Ague is a term historically used to describe a feverish condition characterized by chills, shivering, and sweating, often associated with malaria. In biblical times, such illnesses were understood within the context of divine judgment or natural afflictions. The term "ague" itself is not directly mentioned in the Bible; however, the symptoms it describes can be found in various passages that discuss fever and illness.

Biblical Context

In the ancient Near East, diseases and fevers were often seen as manifestations of divine displeasure or as trials permitted by God. The Bible frequently associates illness with spiritual or moral lessons, emphasizing the need for repentance, faith, and reliance on God's healing power.

Scriptural References

While the specific term "ague" does not appear in the Berean Standard Bible, the concept of fever as a divine affliction is present. For example, in Deuteronomy 28:22 , God warns the Israelites of the consequences of disobedience: "The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish." Here, fever is listed among the curses that would befall the people if they turned away from God's commandments.

In the New Testament, Jesus' healing ministry often involved curing those with fevers and other ailments, demonstrating His authority over sickness and His compassion for the suffering. In Matthew 8:14-15 , we read about Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law: "When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve them."

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, ague and similar illnesses are reminders of the fallen state of the world and the human condition. They serve as opportunities for individuals to turn to God in faith and seek His mercy and healing. The Bible encourages believers to pray for the sick, as seen in James 5:14-15 : "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."

Historical and Cultural Understanding

In biblical times, medical knowledge was limited, and many illnesses were attributed to spiritual causes. The understanding of diseases like ague would have been shaped by the cultural and religious context of the time. The Bible reflects this worldview, often linking physical ailments with spiritual realities.

Practical Application

For contemporary believers, the biblical approach to illness, including conditions like ague, emphasizes the importance of prayer, faith, and community support. While modern medicine provides treatments for such conditions, the spiritual dimension of seeking God's intervention and trusting in His sovereignty remains a vital aspect of the Christian response to sickness.The translation in Leviticus 26:16 (R.V., "fever") of the Hebrew word kaddah'ath, meaning "kindling", i.e., an inflammatory or burning fever. In Deuteronomy 28:22 the word is rendered "fever." 1. (n.) An acute fever.

2. (n.) An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.

3. (n.) The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague.

4. (n.) A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold.

5. (v. t.) To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit.

AGUE

a'-gu (qaddachath): In Leviticus 26:16 the King James Version is one of the diseases threatened as a penalty for disobedience to the law. The malady is said to "consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away." The word means burning (Vulgate "ardor") and was probably intended to denote the malarial fever so common now both in the Shephelah and in the Jordan valley. In Septuagint the word used (ikteros) means jaundice, which often accompanies this fever. the Revised Version (British and American) translates it "fever." See FEVER.

6920. qaddachath -- fever
... Word Origin from qadach Definition fever NASB Word Usage fever (2). burning ague,
fever. From qadach; inflammation, ie Febrile disease -- burning ague, fever. ...
/hebrew/6920.htm - 6k

Life in Persia.
... September 29, left Erzroom. Was attacked with fever and ague. "September 30. ... After
sunset the ague came on again, which in my wet state was very trying. ...
/.../rhea/life of henry martyn missionary to india and persia/life in persia.htm

The Birth of England's Foreign Missions
... At Piddington he worked early and late at his garden, but ague, caused by a
neighbouring marsh, returned and left him so bald that he wore a wig thereafter ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter ii the birth of.htm

Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
... If you had had a quartan ague one year or two, you must bear it till you
became well again; so you must bear the yoke of the old law. ...
/.../xxii sermon for the twelfth.htm

Elements of Prophetic Interpretation.
... commandments, but that ye break my covenant: I also will do this unto you, I will
even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall ...
/.../a brief commentary on the apocalypse/elements of prophetic interpretation.htm

The Forged Sermon
... In their public relations nothing disturbed the quotidian ague and frozen routine
of gorgeous Byzantinism elaborated by Oriental servility. ...
/.../chapter xlviii the forged sermon.htm

Anxieties and Troubles, Friends and Foes
... He was impatient of the quotidian ague of frigid impertinences.' This was soon
discovered by the worldly, the dissipated, and the idle, the illustrious dandies ...
/.../chapter xxi anxieties and troubles.htm

Epistle to the Reader.
... laboured to perform this service to the Church of God, I may be permitted to mention,
that last winter, when I thought I was dying of quartan ague, the more ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/epistle to the reader.htm

A Letter of Martin Effects a Cure, with Other Miracles.
... Arborius, an ex-prefect, and a man of a very holy and faithful character, while
his daughter was in agony from the burning fever of a quartan ague, inserted in ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xix a letter of.htm

Robert Boyle.
... During his education, and before he was ten years old, he was much afflicted with
an ague, which considerably depressed his spirits; and, to divert his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/robert boyle.htm

Wesley's Prescriptions
... he had surrendered his all. But how to get on he knew not, as he had no money
and had caught a tertian ague. I hope a wise Providence ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesleys prescriptions.htm

Ague (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and ague. ...
5. (vt) To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit. Int. ...
/a/ague.htm - 8k

Fever (13 Occurrences)
... Of these the most prevalent is ague or intermittent malarial fever, which is common
in all parts but especially in low-lying districts or places where there ...
/f/fever.htm - 17k

Inflammation (6 Occurrences)
... in-fla-ma'-shun (dalleqeth; rhigos): Only in Deuteronomy 28:22, was considered by
Jewish writers as "burning fever," by Septuagint as a form of ague. ...
/i/inflammation.htm - 9k

Drought (20 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:22 Jehovah will smite thee with consumption, and with fever, and
with inflammation, and with burning ague, and with drought, and with blight ...
/d/drought.htm - 13k

Cake (25 Occurrences)
... any form, esp. into a form rather flat than high; as, a cake of soap; an
ague cake. 5. (vi) To form into a cake, or mass. 6. (vi ...
/c/cake.htm - 17k

Agur (1 Occurrence)

/a/agur.htm - 7k

Aground (5 Occurrences)

/a/aground.htm - 8k

Ague: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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