English · KJV
H1816

דַּלֶּקֶת

dalleqeth /dal-lek'-keth/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom דָּלַק
Meaninga burning fever
KJV usageinflammation.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dalleqeth — 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 Hebrew word dalleqeth, represented by H1816, means inflammation or a burning fever. It is a very rare term in the Bible, appearing just 1 time in 1 unique verse. Its origin is from the word דָּלַק (dalaq), which relates to burning, underscoring its connection to intense, feverish heat as a form of affliction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single use of H1816 is found in Deuteronomy 28:22, where it is listed among the curses that will befall the Israelites for disobedience. The verse states that the LORD will "smite thee" with a series of severe judgments, including "a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation." This context firmly establishes the word as a descriptor for a painful, God-sent malady intended as punishment.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear alongside H1816, helping to define a specific category of fever-like judgments:

  • H7829 shachepheth (consumption): This term for a wasting disease is listed with inflammation in Deuteronomy 28:22 and also appears as a curse in Leviticus 26:16.
  • H6920 qaddachath (fever): Defined as a febrile disease or burning ague, this word is found directly beside inflammation in Deuteronomy 28:22. It is also mentioned in Leviticus 26:16 as an affliction that will "consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart."
  • H2746 charchur (extreme burning): This word appears immediately after inflammation in Deuteronomy 28:22, intensifying the theme of severe, heat-related sickness as a form of divine wrath.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H1816 is directly tied to its role as a covenant curse.

  • Divine Judgment: Its sole appearance in Deuteronomy 28:22 frames inflammation not as a random illness, but as a specific instrument of God's judgment against covenant-breaking.
  • Physical Consequence: The word illustrates how spiritual disobedience is connected to tangible, physical suffering. It is part of a list of diseases that serve as a direct consequence of turning away from God.
  • Comprehensive Curses: The placement of inflammation among other afflictions like consumption H7829, fever H6920, military defeat ("sword"), and agricultural ruin ("mildew") highlights the all-encompassing nature of the curses, which would pursue the disobedient until they perish.

Summary

In summary, H1816 dalleqeth is a narrowly defined term for inflammation used exclusively to describe a form of divine punishment. Its single biblical reference in Deuteronomy 28:22, alongside other words for fever and disease, powerfully depicts a specific physical consequence of breaking the covenant with God. The term serves as a stark reminder of the severity of the curses detailed in the Law.

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 Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • דַּלֶּקֶת

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.

H7829 שַׁחֶפֶת from the same as שַׁחַף; emaciation; consumption. H6920 קַדַּחַת from קָדַח; inflammation, i.e. febrile disease; burning ague, fever. H2746 חַרְחֻר from חָרַר; fever (as hot); extreme burning.

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

1 verse, all in Deuteronomy — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.