Original Word: מַחֲלֶה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: machaleh
Pronunciation: mah-khah-leh'
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-al-eh')
KJV: disease, infirmity, sickness
Word Origin: [from H2470 (חָלָה - To be weak)]

1. sickness

disease, infirmity, sickness

Or (feminine) machalah {makk-al-aw'}; from chalah; sickness -- disease, infirmity, sickness.

see HEBREW chalah

[מַחֲלֶה] noun [masculine] sickness, disease — suffix מַחֲלֵהוּ Proverbs 18:14 his sickness (= any sickness of his); of specific disease, construct מַחֲלֵה מֵעֶ֑יךָ2Chronicles 21:15 (+ בָּחֲלָיִים רַבִּים, מֵהַחֹ֑לִי).

מַחֲלָה noun feminine sickness, disease, מַחֲלָה Exodus 15:26 3t. — sickness, disease, (in General) Exodus 23:25 (JE); so with כל, 1 Kings 8:37 2Chronicles 6:28 ("" כלנֶֿגַע), Exodus 15:26 (J E; compare אני יהוה רֹפְאֶ֑ךָ near the end)

Overview of Biblical Usage

The noun occurs six times, always marking an observable bodily affliction that can be lifted, intensified, or endured at God’s discretion. Its contexts fall into four spheres: covenant promise, communal intercession, judicial punishment, and personal experience.

Covenant Assurance of Healing (Exodus 15:26; Exodus 23:25)

When Israel first tasted freedom, the Lord linked obedience with protection from the “diseases” displayed in Egypt: “I will put none of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians on you, for I am the LORD who heals you” (Exodus 15:26). Forty days later the promise is repeated: “I will take away sickness from among you” (Exodus 23:25). Disease becomes a tangible indicator of covenant faithfulness; its absence signals divine favor, its presence warns of spiritual drift. These passages lay the groundwork for later covenant blessings and curses enumerated in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.

National Intercession in Times of Calamity (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28)

At the temple dedication Solomon anticipates future crises: “Whatever plague or disease there is” (1 Kings 8:37). He pleads that any outbreak drive the nation toward the house of prayer, where repentance meets mercy. The Chronicler repeats the appeal nearly verbatim (2 Chronicles 6:28), underscoring that communal sickness is neither random nor meaningless; it is an occasion for renewed allegiance and restoration.

Judgment on a Wayward King (2 Chronicles 21:15)

Jehoram of Judah, who “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,” receives a graphic oracle: “You yourself will be very ill with a chronic disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day” (2 Chronicles 21:15). The narrative records the prophecy’s exact fulfillment (2 Chronicles 21:18–19). Here disease functions as a covenant curse tailored to the king’s prolonged rebellion, demonstrating divine sovereignty over both national destiny and individual health.

Personal Endurance and Inner Resilience (Proverbs 18:14)

“The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?” (Proverbs 18:14). Wisdom literature shifts the focus from cause to response, teaching that inner fortitude, nurtured by trust in God, can sustain the body. Conversely, a crushed spirit leaves one defenseless even before minor ailments. The verse bridges physical and spiritual well-being, preparing the way for New Testament exhortations to “be strong in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:10).

Theological Themes

1. Sovereign Control: Sickness never falls outside God’s governance; He grants, removes, or transforms it according to redemptive purposes.
2. Covenant Indicator: Health and disease serve as barometers of Israel’s relationship with Yahweh, reinforcing the moral fabric of the covenant.
3. Call to Repentance: Outbreaks are designed to turn hearts back to God, not merely to inflict pain.
4. Holistic View of Humanity: Scripture integrates body and spirit; physical maladies often mirror spiritual realities.
5. Hope of Healing: The divine name revealed in Exodus 15:26, “the LORD who heals you,” anticipates the Messiah’s healing ministry and ultimate eradication of sickness in the new creation (Revelation 21:4).

Christological and Ministry Implications

Jesus’ healings proclaim fulfillment of the Exodus promise and signal the in-breaking kingdom where disease has no dominion. For present-day ministry, the pattern invites believers to pray boldly for healing, examine their lives for covenant faithfulness, and offer compassionate care to the afflicted, all while resting in God’s sovereign wisdom.

Practical Application for Believers

• Intercession: National or congregational crises should prompt united prayer modeled after Solomon’s petition.
• Self-Examination: Persistent illness may warrant spiritual reflection, though never simplistic judgment (John 9:3).
• Resilience: Cultivating a “steadfast spirit” through Scripture, worship, and fellowship equips the believer to endure bodily weakness.
• Mercy Ministry: Just as the Lord binds physical and spiritual realities, the church is called to holistic care, addressing both body and soul.

Conclusion

Across Torah, Historical Books, and Wisdom Literature, מַחֲלֶה consistently reminds God’s people that health lies under His benevolent rule. Whether as covenant blessing, disciplinary measure, or test of inner strength, disease ultimately points to the Healer who invites faith, obedience, and hope.

בְּמַחֲלֵ֣ה במחלה הַמַּֽחֲלָ֞ה המחלה מַחֲלֵ֑הוּ מַחֲלָ֖ה מַחֲלָֽה׃ מחלה מחלה׃ מחלהו bə·ma·ḥă·lêh bemachaLeh bəmaḥălêh ham·ma·ḥă·lāh hammachaLah hammaḥălāh ma·ḥă·lāh ma·ḥă·lê·hū machaLah machaLehu maḥălāh maḥălêhūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts