Bible Dictionary
Ague
Ague refers to a burning fever, probably including the malarial fever common in parts of the biblical land. It is listed among diseases threatened for disobedience.
Definition
Ague is a burning or inflammatory fever. The Hebrew term means “kindling,” and the disease is described as one that consumes the eyes and causes the soul to pine away.
Biblical Usage
Ague, translated “fever” in the Revised Version, is listed among the diseases threatened as a penalty for disobedience to the law.
Historical Background
The supplied material identifies it as probably the malarial fever common in the Shephelah and the Jordan valley. The Greek version uses a word meaning jaundice, which may accompany such fever.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The translation in Lev. 26:16 (R.V., “fever”) of the Hebrew word kaddah’ath, meaning “kindling”, i.e., an inflammatory or burning fever. In Deut. 28:22 the word is rendered “fever.”
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a'-gu (qaddachath): In Le 26:16 the King James Version is one of the diseases threatened as a penalty for disobedience to the law. The malady is said to "consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away." The word means burning (Vulgate "ardor") and was probably intended to denote the malarial fever so common now both in the Shephelah and in the Jordan valley. In Septuagint the word used (ikteros) means jaundice, which often accompanies this fever. the Revised Version (British and American) translates it "fever." See FEVER.</p>