Bible Dictionary
INFIRMITY
Infirmity may mean bodily sickness, physical weakness, or moral and spiritual weakness. Scripture also uses the term for human frailty that calls for compassion and help.
Definition
Infirmity may mean bodily sickness, physical weakness, or moral and spiritual weakness. It can describe human frailty and the weaknesses that require patience, compassion, or help.
Biblical Usage
The Bible uses the term for disease, bodily imperfection, weakness, and moral or spiritual defect. Infirmity may be associated with an evil spirit, and Christ is presented as bearing human infirmities. The word may also describe weakness in which divine strength is displayed.
Historical Background
The underlying terms include words for sickness, disease, and weakness. In some passages the Revised Version uses “diseases” rather than “infirmities” for greater precision.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>in-fur'-mi-ti (dawah, chalah, machalah; astheneia): This word is used either in the singular or plural (the latter only in the New Testament) and with somewhat varying signification.</p><p>(1) As sickness or bodily disease (Joh 5:5; Mt 8:17; Lu 5:15; 8:2; 1Ti 5:23). In the last instance the affections seem to have been dyspeptic, the discomfort of which might be relieved by alcohol, although the disease would not be cured thereby. It is probable that this condition of body produced a certain slackness in Timothy's work against which Paul several times cautions him. In Lu 7:21 the Revised Version (British and American) has "diseases," which is a better rendering of the Greek noson, used here, than the King James Version "infirmities."</p><p>(2) Imperfections or weaknesses of body (Ro 6:19; 2Co 11:30 the King James Version; 2Co 12:5,9,10 the King James Version; Ga 4:13).</p><p>(3) Moral or spiritual weaknesses and defects (Ps 77:10; Ro 8:26; 15:1; Heb 4:15; 5:2; 7:28). In this sense it is often used by the classic English writers, as in Milton's "the last infirmity of noble minds"; compare Caesar, IV, iii, 86. The infirmity which a man of resolution can keep under by his will (Pr 18:14) may be either moral or physical. In Lu 13:11 the woman's physical infirmity is ascribed to the influence of an evil spirit.</p><p>Alexander Macalister</p>