First Biblical Mention of Sickness or Disease
The Bible does not explicitly record the very first instance of sickness or disease in human history. However, the Babylonian Talmud suggests that illness leading to death did not exist until the time of Jacob. According to this rabbinic tradition, people died suddenly before Jacob prayed for mercy, after which sickness was introduced, allowing individuals to prepare for their passing. The Talmud cites Genesis 48:1, "And one said to Joseph: Behold, your father is sick," as the first biblical mention of sickness preceding death [7, 8].
Biblical texts frequently associate sickness with divine action. Diseases are often depicted as "strokes" or "plagues" sent by God as chastisement or judgment [1, 2, 3]. For example, the plagues of Egypt are described as divine judgments [1]. Leprosy, in particular, was viewed as a direct providential infliction, hence its Hebrew name tsara'ath, meaning "a smiting" or "a stroke" [2]. Deuteronomy 28:59-61 and 32:39 indicate that God sends sickness, and 2 Samuel 12:15 records a child being struck by the Lord with illness [3].
While God is often presented as the ultimate source or permitter of sickness, other causes are also noted. The devil is sometimes permitted to inflict illness, as seen in the case of Job (Job 2:6-7) [3, 5]. Intemperance can lead to sickness (Hosea 7:5), and diseases can be a punishment for sin (Leviticus 26:14-16; 1 Corinthians 11:30) [3, 5]. Ezekiel 14:19-21 lists pestilence as one of God's "four sore judgments" on a guilty land [3].
The Bible also records instances of healing. God promises to heal (Exodus 23:25) and is shown to heal, demonstrating mercy, power, and love (Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 38:5, 9, 17) [3]. The New Testament frequently depicts Jesus curing various "infirmities," "plagues," and casting out "evil spirits" [10]. The sickness of Lazarus, mentioned in John 11:1, is presented as not being "unto death" in a permanent sense, but rather for the glory of God [4, 9]. Hezekiah's illness, recorded in 2 Kings 20:1 and Isaiah 38:9, is another significant biblical account of sickness and divine healing [6, 11].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Plague — A "stroke" of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Num. 11:33; 14:37; 16:46-49; 2 Sam. 24:21). Painful afflictions or diseases, (Lev. 13:3, 5, 30; 1 Kings 8:37), or severe calamity (Mark 5:29; Luke 7:21), or the judgment of God, so called (Ex. 9:14). Plagues of Egypt were ten in number. (1.) The river Nile was turned into blood, and the fish died, and the river stank, so that the Egyptians loathed to drink of the river (Ex. 7:14-25). (2.) The plague of frogs (Ex. 8:1-15). (3.) The plague of lice (Heb. kinnim, properly gnats or mosquitoes; c”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Leprosy — (Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Lev. 13; 14; Num. 12:10-15, etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause (Lev. 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation (18-28); (4) on the head or chin (2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
- John “John 11:1 (Geneva1599) — And a certaine man was sicke, named Lazarus of Bethania, the towne of Marie, and her sister Martha.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diseases — Often sent as punishment -- De 28:21; Joh 5:14. Often brought from other countries -- De 7:15. Often through Satan -- 1Sa 16:14-16; Job 2:7. Regarded as visitations -- Job 2:7-10; Ps 38:2,7. Intemperance a cause of -- Ho 7:5. Sins of youth a cause of -- Job 20:11. Over-excitement a cause of -- Da 8:27. Were many and divers -- Mt 4:24. Mentioned in scripture Ague. -- Le 26:16. Abscess. -- 2Ki 20:7. Atrophy. -- Job 16:8; 19:20. Blindness. -- Job 29:15; Mt 9:27. Boils and blains. -- Ex 9:10. Consumption. -- Le 26:16; De 28:22. Demoniacal possession. -- Mt 15:”
- Isaiah “Isaiah 38:9 (YLT) — A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah concerning his being sick, when he reviveth from his sickness:”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzia 87a.15: Until Jacob, there was no illness leading up to death; rather, one would die suddenly. Jacob came and prayed for mercy, and illness was brought to the world, allowing one to prepare for his death, as it is stated: “And one said to Joseph: Behold, your father is sick” (Genesis 48:1), which is the first time that sickness preceding death is mentioned in the Bible. Until Elisha, one did not fall ill and then heal, as everyone who fell ill would die. Elisha came and prayed for mercy and he was healed, as it is written: “Now Elisha fell ill with his illness fr”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 107b.17: Apropos the death of Elisha, the Gemara says: Until the time of Abraham there was no aging, and the old and the young looked the same. Anyone who saw Abraham said: That is Isaac, and anyone who saw Isaac said: That is Abraham. Abraham prayed for mercy, that he would undergo aging, as it is stated: “And Abraham was old, well stricken in age” (Genesis 24:1). There is no mention of aging before that verse. Until the time of Jacob there was no weakness, i.e., illness. Jacob prayed for mercy and there was weakness, as it is stated: “And one said to Joseph: Beho”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 11:4: When Jesus heard that,.... That his friend Lazarus was sick, he said; either to his disciples, or to the messenger or messengers that brought the account to him, and that on purpose to yield some relief to the afflicted family when it should be reported to them: this sickness is not unto death; it was to issue in death, but not in death which was to continue, or under which Lazarus was to continue till the general resurrection; for though he should die, yet he should be so quickly restored again to life, that it scarcely deserved the name of death. The Jews distingu”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 7:20: And in that same hour,.... Or at that same time, for a precise hour is not intended: one exemplar reads, "in that day", in which these men came to Christ, he, Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it, cured many of their infirmities; bodily weaknesses and disorders: and plagues; which were inflicted on them as scourges and corrections for sin, very severe diseases, as epilepsies, leprosies, palsies, &c. and of evil spirits; or devils, which he dispossessed and commanded out of the bodies of men; though sometimes evil spirits, with the Jews, signify some kinds of bo”
- 2 Kings (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on 2 Kings 20:1: Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery. - Compare the parallel account in Isa 38 with Hezekiah's psalm of thanksgiving for his recovery (Isa 38:9-20 of Isaiah). Kg2 20:1-2 "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death." By the expression "in those days" the illness of Hezekiah is merely assigned in a general manner to the same time as the events previously described. That it did not occur after the departure of the Assyrians, but at the commencement of the invasion of Sennacherib, i.e., in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign, is evident from Kg2 20:6, namely, both ”