Mildew
Summary
A plant disease causing grain to turn yellow and wither, listed among the curses for covenant disobedience and used by prophets as evidence of divine judgment.
☩Nature of Mildew
The Hebrew term yeraqon means 'greenness' or 'pallor,' referring to the pale green or yellowish color of withering plants. The same word describes the 'paleness' caused by fright (Jeremiah 30:6). In grain, mildew or 'rust' is caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis, whose life cycle involves both barberry and cereal plants. Arabs apply the word to both crop blight and human jaundice.
☩Covenant Curse
Moses warned Israel that disobedience would bring 'blasting and mildew' upon their crops: 'The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish' (Deuteronomy 28:22). These agricultural disasters would demonstrate God's displeasure.
☩Solomon's Prayer
At the Temple dedication, Solomon anticipated times of national distress: 'If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller... then hear thou in heaven' (1 Kings 8:37; 2 Chronicles 6:28). He understood that agricultural calamity might drive Israel to repentance and prayer.
☩Prophetic Warnings
Amos declared: 'I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD' (Amos 4:9). Haggai similarly announced: 'I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD' (Haggai 2:17). These judgments were calls to repentance that Israel ignored.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Mildew," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VI (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Mildew," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).