What “pestilence” means in the biblical text.
In biblical language, pestilence (“deber” in Hebrew) means widespread disease or plague — outbreaks that sweep through populations, often listed alongside war and famine as forces that reshape history. Jesus names pestilences among the signs of the end times.
“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars… and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”— Matthew 24:6–7
“And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”— Luke 21:11
Read plainly, the sign describes recurring global health crises — not one single outbreak, but a pattern. Our outbreak watch follows that pattern with today’s data.