Understanding ἄρρωστος (arrōstos) Strong’s G732: When Divine Healing Meets Human Weakness

Pronunciation Guide: ah-ROCE-tos (ā-rōs-tos)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G732: ἄρρωστος describes a state of physical weakness, sickness, or infirmity that renders someone powerless or invalid. This term specifically denotes those who are feeble, without strength, or sick to the point of being incapacitated. In biblical usage, it often appears in contexts where divine healing power encounters human frailty.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Adjective
• Root Components: ἀ- (negative prefix) + ῥώννυμι (to strengthen)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Narrative passages, particularly in healing accounts
• Literary Context: Most frequent in Gospel narratives

ἄρρωστος Morphology:

• ἄρρωστος (nominative singular masculine) – sick, feeble
• ἄρρωστον (accusative singular masculine) – the sick one
• ἄρρωστοι (nominative plural masculine) – sick ones
• ἀρρώστους (accusative plural masculine) – the sick ones
• ἀρρώστῳ (dative singular masculine) – to/for the sick one

Origin & History

The term ἄρρωστος emerged from classical Greek medical literature, where it was frequently employed by Hippocrates in his medical treatises to describe patients suffering from various ailments. In the “Hippocratic Corpus,” the term specifically denoted those whose natural strength had been compromised by illness.

In the Septuagint, ἄρρωστος appears in contexts describing physical ailments, particularly in Malachi 1:8 where it translates the Hebrew word חָלָה (chalah), referring to sickly or diseased sacrificial animals that were unfit for temple service.

The early church fathers, particularly Clement of Alexandria in his “Paedagogus,” used ἄρρωστος to describe both physical and spiritual weakness, drawing parallels between bodily healing and spiritual restoration.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Physical illness causing weakness or debilitation
• Chronic condition resulting in ongoing feebleness
• State of being incapacitated due to sickness
• General condition of being unwell or infirm

ἄρρωστος Translation Options:

• “sick” – Most common translation, emphasizing the state of illness
• “invalid” – When highlighting the debilitating nature of the condition
• “feeble” – When emphasizing the resulting weakness
• “infirm” – When describing chronic conditions
• “powerless” – When focusing on the loss of strength

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἄρρωστος appears predominantly in healing narratives, particularly in the Gospels where it describes those brought to the Messiah Jesus for healing. The term’s usage emphasizes not just the presence of illness but the complete dependence of the sick person on external help, particularly divine intervention.

The word carries special significance in Mark’s Gospel, where it frequently appears in contexts highlighting the Messiah’s healing ministry and His compassion toward those who are powerless to help themselves.

• “[Jesus] saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick [ἀρρώστους].” Matthew 14:14
• “And wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick [ἀρρώστους] in the market places.” Mark 6:56
• “And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick [ἀρρώστοις] people and healed them.” Mark 6:5
• “Is anyone among you sick [ἀσθενεῖ]? Then he must call for the elders of the church.” James 5:14

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, sickness was often viewed through a theological lens, sometimes seen as a consequence of sin, though the Messiah Jesus specifically challenged this oversimplified understanding in John 9:3. The term ἄρρωστος carried social implications beyond mere physical illness, as those who were chronically sick often faced social isolation and economic hardship.

The placement of the ἄρρωστος (sick ones) in marketplaces for healing, as mentioned in Mark 6:56, reflects the ancient practice of bringing the sick to public spaces where they would be most likely to encounter traveling healers or receive alms. This practice created a powerful visual of human need meeting divine provision in the most public of settings.

Theological Significance

The use of ἄρρωστος in the New Testament reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of divine healing and human weakness. When the Messiah Jesus encounters those who are ἄρρωστος, we see the perfect expression of divine power meeting human powerlessness. This word choice emphasizes not just the presence of illness but the complete dependence of the sick person on divine intervention.

The consistent appearance of ἄρρωστος in healing narratives points to the Messiah’s role as the ultimate healer, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 53:4. The term’s emphasis on powerlessness serves to highlight the magnificent power of God’s healing grace, demonstrating that divine strength is made perfect in human weakness.

Personal Application

When we encounter ἄρρωστος in Scripture, we’re reminded that our weaknesses and illnesses are opportunities for God’s power to be displayed. Just as those who were ἄρρωστος in the Gospel narratives found healing through their encounter with the Messiah, our moments of weakness can become testimonies of His strength.

This understanding invites us to approach our own seasons of illness or weakness not with despair but with expectant faith, knowing that these are precisely the conditions in which God’s power is most clearly displayed in our lives.

Related Words

• ἀσθενής (asthenēs) – weak, sick, without strength; focuses more on general weakness rather than specific illness See G772
• μαλακία (malakia) – softness, weakness, sickness; emphasizes the debilitating nature of illness See G3119
• νόσος (nosos) – disease, sickness; more specific term for disease or plague See G3554
• κάμνω (kamno) – to be sick, weary; focuses on the experience of suffering in sickness See G2577

Did you Know?

• The word ἄρρωστος is still used in modern Greek medical terminology, maintaining its ancient meaning of “sick” or “ill,” demonstrating the enduring precision of this medical term.
• In ancient Greek medical texts, ἄρρωστος was often paired with specific bodily systems (e.g., “ἄρρωστος τὴν κεφαλήν” – sick in the head) to indicate localized ailments, showing the word’s versatility in medical diagnosis.
• The marketplace healing scenes where the ἄρρωστος were laid out created a powerful contrast to the Greek and Roman healing temples, where the sick had to journey to the temple. Instead, the Messiah Jesus brought healing to where the people naturally gathered.

Remember This

ἄρρωστος reminds us that our greatest weakness becomes the stage for God’s greatest displays of power, transforming human frailty into testimonies of divine strength.