Topical Encyclopedia
Infirmity, as referenced in the Bible, generally denotes a state of physical or spiritual weakness or frailty. The term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, often highlighting human vulnerability and the need for divine intervention and strength.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, infirmity is often associated with physical ailments and weaknesses. The Hebrew word "חֳלִי" (choli) is frequently used to describe sickness or disease. For instance, in
Deuteronomy 7:15, God promises the Israelites that He will remove all sickness from them: "And the LORD will remove from you all sickness, and He will not lay upon you any of the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will inflict them on all who hate you."
Infirmity is also seen as a consequence of sin or disobedience. In
Leviticus 26:16, God warns of the consequences of breaking His covenant: "then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "ἀσθένεια" (astheneia) is often translated as infirmity, referring to both physical and spiritual weaknesses. Jesus Christ's ministry is marked by His compassion and power to heal those afflicted with various infirmities. In
Matthew 8:17, the healing ministry of Jesus is seen as a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy: "He Himself took our infirmities and carried our diseases."
The Apostle Paul speaks of infirmity in a spiritual sense, acknowledging human weakness and the sufficiency of God's grace. In
2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul recounts the Lord's response to his plea for relief from a "thorn in the flesh": "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me."
Spiritual ImplicationsInfirmity, while often manifesting as physical illness, is also symbolic of the broader human condition of sin and separation from God. The Bible teaches that all humanity is spiritually infirm due to sin, and only through Christ can one find true healing and restoration.
Romans 8:26 highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in aiding believers in their weaknesses: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words."
Role of Faith and PrayerFaith and prayer are central to addressing infirmities, as believers are encouraged to seek God's intervention and healing.
James 5:14-15 instructs: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven."
ConclusionInfirmity, whether physical or spiritual, serves as a reminder of human dependence on God. Through faith, prayer, and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, believers find hope and strength in their weaknesses, trusting in God's ultimate plan for healing and restoration.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) An ailment; a disease; a imperfection in body or character; esp., an unsound, unhealthy, or debilitated state; a disease; a malady; as, infirmity of body or mind.
2. (n.) A personal frailty or failing; foible; eccentricity; a weakness or defect.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
INFIRMITYin-fur'-mi-ti (dawah, chalah, machalah; astheneia): This word is used either in the singular or plural (the latter only in the New Testament) and with somewhat varying signification.
(1) As sickness or bodily disease (John 5:5Matthew 8:17Luke 5:15;Luke 8:21 Timothy 5:23). In the last instance the affections seem to have been dyspeptic, the discomfort of which might be relieved by alcohol, although the disease would not be cured thereby. It is probable that this condition of body produced a certain slackness in Timothy's work against which Paul several times cautions him. InLuke 7:21 the Revised Version (British and American) has "diseases," which is a better rendering of the Greek noson, used here, than the King James Version "infirmities."
(2) Imperfections or weaknesses of body (Romans 6:192 Corinthians 11:30 the King James Version;2 Corinthians 12:5, 9, 10 the King James Version;Galatians 4:13).
(3) Moral or spiritual weaknesses and defects (Psalm 77:10Romans 8:26;Romans 15:1Hebrews 4:15;Hebrews 5:2;Hebrews 7:28). In this sense it is often used by the classic English writers, as in Milton's "the last infirmity of noble minds"; compare Caesar, IV, iii, 86. The infirmity which a man of resolution can keep under by his will (Proverbs 18:14) may be either moral or physical. InLuke 13:11 the woman's physical infirmity is ascribed to the influence of an evil spirit.
Alexander Macalister
Greek
771. asthenema -- aninfirmity... an
infirmity. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: asthenema Phonetic Spelling:
(as-then'-ay-mah) Short Definition: weakness,
infirmity Definition
...769. astheneia -- weakness, frailty
... weaknesses (4). disease,infirmity, sickness, weakness. From asthenes;
feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally...
3554. nosos -- disease, sickness
... disease,infirmity, sickness. Of uncertain affinity; a malady (rarely figuratively,
of moral disability) -- disease,infirmity, sickness....
3119. malakia -- softness, weakness
... softens") the victim. 3119 () is an ailment that -- "ainfirmity" causing
the to lose muscle fiber, etc. Word Origin from malakos...
1199. desmos -- a band, bond
... desmos Phonetic Spelling: (des-mon') Short Definition: a bond, chain Definition:
a bond, chain, imprisonment; a string or ligament, an impediment,infirmity....
2323. therapeuo -- to serve, cure
... I heal. 2323 -- properly, , reversing a physical condition to restore a person
having an illness (disease,infirmity). [2323 (), the...
Strong's Hebrew
1738. davah -- to be ill, unwell... root Definition to be ill, unwell NASB Word Usage menstruation* (1).
infirmity.
A primitive root; to be sick (as if in menstruation) --
infirmity. 1737, 1738
...4245. machaleh -- sickness, disease
... disease,infirmity, sickness Or (feminine) machalah {makk-al-aw'}; from chalah;
sickness -- disease,infirmity, sickness. see HEBREW chalah. 4244, 4245....
2470. chalah -- to be weak or sick
... law') Short Definition: beseech. beseech, be diseased, put to grief, be
grieved, be grievous,infirmity A primitive root (compare...
Library
Of Confession of OurInfirmity and of the Miseries of this Life
... THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER XX Of confession of ourinfirmity
and of the miseries of this life. I will acknowledge...
Such, However, is HumanInfirmity, that when in a Dream a Person...
... 13. Such, however, is humaninfirmity, that when in a dream a person shall
see? 13. Such, however, is humaninfirmity, that when...
TheInfirmity of the Human Mind.
... Book XV. Chapter 24."TheInfirmity of the Human Mind. They, then, who
see their own mind, in whatever way that is possible, and...
ButInfirmity Pleadeth Its Part, and with Favor of the Crowds...
... Section 38. Butinfirmity pleadeth its part, and with favor of the crowds
proclaims itself to? 38. Butinfirmity pleadeth its...
The Ignorance and theInfirmity of an Infant.
... A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, and on the Baptism of Infants
Chapter 69 [XXXVIII.]"The Ignorance and theInfirmity of an Infant....
Of theInfirmity of the Flesh, and Similar Pleas.
... Book I. Chapter IV."Of theInfirmity of the Flesh, and Similar Pleas.
But we read "that the flesh is weak;" [370] and hence we...
Heathen Examples Cry Shame Upon this "Infirmity of the Flesh. "
... Chapter XVII."Heathen Examples Cry Shame Upon This "Infirmity of the Flesh.".
[690] They will have plainly a specious privilege...
But Now, that as Bearing with theInfirmity of Men He did This...
... Section 12. But now, that as bearing with theinfirmity of men he did
this? 12. But now, that as bearing with theinfirmity of...
Of the Death of the Prophet who was Led Astray, and of the...
... Chapter XXVI. Of the death of the prophet who was led astray, and of theinfirmity
of the Abbot Paul, with which he was visited for the sake of his cleansing....
Hence Spring Forth the Daily Sins ofInfirmity, and Blemishes...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 2 Hence spring forth the daily sins of
infirmity, and blemishes cleave even to the best? Hence...
Thesaurus
Infirmity (22 Occurrences)... n.) An ailment; a disease; a imperfection in body or character; esp., an unsound,
unhealthy, or debilitated state; a disease; a malady; as,
infirmity of body
...Thorn (30 Occurrences)
... (3.) Others suppose the expression refers to "a pain in the ear or head," epileptic
fits, or, in general, to some severe physicalinfirmity, which was a...
Kind (290 Occurrences)
... through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News
of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease andinfirmity among the people...
Infirmities (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural ofInfirmity. Multi-Version Concordance
Infirmities (17 Occurrences). Matthew 8:17 that it...
Proclaiming (63 Occurrences)
... through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News
of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease andinfirmity among the people...
Bodily (17 Occurrences)
... Galatians 4:13 And you know that in those early days it was on account of bodily
infirmity that I proclaimed the Good News to you, (WEY NAS RSV)....
Curing (4 Occurrences)
... through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News
of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease andinfirmity among the people...
Inflame (3 Occurrences)
Sickness (40 Occurrences)
... Luke 13:11 Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit ofinfirmity eighteen years,
and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up. (See NAS)....
Yielded (28 Occurrences)
... Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of theinfirmity of your flesh:
for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity...
Resources
What is a spirit of infirmity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the spiritual gift of healing? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about affliction? | GotQuestions.orgInfirmity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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