The term “boil” in the Bible refers to a severe, painful skin affliction, often translated from the Hebrew word shechin. This ancient terminology denotes a range of inflamed sores, ulcers, or eruptions, suggesting an intense, widespread, and debilitating physical condition. These afflictions are not merely medical footnotes but serve as significant markers within major scriptural narratives, representing moments of profound divine action or personal trial. The presence of these sores consistently highlights themes of suffering, judgment, and the frailty of human existence.
The Primary Narrative: The Sixth Plague of Egypt
The most dramatic appearance of boils occurs as the sixth of the ten plagues inflicted upon Egypt, detailed in the Book of Exodus. The event began with Moses and Aaron taking soot from a furnace or kiln, a source of intense heat and ash. Moses then cast this handful of soot into the air, transforming the fine dust into an immediate cause of severe affliction. This resulted in “festering boils” breaking out on both the Egyptian people and their animals throughout the entire land. The severity of this outbreak was so great that the Egyptian priests and magicians were rendered powerless. They could not even stand in Moses’ presence because they were afflicted by the same painful sores. The plague was a direct demonstration of power over the Egyptian deities associated with health and medicine.
Other Key Scriptural References
Boils also feature prominently in the personal suffering of Job, representing a different kind of affliction. In the Book of Job, the sores were inflicted upon him by Satan as a test of his faithfulness, covering his body “from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.” Job’s reaction, scraping his painful sores with a piece of broken pottery while sitting in ashes, illustrates his physical agony and social isolation. This narrative focuses on personal integrity and endurance through inexplicable suffering.
A third notable instance involves King Hezekiah, who was gravely ill with a life-threatening boil. The prophet Isaiah was sent to him with a message of recovery, demonstrating that not all such afflictions were a prelude to death. The remedy prescribed was the application of a poultice made from figs, which was applied to the sore, and Hezekiah subsequently recovered. This account shows the use of a natural, topical remedy in conjunction with a divine intervention.
Historical and Pathological Interpretations
Modern scholars and epidemiologists face difficulty in assigning a precise medical diagnosis to the biblical “boil” due to the generic nature of the ancient Hebrew term shechin. The descriptions, particularly the sudden onset and widespread nature of the Egyptian plague, have led to several theories about the underlying pathology.
Potential Diagnoses
- A severe form of carbuncles, which are clusters of boils caused by a staph infection, leading to deep, widespread, and incapacitating lesions.
- Infectious diseases like anthrax, which can cause skin ulcers and affect both humans and livestock, matching the biblical account.
- Diseases such as smallpox or melioidosis, a bacterial infection known to cause blisters and ulcers.
- Furuncular myiasis, caused by the larvae of insects, such as the tumbu fly, burrowing into the skin.
The Theological Purpose of Biblical Afflictions
Beyond the physical symptoms, the affliction of boils carries a significant symbolic weight throughout scripture. In the Exodus narrative, they function as a sign of divine judgment and retribution against Pharaoh and the oppressive Egyptian regime. The affliction served as a physical manifestation of the spiritual corruption and moral decay of the nation. The context shifts dramatically with Job, where the boils symbolize a test of individual faith and integrity rather than direct punishment. They represent the depth of human suffering and the challenge of maintaining trust in a higher power. Elsewhere, in books like Deuteronomy and Leviticus, skin diseases, including boils, are mentioned as potential curses or conditions requiring ritual purity.