"to be weak, infirm, deficient in strength; to be inefficient, Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 13:3; to be sick, Mt. 25:36; met. to be weak in faith, to doubt, hesitate, be unsettled, timid, Rom. 14:1; 1 Cor. 8:9, 11, 12; 2 Cor. 11:29; to be deficient in authority, dignity, or power, be contempt..."
Definition and meaning
to be weak, infirm, deficient in strength; to be inefficient, Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 13:3; to be sick, Mt. 25:36; met. to be weak in faith, to doubt, hesitate, be unsettled, timid, Rom. 14:1; 1 Cor. 8:9, 11, 12; 2 Cor. 11:29; to be deficient in authority, dignity, or power, be contemptible, 2 Cor. 11:21; 13:3, 9; to be afflicted, distressed, needy, Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 12:10; 13:4, 9
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀσθενέω
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 astheneo (G770) across the King James Bible.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
Refiner gives you the full lexicon entry, AI-powered verse insight, historical commentary, cross-references, and voice study — all in one place.
Free to start · Disciple $4.99/mo · Shepherd $9.99/mo
Common questions
Strong's G770 (astheneo) is a Greek word that means: to be weak, infirm, deficient in strength; to be inefficient, Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 13:3; to be sick, Mt. 25:36; met. to be weak in faith, to doubt, hesitate, be unsettled, timid, Rom. 14:1; 1 Cor. 8:9, 11... It appears 35 times in the King James Bible.
The word astheneo (G770) appears 35 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G770 is astheneo, a Greek word defined as: to be weak, infirm, deficient in strength; to be inefficient, Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 13:3; to be sick, Mt. 25:36; met. to be weak in faith, to doubt, hesita. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
astheneo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.