"without strength, weak, infirm, Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38; 1 Pet. 3:7; helpless, Rom. 5:6; imperfect, inefficient, Gal. 4:9; feeble, without energy, 2 Cor. 10:10; infirm in body, sick, sickly, Mt. 25:39, 43, 44; weak, mentally or spiritually, dubious, hesitating, 1 Cor. 8:7, 10; 9:22;..."
Definition and meaning
without strength, weak, infirm, Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38; 1 Pet. 3:7; helpless, Rom. 5:6; imperfect, inefficient, Gal. 4:9; feeble, without energy, 2 Cor. 10:10; infirm in body, sick, sickly, Mt. 25:39, 43, 44; weak, mentally or spiritually, dubious, hesitating, 1 Cor. 8:7, 10; 9:22; 1 Thess. 5:14; afflicted, distressed, oppressed with calamities, 1 Cor. 4:10
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀσθενής
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 asthenes (G772) across the King James Bible.
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
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Common questions
Strong's G772 (asthenes) is a Greek word that means: without strength, weak, infirm, Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38; 1 Pet. 3:7; helpless, Rom. 5:6; imperfect, inefficient, Gal. 4:9; feeble, without energy, 2 Cor. 10:10; infirm in body, sick, sickly, Mt. 25:39, 4... It appears 23 times in the King James Bible.
The word asthenes (G772) appears 23 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G772 is asthenes, a Greek word defined as: without strength, weak, infirm, Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38; 1 Pet. 3:7; helpless, Rom. 5:6; imperfect, inefficient, Gal. 4:9; feeble, without energy, 2 Cor.. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
asthenes is a Greek word found in the New Testament.