Bible Dictionary
CONSUMPTION
Consumption refers to wasting away or severe emaciation. In the Old Testament it is listed among punishments associated with neglecting or breaking God’s covenant law.
Definition
Consumption is wasting away or severe emaciation. It may describe a prolonged or recurring condition associated with fever and loss of bodily strength.
Biblical Usage
Consumption is listed among the punishments that would follow neglect or breach of God’s law.
Historical Background
The condition may refer to pulmonary consumption, but its association with fever makes wasting and emaciation from malarial attacks more likely in the supplied discussion.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kon-sump'-shun (shachepheth, "wasting away"): One of the punishments which was to follow neglect or breach of the law. It may mean pulmonary consumption, which occurs frequently in Palestine; but from its association with fever in the texts, Le 26:16; De 28:22, it is more likely to be the much more common condition of wasting and emaciation from prolonged or often recurring attacks of malarial fever.</p>