Lexicon
ἀσθένεια
astheneia
G0769G
G:N-F Greek

weakness: weak

24
Occurrences
10
Books
Greek
Language

Astheneia denotes human weakness or limitation, including bodily ailments and conditions of incapacity.

The occurrences most often describe human weakness, limitation, or incapacity in contexts of fear, prayer, suffering, mortality, and dependence on divine power; they also describe bodily ailments and disabling conditions for which people seek healing.

Senses in use

  1. Human limitation and incapacity · dominant

    In 1 Corinthians 2:3, the dative singular form occurs with fear and much trembling as the APB renders Paul's arrival “in weakness.” In Romans 8:26, the same dative singular form stands in the clause where the Spirit helps because people do not know how to pray as they ought; 2 Corinthians 12:9 places weakness alongside power being made perfect.

  2. Bodily ailment or disabling condition · common

    Plural forms occur where crowds come to be healed in Luke 5:15 and where people with diseases come for healing in Acts 28:9. In Luke 13:11, the singular genitive form is associated with a woman bent over and unable to straighten up, and Luke 13:12 records her release from that condition.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term with “weakness” or “weaknesses,” while bodily contexts are rendered with terms such as “ailments,” “diseases,” and “infirmities.” Because the APB is a whole-verse translation, these renderings confirm the verse contexts without fixing a separate English equivalent in every occurrence.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture