Overview
The Bible addresses diseases across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings and Job. Closely related themes include Afflictions of the Wicked, the, Kings, Sickness and Bowels. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Saul, Hezekiah, Job and Isaiah.
Key Bible verses about diseases
Old Testament
1 Samuel
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. troubled: or, terrified
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
2 Kings
And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.
And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.
And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Set: Heb. Give charge concerning thine house
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. sore: Heb. with a great weeping
2 Chronicles
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: a great: Heb. a great stroke
And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. carried: Heb. carried captive Jehoahaz: also called, Ahaziah, Chap.22.I. or, Azariah, ver.6.
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
Job
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
People in the Bible and diseases
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying diseases for yourself
- Begin with 1 Samuel 16:14, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings and Job each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Saul, Hezekiah and Job and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Afflictions of the Wicked, the, Kings, Sickness and Bowels.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about diseases?
The Bible addresses diseases across 21 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings and Job. Closely related themes include Afflictions of the Wicked, the, Kings, Sickness and Bowels. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Saul, Hezekiah, Job and Isaiah.
How many Bible verses are about diseases?
The Bible references diseases in 21 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention diseases?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is 1 Samuel 16:14: “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. troubled: or, terrified”
Which people in the Bible are associated with diseases?
Saul, Hezekiah, Job, Isaiah and Amoz.
Preach & teach
Outline a sermon or build a study series on diseases.
Preach a series on Diseases →