Lexical Summary
astheneia: Weakness, infirmity, sickness
Original Word: ἀσθένεια
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: astheneia
Pronunciation: as-then'-i-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (as-then'-i-ah)
KJV: disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness
NASB: weakness, weaknesses, sickness, sicknesses, ailments, diseases, ill
Word Origin: [from G772 (ἀσθενής - weak)]
1. feebleness (of mind or body)
2. (by implication) malady
3. (morally) frailty
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
From asthenes; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty -- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
see GREEK asthenes
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 769 asthéneia – properly, without strength (negating the root sthenos, "strength"). See 772 (asthenēs).
769 /asthéneia ("weakness, sickness") refers to an ailment that deprives someone of enjoying or accomplishing what they would like to do. 769 (asthéneia) focuses on the handicaps that go with the weakness.
[769 (asthéneia) expresses the weakening influences of the illness or a particular problem, especially as someone becomes wrongly (overly) dependent.]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
asthenésDefinitionweakness, frailty
NASB Translationailments (1), diseases (1), ill (1), illness (1), infirmities (1), sickness (3), sicknesses (2), weak (1), weakness (9), weaknesses (4).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 769: ἀσθένειαἀσθένεια,
ἀσθενείας,
ἡ (
ἀσθενής) (from
Herodotus down),
want of strength, weakness, infirmity;
a. of Body; α. its native weakness and frailty: 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 13:4. β. feebleness of health; sickness: John 5:5; John 11:4; Luke 13:11, 12; Galatians 4:13 (ἀσθένεια τῆς σαρκός); Hebrews 11:34; in plural: Matthew 8:17; Luke 5:15; Luke 8:2; Acts 28:9; 1 Timothy 5:23.
b. of Soul; want of the strength and capacity requisite α. to understand a thing: Romans 6:19 (where ἀσθένειαν τῆς σαρκός denotes the weakness of human nature). β. to do things great and glorious, as want of human wisdom, of skill in speaking, in the management of men: 1 Corinthians 2:3. γ. to restrain corrupt desires; proclivity to sin: Hebrews 5:2; Hebrews 7:28; plural the various kinds of this proclivity, Hebrews 4:15. δ. to bear trials and troubles: Romans 8:26 (where read τῇ ἀσθένεια for Rec. ταῖς ἀσθενείαις); 2 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Corinthians 12:9; plural the mental (?) states in which this weakness manifests itself: 2 Corinthians 12:5, 9f.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scope Strong’s Greek 769 groups a family of words that describe any kind of lack of strength—whether bodily sickness, moral frailty, or human limitation. The contexts show three primary spheres: (1) physical infirmity, (2) inner weakness that hampers obedience, and (3) humble dependence that becomes the stage on which divine power is displayed.
Physical Infirmity and the Healing Ministry of Jesus
The Synoptic Gospels cluster the word around Christ’s compassion. Matthew 8:17 cites Isaiah 53:4 as Jesus heals: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” Luke highlights both chronic and acute cases: the woman “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years” (Luke 13:11), those gathered after the cleansing of a leper (Luke 5:15), and women set free from “evil spirits and infirmities” (Luke 8:2). Acts 28:9 shows the risen Lord continuing that ministry through Paul on Malta. In every narrative the removal of ἀσθένεια confirms the in-breaking kingdom and authenticates the Redeemer.
Weakness in Apostolic Ministry
Paul embraces ἀσθένεια rather than disguising it. To the Corinthians he confesses, “I came to you in weakness, fear, and much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). His thorn episodes culminate in Christ’s word, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore Paul “boasts” in weaknesses (2 Corinthians 11:30; 12:5), knowing that resurrection power operates most clearly where human adequacy is absent. Even the gospel’s first proclamation in Galatia rode in on Paul’s “bodily illness” (Galatians 4:13), and the counsel to Timothy to use “a little wine” (1 Timothy 5:23) acknowledges continuing frailty among the saints. Thus ἀσθένεια marks authentic apostolic life—it keeps messengers dependent and listeners fixed on Christ.
The High Priesthood of Christ and Believers’ Confidence
Hebrews centers ἀσθένεια in its doctrine of priesthood. The Levitical priests are “subject to weakness” (Hebrews 5:2) and appointed “in weakness” (Hebrews 7:28), yet Jesus, “holy, innocent, undefiled,” transcends this limitation. Still, the incarnate Son “sympathizes with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). His sinless participation in human frailty assures believers of mercy and timely grace, turning the experience of weakness into a doorway for bold approach to the throne.
The Spirit’s Aid amid Human Weakness
Romans 8:26 turns the spotlight on the Spirit: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Prayer becomes possible when divine intercession meets our incapacity. The Spirit interprets groans, aligning the saints with the will of God despite limited understanding. Thus ἀσθένεια becomes the locus of Trinitarian cooperation—Father’s will, Spirit’s intercession, Son’s high-priestly sympathy.
Ethical and Eschatological Dimensions
Romans 6:19 warns that the “weakness of your flesh” once yielded fruit to impurity; now it must serve righteousness. Moral weakness is neither excused nor ignored but conquered by union with Christ. Eschatologically, the term frames the transformation of the body: “It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:43). What began in Eden’s fall concludes in resurrection glory, guaranteeing that every expression of ἀσθένεια is temporary for those in Christ.
Historical and Pastoral Significance
Early Christian writers echoed the New Testament balance: prayer, anointing, and medical means were complementary responses to infirmity. The church’s diaconal care grew from the Lord’s example, seeing the sick not as burdens but as opportunities to display Christlike service. In preaching, the transparency modeled by Paul remains a corrective to performance-driven ministry. Recognizing weakness guards against pride, fosters interdependence, and magnifies grace.
Summary
In Scripture ἀσθένεια signals the entire spectrum of human limitation. Whether one’s body is diseased, moral resolve is lacking, or courage fails, the gospel meets that need. Christ bore infirmities, the Spirit assists infirmities, and the Father’s redemptive plan will one day erase infirmities. Until then, weakness is not a liability to faith but the very context in which God’s power is made perfect.
Forms and Transliterations
ασθενεια ασθενεία ασθένεια ἀσθενείᾳ ἀσθένεια ασθένειαι ασθενειαις ασθενείαις ἀσθενείαις ασθενειαν ασθένειαν ἀσθένειαν ασθενειας ασθενείας ἀσθενείας ασθενειων ασθενειών ἀσθενειῶν astheneia asthéneia astheneíāi astheneiais astheneíais astheneian asthéneian astheneias astheneías astheneion astheneiôn astheneiōn astheneiō̂n
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