What are…
EMERODS (emeroids) in the Bible

also known as: tumors

Hebrew: עֹפֶל —transliteration: ophel —meaning: a mound; hill; raised up; swellings; protuberances; or a tumor or hemorrhoids —occurrences: 9 (in Deuteronomy 28:27; 1 Samuel 5:6, 9, 12; 6:4-5; 2 Kings 5:24; Isaiah 32:14; Micah 4:8)

Hebrew: טְחֹר —transliteration: techor —meaning: tumors resulting from dysentery —occurrences: 2 (in 1 Samuel 6:11, 17)

In Ashdod, God smote the worshippers of the false-god Dagon (an idol) with emerods (1 Samuel 5:1-12).

This word (a disease) is mentioned eight times in the King James Bible. The Hebrew words can apparently include “a boil” or “ulcer (from the inflammation),” “especially a tumor in the anus or pudenda (the piles)” or fistul.

See: 1 Samuel 5:6, 9, 12, Deuteronomy 28:27, 1 Samuel 6:4-5, 11, 17.

Newer Bible translations use the words “tumors” and “ulcers,” not “emerods.”

More information

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