"want of strength, weakness, feebleness, 1 Cor. 15:43; bodily infirmity, state of ill health, sickness, Mt. 8:17; Lk. 5:15; met. infirmity, frailty, imperfection, intellectual and moral, Rom. 6:19; 1 Cor. 2:3; Heb. 5:2; 7:28; suffering, affliction, distress, calamity, Rom. 8:26"
Definition and meaning
want of strength, weakness, feebleness, 1 Cor. 15:43; bodily infirmity, state of ill health, sickness, Mt. 8:17; Lk. 5:15; met. infirmity, frailty, imperfection, intellectual and moral, Rom. 6:19; 1 Cor. 2:3; Heb. 5:2; 7:28; suffering, affliction, distress, calamity, Rom. 8:26
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀσθένεια
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of astheneia (G769) across the King James Bible.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
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Common questions
Strong's G769 (astheneia) is a Greek word that means: want of strength, weakness, feebleness, 1 Cor. 15:43; bodily infirmity, state of ill health, sickness, Mt. 8:17; Lk. 5:15; met. infirmity, frailty, imperfection, intellectual and moral, Rom. 6:19; 1 C... It appears 22 times in the King James Bible.
The word astheneia (G769) appears 22 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G769 is astheneia, a Greek word defined as: want of strength, weakness, feebleness, 1 Cor. 15:43; bodily infirmity, state of ill health, sickness, Mt. 8:17; Lk. 5:15; met. infirmity, frailty, im. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
astheneia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.