God of the Hebrews demands the release of His people for worship, warning that a refusal this time will result in the full force of divine plagues being unleashed upon Pharaoh, his officials, and his people, so that they may come to know the unparalleled power and uniqueness of the Lord throughout the entire earth.
Read Exodus 9
Luke 7:21 NIV
The Gospel of Luke, chapter 7, verse 21, recounts that in that precise moment, Jesus performed numerous acts of healing, curing many individuals afflicted with various diseases, sicknesses, and malevolent spirits, and also bestowing the gift of sight upon numerous people who had been blind.
Read Luke 7
1 Samuel 4:8 NIV
The lament expressed in 1 Samuel 4:8 conveys a sense of utter despair, exclaiming “We’re doomed!” and questioning who possesses the power to deliver them from the grasp of these formidable deities, identified as the very gods who inflicted the Egyptians with a multitude of plagues during their time in the wilderness.
Read 1 Samuel 4
Psalm 103:1-5 NIV
1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Read Psalm 103
Proverbs 17:22 NIV
The wisdom found in Proverbs 17:22 states that a joyful and cheerful heart serves as effective medicine, promoting well-being, while conversely, a spirit that is broken or crushed has a detrimental effect, leading to the weakening and drying up of one’s bones.
Read Proverbs 17
Jeremiah 32:27-29 NIV
The words spoken by the Lord in Jeremiah 32:27 declare, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind; is anything too hard for me?”, thereby asserting His omnipotence and limitless power; consequently, the Lord proclaims in Jeremiah 32:28 that He is about to deliver the city into the control of the Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, who will seize it; furthermore, Jeremiah 32:29 foretells that the Babylonian forces currently besieging the city will enter and set it ablaze, destroying it along with the dwellings where the inhabitants provoked the Lord’s wrath by burning incense to Baal and offering drink libations to other deities upon their rooftops.
Read Jeremiah 32
Psalm 107:17 NIV
Psalm 107:17 recounts that certain individuals, through their own rebellious conduct and actions, descended into foolishness and consequently endured suffering and affliction as a direct consequence of their iniquities and transgressions.
Read Psalm 107
Proverbs 1:7 NIV
The proverb in Proverbs 1:7 establishes that a profound reverence and respect for the Lord serve as the foundational starting point for true knowledge and understanding; however, it also notes that those who are foolish hold wisdom and instruction in contempt, choosing to disregard their value.
Read Proverbs 1
