The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Consumption

kon-sump'-shun (shachepheth, "wasting away"): One of the punishments which was to follow neglect or breach of the law. It may mean pulmonary consumption, which occurs frequently in Palestine; but from its association with fever in the texts, Le 26:16; De 28:22, it is more likely to be the much more common condition of wasting and emaciation from prolonged or often recurring attacks of malarial fever.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr (1915). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.