Bible Dictionary
FOLK
Folk means people, a nation, or a group. In the New Testament it can also refer to sick or weak persons who need healing.
Definition
Folk means people, a nation, or a group. In some New Testament expressions, “folk” refers to people who are weak or sick and need help. The word can therefore describe either a community or persons considered according to their condition.
Biblical Usage
The Old Testament uses folk for a people or nation and even for a feeble group, as in the description of the conies. The New Testament uses “sick folk” for those who were not strong or were ill, including people brought for healing.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fok:</p><p>The translation of `am, `am "a people or nation" (Ge 33:15, "some of the folk that are with me"; Pr 30:26, "The conies are but a feeble folk"); of le'om, with the same meaning (Jer 51:58, "the folk in the fire," the Revised Version (British and American) "the nations for the fire"); "sick folk" is the translation of arrhostos, "not strong" (Mr 6:5); of ton asthenounton, participle of astheneo, "to be without strength," "weak," "sick" (Joh 5:3, the Revised Version (British and American) "them that were sick"); "sick folks," of astheneis plural of asthenes, "without strength," the Revised Version (British and American) "sick folk" (Ac 5:16).</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>