English · KJV
G4127

πληγή

plēgḗ /play-gay'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom πλήσσω
Meaninga stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity
KJV usageplague, stripe, wound(-ed).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of plēgḗ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word plēgḗ, represented by G4127, primarily means a stroke. By implication, it can be a wound, and figuratively, it signifies a calamity. It appears 21 times across 20 verses and is most often translated as plague, stripe, or wound. This term covers a range of meanings from physical blows to divine judgments.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G4127 is used in several distinct ways. It describes physical punishment in the form of stripes, such as those laid upon Paul and Silas before they were imprisoned Acts 16:23. Paul lists receiving stripes "above measure" as part of the hardships he endured as a minister of Christ 2 Corinthians 11:23. It also refers to a literal wound, as seen in the parable where a man was left half dead after thieves wounded him Luke 10:30. Most frequently, it appears in Revelation to denote the divine plagues poured out as judgment upon the earth Revelation 15:1, including the final plague of hail Revelation 16:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of G4127:

  • G1194 dérō: This verb means to scourge or to thrash. It describes the action that results in the stripes G4127 mentioned in the context of divine discipline Luke 12:48.
  • G2007 epitíthēmi: Meaning to impose or lay upon, this word is used in conjunction with G4127 to describe the act of inflicting a wound upon someone, as when the thieves attacked the traveler Luke 10:30.
  • G3960 patássō: Meaning to smite or strike, this word is used to describe the action of unleashing divine calamities. In Revelation, the two witnesses are given power to smite the earth with all plagues G4127 as they see fit Revelation 11:6.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G4127 is multifaceted, illustrating principles of consequence and judgment.

  • Punishment and Discipline: The use of G4127 as "stripes" establishes a clear theme of accountability. This applies to both earthly punishment Acts 16:23 and the divine principle that knowledge of God's will carries greater responsibility Luke 12:48.
  • Divine Judgment: In Revelation, plagues are the ultimate expression of God's wrath G2372 against an unrepentant world Revelation 15:1. These events are not random but are specific, controlled judgments over which God has power G1849 Revelation 16:9.
  • Symbol of Deception and Suffering: The term is used for the deadly wound of the beast, which, when healed, becomes a source of deception for the world Revelation 13:3. For believers, receiving stripes is also portrayed as a component of suffering for the gospel 2 Corinthians 6:5.

Summary

In summary, G4127 is a potent word that moves from the literal to the figurative, from a physical blow to an apocalyptic calamity. It functions to describe the consequences of sin, whether through human-inflicted punishment, righteous discipline, or the final outpouring of God's judgment. The word vividly portrays the severe reality of suffering, punishment, and divine wrath in scripture.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 21 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • πληγὰς
  • πληγῶν
  • πληγαῖς
  • πληγὴ
  • πληγαὶ
  • πληγὴν
  • πληγῇ
  • πληγῆς

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G1194 δέρω a primary verb G2007 ἐπιτίθημι to impose (in a friendly or hostile sense) G3960 πατάσσω to knock (gently or with a weapon or fatally) G2372 θυμός passion (as if breathing hard) G1849 ἐξουσία privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate…

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 20 verses across 4 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Revelation (14 verses); never once in the other 23.

2
Luke
2
Acts
2
2 Corinthians
14
Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.