What does מַגֵּפָה (magēpāh) mean in the Bible?
מַגֵּפָה (magēpāh): Divine judgment manifested as widespread catastrophe—plague, defeat, or slaughter—often God's direct intervention
Hebrew · H4046
מַגֵּפָה
A pestilence ; by analogy, defeat
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
מַגֵּפָה H4046
Pronunciation magēpāh
What does מַגֵּפָה (magēpāh) mean in the Bible?
מַגֵּפָה (magēpāh): Divine judgment manifested as widespread catastrophe—plague, defeat, or slaughter—often God's direct intervention
Full entry for מַגֵּפָה (H4046) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4046?
The BSB source-word alignment has 26 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and the plague (3), so that the plague (3), the plague (3), - (1), a slaughter (1).
Where does מַגֵּפָה (magēpāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 9:14. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (9), 2 Samuel (4), Zechariah (4), 1 Chronicles (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and the plague 3× Numbers 16:48, 2 Samuel 24:25, Psalms 106:30
so that the plague 3× Numbers 31:16, 2 Samuel 24:21, 1 Chronicles 21:22
the plague 3× Numbers 25:18, Zechariah 14:12, Zechariah 14:18
- 1× Zechariah 14:15
a slaughter 1× 2 Samuel 17:9
and a plague 1× Psalms 106:29
and the slaughter 1× 2 Samuel 18:7
blow 1× 2 Chronicles 21:14
by a plague 1× Numbers 14:37
from the plague 1× Numbers 16:49
in the plague 1× Numbers 25:9
let this plague 1× 1 Chronicles 21:17
My plagues 1× Exodus 9:14
plague 1× Zechariah 14:15
plague [has struck] 1× 1 Samuel 6:4
since the plague 1× Numbers 16:50
slaughter 1× 1 Samuel 4:17
So the plague 1× Numbers 25:8
the plague [had ended] 1× Numbers 26:1
with a fatal blow 1× Ezekiel 24:16
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 9:14 מַגֵּפֹתַי֙ to My plagues Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular Numbers 14:37 בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה to by a plague Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 16:48 הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃ to and the plague Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 16:49 בַּמַּגֵּפָ֔ה to from the plague Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 16:50 וְהַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה to since the plague Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 25:8 הַמַּגֵּפָ֔ה to So the plague Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 25:9 בַּמַּגֵּפָ֑ה to in the plague Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 25:18 הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה to the plague Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 26:1 הַמַּגֵּפָ֑ה פ to the plague [had ended] Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 31:16 הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה to so that the plague Article | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 9:14
Aligned rows 26
Books represented 9
Exodus 1 Numbers 9 1 Samuel 2 2 Samuel 4 1 Chronicles 2 2 Chronicles 1 Psalms 2 Ezekiel 1 Zechariah 4
Source forms
הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה 5x ham·mag·gê·p̄āh Numbers 25:18, Numbers 31:16, 2 Samuel 24:21, 2 Samuel 24:25
מַגֵּפָ֥ה 3x mag·gê·p̄āh 1 Samuel 4:17, 1 Samuel 6:4, 2 Chronicles 21:14
הַמַּגֵּפָ֗ה 2x ham·mag·gê·p̄āh Zechariah 14:12, Zechariah 14:18
הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃ 2x ham·mag·gê·p̄āh Numbers 16:48, Psalms 106:30
בְּמַגֵּפָ֑ה 1x bə·mag·gê·p̄āh Ezekiel 24:16
בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה 1x bam·mag·gê·p̄āh Numbers 14:37
בַּמַּגֵּפָ֔ה 1x bam·mag·gê·p̄āh Numbers 16:49
בַּמַּגֵּפָ֑ה 1x bam·mag·gê·p̄āh Numbers 25:9
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular 12x Numbers 16:48, Numbers 25:8, Numbers 25:18, Numbers 26:1
Noun - feminine singular 5x 1 Samuel 4:17, 1 Samuel 6:4, 2 Samuel 17:9, 2 Chronicles 21:14
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular 3x Numbers 14:37, Numbers 16:49, Numbers 25:9
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular 1x Numbers 16:50
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular 1x Exodus 9:14
Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Zechariah 14:15
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular 1x Ezekiel 24:16
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular 1x Zechariah 14:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Divine judgment manifested as widespread catastrophe—plague, defeat, or slaughter—often God's direct intervention
Source Gloss
a pestilence ; by analogy, defeat
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Divine judgment manifested as widespread catastrophe—plague, defeat, or slaughter—often God's direct intervention
a pestilence; by analogy, defeat BDB: blow Usage: (× be) plague(-d), slaughter, stroke.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Word Origins
מַגֵּפָה is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain