WG: Plagues, Stripes, Wounds¶
Overview¶
Three Greek words cover the semantic range of "blow, stripe, wound, plague" in the NT. The core word is πληγή (G4127), which spans from literal beating to Revelation's eschatological plagues. The other two are more specific: μάστιξ (G3148) focuses on the instrument of flogging, and μώλωψ (G3468) names the resulting bruise-mark.
Word Group Members¶
| Strong's | Word | Transliteration | POS | Occurrences | Role in Concept | Library Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G4127 | πληγή | plēgḗ | fem. noun | 22 | The blow/stroke itself — broadest term; physical lash, wound, or divine judgment plague | G4127-plege.md |
| G3148 | μάστιξ | mástix | fem. noun | 6 | The scourge/whip — by extension the disease or plague inflicted by it | TODO(need G3148 study) |
| G3468 | μώλωψ | mṓlōps | masc. noun | 1 | The weal/bruise left by a blow — 1 Pet 2:24, citing Isa 53:5 | G3468-molops.md |
Relationships¶
Shared Roots¶
- G4127 πληγή and G4141 πλήσσω (to strike, smite) share the root πλη-
- G3148 μάστιξ is from the base of μαστιγόω (G3146, to flog) — same instrument/action pair
- G3468 μώλωψ derives from μῶλος (moil, toil) — the physical mark of hard labor or beating
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)¶
| Word A | Word B | Shared Verses | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| G4127 | G3148 | 0 | distinct usage contexts — no textual overlap |
| G4127 | G3468 | 0 | — |
| G3148 | G3468 | 0 | — |
These words do not co-occur. They are grouped by semantic domain (LN 20.002 Harm/Wound) and translation overlap ("stripes," "plagues") rather than contextual proximity.
KJV Translation Overlap¶
| English | G4127 πληγή | G3148 μάστιξ | G3468 μώλωψ |
|---|---|---|---|
| plagues | ✓ (10v) | ✓ | — |
| stripes | ✓ (4v) | ✓ | ✓ |
| wound/wounded | ✓ (4v) | — | — |
Hebrew Source Overlap (via LXX)¶
Both G4127 and G3148 are used to render H4347 מַכָּה (makkâh — blow, plague, stroke). G3468 μώλωψ renders H2250 חַבּוּרָה (chabbûrâh — bruise, weal) in Isa 53:5.
Roles in the Concept¶
- The stroke / judgment: πληγή (G4127) — the broadest: physical blow, open wound, divinely inflicted plague
- The whip / scourge: μάστιξ (G3148) — the instrument; also diseases as God's scourges (Mark 3:10, 5:29, 5:34; Luke 7:21; Heb 11:36)
- The bruise / weal: μώλωψ (G3468) — the mark remaining; soteriological focus in 1 Pet 2:24 ("by whose stripes ye were healed")
Key Passages¶
- 1 Pet 2:24 — "by whose stripes [μώλωπι, G3468] ye were healed" — citing Isa 53:5; connects Christ's wounds to healing
- Rev 15:1 — "seven angels having the seven last plagues [πληγάς, G4127]; for in them is filled up the wrath of God"
- Heb 11:36 — "had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings [μαστίγων, G3148]" — apostolic/martyr sufferings
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py G4127 G3148 G3468 Last updated: 2026-04-02