Brief Overview of ἀσθενέω (G770: astheneō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: astheneō

Root Words:

• ἀσθενέω is derived from the Greek root ἀσθενής (asthenēs), which means “weak” or “sick,” combined with the verb-forming suffix -έω indicating an action or state.

Primary Meanings:

• To be Weak: The primary meaning of ἀσθενέω is to be weak or feeble, either physically or morally.
• To be Ill: It also refers to experiencing illness or infirmity.
• To be Helpless: The term can describe a state of being powerless or incapable in various contexts.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG defines ἀσθενέω as to be weak or sick, encompassing both physical and metaphorical senses. It notes that the term can describe physical ailments as well as moral or spiritual weaknesses. BDAG highlights its use in contexts where weakness or illness is a central theme.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀσθενέω as “to be weak,” referring to physical or moral weakness and illness. It includes its usage in various New Testament passages and classical literature.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary aligns with BDAG, defining ἀσθενέω as “to be weak” and noting its application to both physical sickness and moral frailty. It emphasizes the term’s use in describing states of incapacity or weakness.

LSJ: LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) describes ἀσθενέω as “to be weak” or “to be sick,” focusing on its use in medical and general contexts. It acknowledges the term’s application in describing both physical ailments and broader states of weakness.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀσθενέω as “to be weak” or “to be sick,” referring to both physical and moral states of weakness or illness.

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Bible Verses:

• Matthew 25:43 (KJV): “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.”
• Here, ἀσθενέω is used to describe a state of illness.
• John 5:5 (KJV): “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”
• In this context, ἀσθενέω is implied as the man’s state of being weak or sick.
• 2 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV): “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
• The term ἀσθενέω here refers to moral or physical weakness.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Hippocrates’ On the Nature of Man: Discusses various conditions of weakness and illness, using terminology related to ἀσθενέω to describe physical states.
• Aristotle’s Rhetoric: Mentions states of weakness and incapacity, reflecting on the application of terms related to ἀσθενέω in rhetorical contexts.
• Plato’s Gorgias: Uses terms describing physical and moral weakness, aligning with the meanings of ἀσθενέω.

4. Summary:

ἀσθενέω (G770: astheneō) refers to a state of weakness, whether physical, moral, or spiritual. Its meanings span from describing illness and infirmity to broader states of incapacity or frailty. The term is used in various biblical and classical Greek contexts, illustrating its application to both physical ailments and metaphorical weaknesses.