ἀσθενής (asthenēs)
asthenēs
weak
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word asthenēs describes a state of being without strength, covering physical illness, moral frailty, and social insignificance. Its root combines a negative prefix with the concept of power or might, literally meaning "strengthless." In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from bodily sickness to spiritual vulnerability, reflecting a broad spectrum of human limitation.
A striking example of its theological weight is found in Paul’s letters, where he speaks of "the weakness of God" (1 Corinthians 1:25). Here, the term does not imply divine failure but rather highlights how God’s apparent powerlessness—seen in the cross—surpasses human strength. Similarly, Jesus notes that the spirit may be willing while the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41), acknowledging the tension between spiritual intent and physical limitation.
Translators often render asthenēs as "weak," "sick," or "feeble" depending on context. In 1 Corinthians, it frequently addresses believers who feel insignificant or morally struggling, encouraging them that God chooses what the world considers weak to shame the strong. This usage underscores a central Christian theme: divine power is made complete in human weakness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When you feel limited by illness, moral struggle, or social invisibility, this word reminds you that such weakness is not a barrier to God’s love but often the very place where His strength becomes visible. Paul writes in Romans 5:6 that Christ died for us while we were yet weak, showing that our fragility does not disqualify us from grace; instead, it is the context in which divine sacrifice shines most brightly.
This truth invites a gentle shift in how you view your own limitations. Rather than hiding your struggles, you can bring them into the light, knowing that God chooses what the world considers weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Your vulnerability is not a failure of faith but an invitation for God’s power to rest upon you, transforming your sense of inadequacy into a testimony of His sufficient grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- weak8×
- weak.3×
- sick3×
- weakness2×
- [the] sick2×
- without strength1×
- with a weaker1×
- weaker1×
- weak,1×
- weak things1×
- sick.1×
- ailing,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀσθενεῖς6×
- ἀσθενὴς4×
- ἀσθενῆ3×
- ἀσθενὲς2×
- ἀσθενῶν,1×
- ἀσθενῶν1×
- ἀσθενής.¶1×
- ἀσθενής.1×
- ἀσθενέστερα1×
- ἀσθενέσιν.1×
- ἀσθενέσιν1×
- ἀσθενοῦς,1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 5:6
For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
This verse anchors the theological weight of the word by stating that Christ’s death occurred specifically while humanity was in a state of weakness, highlighting grace as an unearned gift for the powerless.
-
I Corinthians 1:27
but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong.
Here the term describes those God deliberately selects to shame the wise and strong, redefining human worth through divine choice rather than worldly capability.
-
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Jesus uses this word to acknowledge the natural tension between spiritual willingness and physical limitation, offering compassion rather than condemnation for human frailty.
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I Thessalonians 5:14
We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
Paul instructs the community to actively support those who are weak, framing pastoral care as a practical response to vulnerability within the church body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does asthenēs mean in the New Testament?
How is this word different from other terms for sickness?
Why does Paul say God chooses the weak?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 11 books)
Matthew 3 verses
I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit…
Matthew 25:44“Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick,…
Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”