25 Bible Passages about Plagues and Pestilence

Plagues in Bible History

The 10 Plagues of Egypt and the Passover

1. Water to Blood: Exodus 7:14-25

This is what the Lord says: By this you will know that I am the Lord: With the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into blood. Exodus 7:17 (NIV)

2. Frogs: Exodus 8:1-15

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’” Exodus 8:5 (NIV)

3. Gnats (or lice): Exodus 8:16-19

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats.'” Exodus 8:16 (NIV)

4. Flies: Exodus 8:20-32

"If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies; even the ground will be covered with them." Exodus 8:21 (NIV)

5. Plague/Pestilence on livestock: Exodus 9:1-7

If you refuse to let them go and continue to hold them back, the hand of the Lord will bring a terrible plague on your livestock in the field - on your horses, donkeys, and camels and on your cattle, sheep, and goats. Exodus 9:2-3 (NIV)

6. Boils: Exodus 9:8-12

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a furnace and have Moses toss it into the air in the presence of Pharaoh. It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, and festering boils will break out on people and animals throughout the land.” Exodus 9:8-9 (NIV)

7. Devastating Hail and Lightning Storm: Exodus 9:13-35

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that hail will fall all over Egypt - on people and animals and on everything growing in the fields of Egypt.” Exodus 9:22 (NIV)

8. Locusts: Exodus 10:1-20

And the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over Egypt so that locusts swarm over the land and devour everything growing in the fields, everything left by the hail.” Exodus 10:12 (NIV)

9. Darkness for Three Days: Exodus 10:21-29

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” Exodus 10:21 (NIV)

10. Death of Firstborn: Exodus 11:1-10; Exodus 12:1-33

So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt - worse than there has ever been or ever will be again.'" Exodus 11:4-6 (NIV)

The Lord Protects His People - Passover: Exodus 12:13

"The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." Exodus 12:13 (NIV)

Powerful God of the Israelites

Enemies Fear God of the Israelites: 1 Samuel 4:8

"We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness." 1 Samuel 4:8 (NIV)

Reminders of God’s Judgment: Amos 4:10

“I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt. I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord. Amos 4:10 (NIV)

Curses for Disobedience - Deuteronomy 28:58-62

The Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. Deuteronomy 28:59 (NIV)

Disease, Quarantine, and Healing

Leprosy and Quarantines - Leviticus 13:1-46, Deuteronomy 24:8

In cases of defiling skin diseases, be very careful to do exactly as the Levitical priests instruct you. You must follow carefully what I have commanded them. Deuteronomy 24:8 (NIV)

Jesus Heals Mysterious Blood Disorder - Mark 5:25-34

But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:33-34 (ESV)

Plagues in Bible Prophecy

Jesus Foretells Famines and Plagues - Luke 21:11

There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11 (NIV)

The Coming Judgment - Ezekiel 14:21

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments - sword and famine and wild beasts and plague - to kill its men and their animals! Ezekiel 14:21 (NIV)

The Fourth of Seven Seals - Revelation 6:7-8

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8 (NIV)

The Two Witnesses - Revelation 11:6

They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying, and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Revelation 11:6 (NIV)

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues - Revelation 15:1

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues - last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. Revelation 15:1 (NIV)

The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath - Revelation 16:1-21

From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible. Revelation 16:21 (NIV)

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment - Revelation 18:4-8

Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues. Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

The Return of Christ - Revelation 22:18

"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll." Revelation 22:18 (NIV)

Powerful God Who Loves You

God wants to protect you. Not harm you. Teach you His ways and surround you with His love, not His wrath.