Brief Overview of ἀσθενής (G772: asthenēs)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: asthenēs

Root Words:

• ἀσθενής is derived from ἀσθένεια (astheneia), meaning “weakness” or “infirmity,” which comes from the root ἀσθενής (asthenēs), meaning “weak” or “sick.”

Primary Meanings:

• Weak: The term primarily denotes a state of weakness, whether physical or moral.
• Sick: It can refer to someone who is ill or suffering from a disease.
• Feeble: Used more broadly to describe any kind of frailty or lack of strength.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG defines ἀσθενής as “weak” or “feeble,” with applications ranging from physical weakness and illness to moral or spiritual frailty. It emphasizes the term’s use to describe both tangible and intangible states of weakness.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀσθενής as “weak” or “feeble,” indicating both physical and moral weakness. It includes examples from the New Testament where it conveys various forms of human frailty.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary provides a similar definition, highlighting ἀσθενής as referring to “infirmity” or “sickness,” applicable to both physical ailments and general feebleness.

LSJ: LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) describes ἀσθενής as “weak” or “sick,” noting its use in both medical and philosophical contexts to denote weakness or lack of strength.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀσθενής as “weak” or “sick,” with an emphasis on its application to both physical and moral weakness.

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Bible Verses:

• Matthew 8:17 (KJV): “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”
• ἀσθενής is used here to denote physical ailments.
• 1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV): “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;”
• In this context, ἀσθενής describes moral or social weakness.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV): “But he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
• ἀσθενής is used to reflect both physical and spiritual frailty.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Hippocrates’ On the Epidemics: Uses ἀσθενής to describe various physical weaknesses and conditions of illness.
• Aristotle’s On the Parts of Animals: Refers to physical weaknesses and ailments, reflecting the term’s use in medical contexts.
• Plato’s Phaedo: Mentions states of weakness in a philosophical context, showing how ἀσθενής can be applied to moral and existential frailty.

4. Summary:

ἀσθενής (G772: asthenēs) conveys a range of meanings related to weakness, including physical frailty, sickness, and moral or spiritual weakness. In biblical texts, it denotes both tangible ailments and intangible states of feebleness. Its use in classic Greek literature spans medical, philosophical, and general contexts, illustrating its broad application to various forms of weakness and frailty.