Lexical Summary plégé: Plague, blow, wound, stripe Original Word: πληγή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wound, stripeFrom plesso; a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity -- plague, stripe, wound(-ed). see GREEK plesso NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pléssó Definition a blow, wound NASB Translation beat* (1), beaten (1), beatings (1), blows (1), flogging (1), plague (3), plagues (10), wound (3), wounds (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4127: πληγήπληγή, πληγῆς, ἡ (πλήσσω), from Homer down; the Sept. chiefly for מַכָּה, also for מַגֵּפָה; 1. a blow, stripe: plural, Luke 10:30; Luke 10:43; Acts 16:23, 33; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23; a wound: ἡ πληγή τοῦ θανάτου, deadly wound (R. V. death-stroke), Revelation 13:3, 12; τῆς μαχαίρας, wound made by a sword (sword-stroke), Revelation 13:14. (On its idiomatic omission (Luke 12:47, etc.) cf. Buttmann, 82 (72); Winer's Grammar, § 64, 4.) 2. a public calamity, heavy affliction (cf. English plague) (now tormenting now destroying the bodies of men, and sent by God as a punishment): Revelation 9:18 (Rec. omits), The noun πληγή appears twenty-two times and gathers two primary ideas: (1) a physical blow that leaves a stripe or wound, and (2) a plague or catastrophic stroke sent by God. In every context the term communicates decisive impact—whether from human violence or divine judgment—calling the reader to recognize the seriousness of sin, the cost of discipleship, and the certainty of God’s final justice. Divine Judgments and Eschatological Plagues Revelation concentrates the word, portraying πληγαί as the climactic expressions of God’s wrath: • Seven final plagues complete divine anger (Revelation 15:1, 15:6, 15:8). The plagues echo Exodus yet exceed it in scale and finality. They reveal God’s holiness, vindicate His persecuted saints (Revelation 15:2), and press unbelievers toward repentance—tragically, many “did not repent of the works of their hands” (Revelation 9:20). Old Testament Continuity In the Septuagint πληγή repeatedly describes the strokes that liberated Israel from Egypt (for example, Exodus 11:1). John’s visions thus present the end-time Exodus when the Lamb delivers His people, while the ungodly suffer the strokes of a greater Pharaoh’s downfall. Human Violence and Apostolic Sufferings Outside Revelation, πληγή highlights the cost of gospel ministry: • “in beatings, imprisonments” (2 Corinthians 6:5); These passages remind believers that faithful testimony often invites violent opposition, yet God redeems such wounds for advance of the gospel. The same jailer who administered the blows later “washed their wounds” and believed (Acts 16:33), illustrating grace that transforms both victim and oppressor. Compassion Toward the Afflicted The Good Samaritan “went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine” (Luke 10:34). Christ’s parable shifts πληγή from punishment to compassion, urging disciples to move toward the broken with practical mercy that images God’s own healing of sin-wrought injuries. Moral Accountability and Divine Discipline In a household parable Jesus warns, “the one who did not know, and yet committed deeds worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few” (Luke 12:48). The varying number of πληγαί upholds proportional justice; ignorance lessens, but does not erase, responsibility. It also anticipates the graded judgments of Revelation. Christological and Antichrist Typology Three references describe the beast’s “fatal wound” that was healed (Revelation 13:3, 13:12, 13:14). This counterfeit resurrection entices the world to worship a false messiah. The contrast heightens the uniqueness of the Lamb’s true death and resurrection, while exposing satanic mimicry that deceives those who reject the gospel. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Saints should expect external πληγαί (persecutions) yet cling to the promise that no plague of wrath will touch those sheltered under the Lamb (Revelation 15:2, 18:4). Key Theological Themes • Holiness: plagues display God’s intolerant stance toward evil. Summary From the stripes on Paul’s back to the apocalyptic bowls of wrath, πληγή threads Scripture with the twin realities of suffering and judgment. It warns, humbles, and consoles—warning the rebellious of inevitable strokes, humbling the church to expect hardship, and consoling the afflicted with the certainty that every wound surrendered to Christ will be healed when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Englishman's Concordance Luke 10:30 N-AFPGRK: αὐτὸν καὶ πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον KJV: and wounded [him], and departed, INT: him and wounds having inflicted went away Luke 12:48 N-GFP Acts 16:23 N-AFP Acts 16:33 N-GFP 2 Corinthians 6:5 N-DFP 2 Corinthians 11:23 N-DFP Revelation 9:18 N-GFP Revelation 9:20 N-DFP Revelation 11:6 N-DFS Revelation 13:3 N-NFS Revelation 13:12 N-NFS Revelation 13:14 N-AFS Revelation 15:1 N-AFP Revelation 15:6 N-AFP Revelation 15:8 N-NFP Revelation 16:9 N-AFP Revelation 16:21 N-GFS Revelation 16:21 N-NFS Revelation 18:4 N-GFP Revelation 18:8 N-NFP Revelation 21:9 N-GFP Revelation 22:18 N-AFP Strong's Greek 4127 |
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