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ἀσθενής

asthenḗs

G772 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Lacking strength or power; weak in a physical, emotional, or moral sense. In most contexts primarily denotes absence or deficiency of strength, capability, or effectiveness. Can refer to physical weakness (such as illness or frailty), lack of influence or social standing, or, by extension, moral or spiritual incapacity.

Semantic Range

physically weak, frail, infirm, sick, incapable, powerless, lacking in status or influence, lacking moral or spiritual capacity, feeble

Root / Etymology

From the alpha privative prefix ἀ- (denoting negation) and the stem σθεν- (strength, power), forming an adjective meaning 'without strength.' Related to the verb σθενόω (to strengthen) and the noun ἰσχύς (strength).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀσθενής appears as early as Homer, most often referring to someone who is physically weak, frail, or lacking in might. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, the term broadens: in medical contexts (including Josephus and the Septuagint), it commonly designates the sick or infirm. In the LXX and NT, it frequently appears in contexts of illness, social vulnerability, or moral incapacity. In philosophical and rhetorical writings, it may designate a lack of intellectual or willpower strength. In New Testament usage, ἀσθενής often refers to those with physical sickness but also applies metaphorically to those seen as lacking moral resolve or spiritual capacity (e.g., 'weak in faith'). English translations often restrict the term to 'sick' or 'weak,' but the underlying sense in Koine Greek encompasses physical, social, and ethical domains. It contrasts with δυνατός (powerful, able) or ἰσχυρός (strong, mighty).

Translation Consistency

primary "weak" 24 occurrences

"Weak" is the most common and natural English rendering in the data (17 of 25 occurrences) and captures the broad SILEX range — physical frailty, sickness or incapacity, lack of power or influence, and moral/spiritual feebleness. It is more general than alternatives like "sick" and thus provides consistent, idiomatic coverage across contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"weakness" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a negative particle) and the base of σθενόω; strengthless (in various applications, literal, figurative and moral):--more feeble, impotent, sick, without strength, weak(-er, -ness, thing).

Root Family

σθεν- (asthenḗs) — lack strength, be weak, be powerless

Root σθεν- lack strength, be weak, be powerless

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G772-03 ἀσθενὴς asthenes ADJ.P NOM M SG weak weak weak 8
G772-02 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL sick weak ones weak ones 7
G772-01 ἀσθενῆ asthene ADJ.S ACC M SG sick weak one weak one 4
G772-04 ἀσθενέσιν asthenesin ADJ.S DAT M PL weak to the weak ones weak 2
G772-05 ἀσθενῶν asthenon ADJ.P GEN M PL helpless being weak being weak 2
G772-06 ἀσθενοῦς asthenous ADJ.A GEN M SG disabled of a weak one of a weak one 2

Occurrences in Scripture

25 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G772-01 Matthew 25:39 ἀσθενῆ asthene ADJ.S ACC M SG sick weak one weak one
G772-03 Matthew 25:43 ἀσθενὴς asthenes ADJ.P NOM M SG sick weak weak
G772-01 Matthew 25:44 ἀσθενῆ asthene ADJ.S ACC M SG sick weak one weak one
G772-03 Matthew 26:41 ἀσθενής asthenes ADJ.P NOM F SG is weak weak weak
G772-03 Mark 14:38 ἀσθενής asthenes ADJ.P NOM F SG weak weak weak
G772-02 Luke 9:2 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL sick weak ones weak ones
G772-02 Luke 10:9 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL sick weak ones weak ones
G772-06 Acts 4:9 ἀσθενοῦς asthenous ADJ.A GEN M SG disabled of a weak one of a weak one
G772-02 Acts 5:15 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL sick weak ones weak ones
G772-02 Acts 5:16 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL sick weak ones weak ones
G772-05 Romans 5:6 ἀσθενῶν asthenon ADJ.P GEN M PL helpless being weak being weak
G772-03 1 Corinthians 1:25 ἀσθενὲς asthenes ADJ.S NOM N SG weakness weak weak
G772-01 1 Corinthians 1:27 ἀσθενῆ asthene ADJ.S ACC N PL weak things weak one weak ones
G772-02 1 Corinthians 4:10 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.P NOM M PL weak weak ones weak ones
G772-03 1 Corinthians 8:7 ἀσθενὴς asthenes ADJ.P NOM F SG weak weak he is weak
G772-04 1 Corinthians 8:9 ἀσθενέσιν asthenesin ADJ.S DAT M PL weak to the weak ones weak
G772-06 1 Corinthians 8:10 ἀσθενοῦς asthenous ADJ.P GEN M SG weak of a weak one of a weak one
G772-04 1 Corinthians 9:22 ἀσθενέσιν asthenesin ADJ.S DAT M PL weak to the weak ones weak
G772-03 1 Corinthians 9:22 ἀσθενής asthenes ADJ.P NOM M SG weak weak weak
G772-02 1 Corinthians 9:22 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S ACC M PL weak weak ones weak ones
G772-02 1 Corinthians 11:30 ἀσθενεῖς astheneis ADJ.S NOM M PL are weak weak ones weak ones
G772-03 2 Corinthians 10:10 ἀσθενὴς asthenes ADJ.P NOM F SG weak weak weak
G772-01 Galatians 4:9 ἀσθενῆ asthene ADJ.A ACC N PL weak weak one weak
G772-05 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ἀσθενῶν asthenon ADJ.S GEN M PL weak being weak weak ones
G772-03 Hebrews 7:18 ἀσθενὲς asthenes ADJ.S ACC N SG weakness weak weakness
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