Infirmity
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
lit., "want of strength" (a, negative, sthenos, "strength"), "weakness," indicating inability to produce results, is most frequently translated "infirmity," or "infirmities;" in Romans 8:26 , the RV has "infirmity" (AV, "infirmities"); in 2—Corinthians 12:5,9,10 , "weaknesses" and in 2—Corinthians 11:30 , "weakness" (AV, "infirmities"); in Luke 13:11 the phrase "a spirit of infirmity" attributes her curvature directly to satanic agency. The connected phraseology is indicative of trained medical knowledge on the part of the writer.
akin to No. 1, is found in the plural in Romans 15:1 , "infirmities," i.e., those scruples which arise through weakness of faith. The strong must support the infirmities of the weak (adunatos) by submitting to self-restraint.
Luke 7:21
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [2]
Applied to the mind, denotes frailty, weakness. It has been a question what may properly be denominated sins of infirmity.
1. Nothing, it is said, can be excused under that name which at the time of its commission is known to be a sin.
2. Nothing can be called a sin of infirmity which is contrary to the express letter of any of the commandments.
3. Nothing will admit of a just and sufficient excuse upon the account of infirmity which a man beforehand considers and deliberates with himself, whether it be a sin or no. A sin of infirmity is,
1. Such a failing as proceeds from excusable ignorance.
2. Or unavoidable surprise.
3. Or want of courage and strength, Romans 15:1 . By infirmity also we understand the corruptions that are still left in the heart (notwithstanding a person may be sanctified in part, ) and which sometimes break out. These may be permitted to humble us; to animate our vigilance; perhaps that newly convinced sinners might not be discouraged by a sight of such perfection they might despair of ever attaining to; to keep us prayerful and dependent; to prevent those honours which some would be ready to give to human nature rather than to God; and, lastly, to excite in us a continual desire for heaven. Let us be cautious and watchful, however, against sin in all its forms: for it argues a deplorable state of mind when men love to practise sin, and then lay it upon constitution, the infirmity of nature, the decree of God, the influence of Satan, and thus attempt to excuse themselves by saying they could not avoid it. Clarke's Serm. ser. 12, vol. 9: Massilon's Serm. vol. 2: p. 213, Eng. trans.
King James Dictionary [3]
Infirmity n. inferm'ity. L. infirmitas.
1. An unsound or unhealthy state of the body weakness feebleness. Old age is subject to infirmities. 2. Weakness of mind failing fault foible.
A friend should bear a friend's infirmities.
3. Weakness of resolution. 4. Any particular disease malady applied rather to chronic, than to violent diseases. 5. Defect imperfection weakness as the infirmities of a constitution of government.
Webster's Dictionary [4]
(1): ( a.) A personal frailty or failing; foible; eccentricity; a weakness or defect.
(2): ( a.) The state of being infirm; feebleness; an imperfection or weakness; esp., an unsound, unhealthy, or debilitated state; a disease; a malady; as, infirmity of body or mind.
Holman Bible Dictionary [5]
Matthew 8:17 Isaiah 53:4 Romans 15:1
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [6]
in - fûr´mi - ti ( דּוה , dāwāh , חלה , ḥālāh , מחלה , maḥălāh ; ἀσθένεια , asthéneia ): This word is used either in the singular or plural (the latter only in the New Testament) and with somewhat varying signification. (1) As sickness or bodily disease ( John 5:5; Matthew 8:17; Luke 5:15; Luke 8:2; 1 Timothy 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 Luke 7:21 the Revised Version (British and American) has "diseases," which is a better rendering of the Greek nosō̇n , used here, than the King James Version "infirmities." (2) Imperfections or weaknesses of body ( Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 11:30 the King James Version; 2 Corinthians 12:5 , 2 Corinthians 12:9 , 2 Corinthians 12:10 the King James Version; Galatians 4:13 ). (3) Moral or spiritual weaknesses and defects ( Psalm 77:10; Romans 8:26; Romans 15:1; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:2; Hebrews 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 ( Proverbs 18:14 ) may be either moral or physical. In Luke 13:11 the woman's physical infirmity is ascribed to the influence of an evil spirit.
