Lexical Summary qeteb: Destruction, ruin, pestilence Original Word: קֶטֶב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destroying, destruction From an unused root meaning to cut off; ruin -- destroying, destruction. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition destruction NASB Translation destruction (3), sting (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs קֶ֫טֶב, [קֹ֫טֶב] noun masculineDeuteronomy 32:24 destruction; — of pestilence, absolute ׳ק Deuteronomy 32:24 ("" רֶשֶׁף), Psalm 91:6 ("" דֶּבֶר), so suffix (of Sh®°ôl) קָֽטָבְךָ (Ges§ 93q) Hosea 13:14 ("" of מָוֶת, דְּבָרֶיךָ); more Generally, שַׂעַר קָ֑קטֶב Isaiah 28:2. Topical Lexicon Overview קֶטֶב (qeteb) denotes an invisible force of ruin—variously rendered “pestilence,” “plague,” or “destructive tempest.” Each Old Testament occurrence links it to divine judgment or protection, underscoring the Lord’s sovereign control over both calamity and deliverance. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Deuteronomy 32:24 – Part of the covenant curses in the Song of Moses: “They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague”. Literary and Imagistic Features • Night-day contrast (Psalm 91:6) heightens the sense that קֶטֶב strikes at any time. Covenantal Framework In Deuteronomy, קֶטֶב functions as a legal sanction for covenant infidelity (compare Leviticus 26:25; Deuteronomy 28:21). Israel’s security depends on obedience; pestilence is a covenantal lawsuit executed by the Divine Warrior. Theological Insights 1. Divine Sovereignty: The same God who sends קֶטֶב (Deuteronomy 32:24) also shields from it (Psalm 91:6), illustrating His unrivaled authority (Job 5:18; Isaiah 45:7). Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern texts speak of a demon named *KTb* who brings midday heatstroke. Scripture repurposes the term, stripping it of mythic autonomy and placing it under Yahweh’s command. Thus, even culturally familiar fears are subordinated to biblical monotheism. Intertextual Connections • Echoes in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 9:3) and the threshing floor judgment of 2 Samuel 24:15 show קֶטֶב as part of a broader biblical theology of pestilence. Christological and Eschatological Trajectory The Gospels record Jesus healing every kind of disease (Matthew 4:23), demonstrating authority over the realities symbolized by קֶטֶב. Revelation portrays final deliverance where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4), signalling the ultimate defeat of every form of destructive pestilence. Pastoral and Practical Application • Assurance: Believers may claim Psalm 91:6 without presumption, trusting God’s freedom either to shield from or to sanctify through affliction (Philippians 1:20). Summary קֶטֶב serves as a vivid biblical symbol of judgment that is ultimately answerable to the Lord. Scripture balances sober warnings with robust promises, directing hearts toward repentance, trust, and active compassion in the face of every “destructive pestilence.” Forms and Transliterations וְקֶ֣טֶב וקטב מִ֝קֶּ֗טֶב מקטב קָ֑טֶב קטב Katev mikKetev miq·qe·ṭeḇ miqqeṭeḇ qā·ṭeḇ qāṭeḇ veKetev wə·qe·ṭeḇ wəqeṭeḇLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:24 HEB: וּלְחֻ֥מֵי רֶ֖שֶׁף וְקֶ֣טֶב מְרִירִ֑י וְשֶׁן־ NAS: And bitter destruction; And the teeth KJV: and with bitter destruction: I will also send INT: and consumed plague destruction and bitter and the teeth Psalm 91:6 Isaiah 28:2 3 Occurrences |
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