Boil — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Inflamed localized swelling on the skin. In modern medicine the term “boil” is restricted to a pus-filled swelling caused by infectious germs, usually staphylococci. The pus is a mixture of germs and white blood cells, which are the body’s defense against germs. Although painful, boils usually heal naturally after rupturing or being lanced. A more severe boil with several openings is called a carbuncle. If the infection goes deeper and injures internal organs or tissues, it is called an abscess and can even be fatal.

In the Bible the word translated “boil” probably referred to a variety of skin diseases. The sixth plague that God inflicted on Egypt through Moses and Aaron was a plague of boils (Ex 9:9-11; Dt 28:27, 35 OET DEU 28:27 · OET DEU 28:35) or blisters. Boils or skin eruptions of a certain type were described in the Mosaic health and sanitation code as one indication of leprosy (Lv 13:1-8, 18-23 OET LEV 13:1–8 · OET LEV 13:18–23). Job’s “terrible case of boils from head to foot” (Jb 2:7-8, 12 OET JOB 2:7–8 · OET JOB 2:12, NLT) were probably too extensive to be boils in the modern sense; he may have had smallpox, psoriasis, tubercular leprosy, or some other disease accompanied by severe itching. King Hezekiah’s boil was probably a carbuncle (2 Kgs 20:1-7; Is 38:21). See Medicine and Medical Practice; Disease; Plagues upon Egypt.

Show passage in OET: EXO 9:9–11

OET-RV EXO 9:9

9 It will become a powder over all Mitsrayim (Egypt) and then it will turn into boils—bursting blisters—on people and on animals all over Mitsrayim.”

OET-RV EXO 9:10

10 So they took some ash from a furnace, and standing in front of Par’oh, Mosheh tossed it up into the air and it turned into boils with bursting blisters on the people and the animals.

OET-RV EXO 9:11

11 Because of the boils, the sorcerers weren’t even able to stand there with Mosheh because the sorcerers suffered with them along with all the Mitsrim (Egyptians).

OET-LV EXO 9:9

9 And_it _was (into)_dust over all _of the _land _of Miʦrayim and_it _was on the_humankind and_on the_cattle/livestock (into)_boil[s] breaking _out blisters in_all the _land _of Miʦrayim.

OET-LV EXO 9:10

10 And_they _took DOM the _soot _of (the)_kiln and_they _stood to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Parˊoh and_ Mosheh _he _sprinkled DOM_him/it towards_the_heavens and_he/it _was boil[s] blisters breaking _out on_humankind and_on/over_cattle/livestock.

OET-LV EXO 9:11

11 And_not the_soothsayer-priests they _were _able to_stand to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Mosheh from_face/in _front _of the_boil[s] if/because the_boil[s] it _was on_soothsayer-priests and_on/over_all Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

Show passage in OET: DEU 28:27; DEU 28:35

OET-RV DEU 28:27

27 Yahweh will afflict you with boils like he sent to the Mitsri (Egyptian) people, along with ulcers, rashes, and itching which there’s no cure for.

OET-RV DEU 28:35

35 Yahweh will strike your people with bad boils on your knees and legs that will never heal up—from the bottom of your soles right up to the tops of your heads.

OET-LV DEU 28:27

27 He_will _strike _you YHWH with_the _boil[s]_of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_in/on/at/with and_rash and_with_scabies which not you _will _be _able to_be _healed.

OET-LV DEU 28:35

35 He_will _strike _you YHWH with_boil[s] bad on the_knees and_on the_legs which not you _will _be _able to_be _healed from_the _sole _of your _foot _of_your and_unto of _your _head _of_the _crown.

Show passage in OET: JOB 2:7–8; JOB 2:12

OET-RV JOB 2:7

7 So the adversary went away from Yahweh’s presence, and he infected Iyov with bad boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.

OET-RV JOB 2:8

8 Iyov picked up a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself with as he sat down in the middle of a pile of ashes.

OET-RV JOB 2:12

12 but when they saw him from a distance, they barely recognised him. They wailed loudly, and they ripped their own clothes, and they threw dust into the air so that it would fall on their heads. (All three of those were traditional signs of mourning.)

OET-LV JOB 2:7