### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chŏlîy**, represented by `{{H2483}}`, refers broadly to **malady, anxiety, or calamity**. It appears 24 times across 22 unique verses in the Bible, indicating its use in contexts of both physical and emotional distress. The term encompasses physical **disease**, as well as the profound **grief** and calamity that can afflict individuals and nations.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H2483}}` describes literal physical ailments, such as the **disease** King Ahaziah inquired about [[2 Kings 8:8]] and the severe **sickness** that afflicted the son of the widow [[1 Kings 17:17]]. The term is also used metaphorically to depict the moral and spiritual decay of a nation, as when Isaiah proclaims "the whole head is **sick**" [[Isaiah 1:5]]. In the context of the covenant, the removal of **sickness** is a blessing from God [[Deuteronomy 7:15]], while "sore **sicknesses**" are a consequence of disobedience [[Deuteronomy 28:59]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of sickness, grief, and affliction:
* `{{H2470}}` **châlâh** (to be weak, sick, afflicted): This is the primitive root from which **chŏlîy** is derived. It is used to describe the state of being ill, as when Elisha had "fallen **sick**" [[2 Kings 13:14]].
* `{{H4341}}` **makʼôb** (grief, pain, sorrow): This term for emotional anguish is frequently paired with `{{H2483}}`. The suffering servant in Isaiah is described as a man of **sorrows** and acquainted with grief [[Isaiah 53:3]].
* `{{H5221}}` **nâkâh** (to strike, smite, punish): This word often describes the cause or perception of an affliction. The servant was esteemed as **smitten** of God [[Isaiah 53:4]], connecting his grief to a divine blow.
* `{{H4347}}` **makkâh** (a blow, a wound, pestilence): This term connects sickness with injury or plague. It is used to describe the "grievous **blow**" Israel suffered [[Jeremiah 14:17]] and appears alongside sickness as a curse for disobedience [[Deuteronomy 28:61]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2483}}` is significant, particularly in its connection to human suffering and divine action.
* **A Consequence of the Fall:** Sickness is often portrayed as a result of sin and rebellion. Israel's spiritual decline is described as a sickness [[Isaiah 1:5]], and King Asa's great **disease** is noted in the context of him not seeking the Lord [[2 Chronicles 16:12]].
* **Divine Sovereignty:** Scripture shows God's authority over both health and **sickness**. He promises to remove it as a blessing [[Deuteronomy 7:15]] but also uses it as judgment, as when he smote King Jehoram with an incurable **disease** [[2 Chronicles 21:18]].
* **Vicarious Suffering:** The most profound theological use is in Isaiah's prophecy of the suffering servant. He is described as "acquainted with **grief**" [[Isaiah 53:3]] and, crucially, as one who "hath borne our **griefs**" [[Isaiah 53:4]], taking upon himself the maladies of others.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2483}}` is a multifaceted term that extends beyond simple physical illness. It encapsulates the pain, grief, and calamity that are part of the human condition in a fallen world. From the personal **disease** of kings to the moral sickness of a nation, the word is a powerful descriptor of affliction. Its ultimate significance is found in the prophetic picture of a Messiah who bears the **grief** of humanity, transforming the concept from a mark of punishment to an instrument of redemption.
TRV