verb
asthenamō
Strong’sG770
I am weak, sick
stem asthen-34 times in the New Testamentin 11 of 27 books16 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
To be weak or feeble, lacking strength: this is the basic sense of the word 1234. It can describe weakness generally, and is used with a dative or with "in" to speak of being weak in faith 1.
Especially in the New Testament, the word narrows to a specific sense: to be sick or ill, of bodily illness 1234. This use covers actual physical sickness and disease, and "those who are sick" is a set phrase for the ill 1. Strong's likewise gives "diseased," "impotent," and "sick" among the meanings 2, and Dodson's gloss is simply "weak, sick" 4.
In the Greek Old Testament the word is also used of a day declining toward evening 3.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἀσθενέω, -ῶ
(< ἀσθενής), [in LXX chiefly for כּשׁל;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G770 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidas-then-eh'-o
to be feeble (in any sense)
Fromfrom G772;
King Jamesbe diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
want of strength, weakness, Refs 5th c.BC+; especially feebleness, sickliness, Refs 5th c.BC+
2 disease, sickness, Refs 2nd c.BC+; δι᾽ ἀσθένειανNT
3 ἀ. βίου poverty, Refs 5th c.BC+
4 in moral sense, feebleness, weakness, τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης φύσεωςRefs 5th c.BC+ to be weak, feeble, sickly, ἀ. μέλη to be weak in limb, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ἀσθένειαν NT+5th c.BC+; ἠσθένησε he fell sick, Refs 4th c.BC+sick man, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἠσθενηκόταRefs 2nd c.BC+
2 to be needy, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἠσθενηκότες, of those unable to pay taxes, Refs 1st c.BC+
3 with infinitive, to be too weak to do a thing, not to be able.., Refs 1st c.AD+
4 decline, ἠσθένησεν ἡ ἡμέρα εἰς τὴν ἑσπέρανLXX
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| asthenamōἀσθενῶ | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | weak | 1× |
| asthenatōἀσθενεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | sick | 6× |
| asthenanōἀσθενοῦμεν | happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural | weak | 1× |
| asthenateἠσθένει | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | sick | 3× |
| asthenamaἠσθένησα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | sick | 1× |
| asthenataἠσθένησεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | ill | 2× |
| asthenanēἠσθενήκαμεν | has happened · weperfect active indicative 1st person plural | weak | 1× |
| asthenameiōἀσθενῶ | happening now · Ipresent active subjunctive 1st person singular | weak | 1× |
| asthenaneiōἀσθενῶμεν | happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural | weak | 1× |
| asthenarōntosἀσθενῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | sick | 4× |
| asthenarōntonἀσθενοῦντα | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine | sick | 3× |
| asthenarōntanἀσθενοῦσαν | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular feminine | weak | 1× |
| asthenarōntoinἀσθενοῦντας | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine | sick | 4× |
| asthenarōntoiuἀσθενούντων | happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine | sick | 3× |
| asthenarantosἀσθενήσας | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine | weaken | 1× |
| asthenarantanἀσθενήσασαν | happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular feminine | sick | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 15 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | asthenamō1×ἀσθενῶ | asthename | asthenami | asthenama1×ἠσθένησα | asthenamē | asthenamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | asthenasō | asthenase | asthenasi | asthenasa | asthenasē | asthenaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | asthenatō6×ἀσθενεῖ | asthenate3×ἠσθένει | asthenati | asthenata2×ἠσθένησεν | asthenatē | asthenatelē |
| we 1st person plural | asthenanō1×ἀσθενοῦμεν | asthenane | asthenani | asthenana | asthenanē1×ἠσθενήκαμεν | asthenanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | asthenavō | asthenave | asthenavi | asthenava | asthenavē | asthenavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | asthenalō | asthenale | asthenali | asthenala | asthenalē | asthenalelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | asthenameiō1×ἀσθενῶ | asthenameia | asthenameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | asthenaseiō | asthenaseia | asthenaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | asthenateiō | asthenateia | asthenateiē |
| we 1st person plural | asthenaneiō1×ἀσθενῶμεν | asthenaneia | asthenaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | asthenaveiō | asthenaveia | asthenaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | asthenaleiō | asthenaleia | asthenaleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | asthenasōr | asthenasar | asthenasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | asthenatōr | asthenatar | asthenatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | asthenavōr | asthenavar | asthenavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | asthenalōr | asthenalar | asthenalēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | asthenamoiō | asthenamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | asthenasoiō | asthenasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | asthenatoiō | asthenatoia |
| we 1st person plural | asthenanoiō | asthenanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | asthenavoiō | asthenavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | asthenaloiō | asthenaloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | asthenarō | asthenari | asthenara | asthenarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 17 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | asthenarōntos15×ἀσθενῶν | asthenarintos | asthenarantos2×ἀσθενήσας | asthenarēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
asthen is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Words built on the same stem
Other words sharing the exact same stem — not merely related in meaning.
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
34 occurrences, every one of them listed
asthenamō“weak”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 11:29tinos asthenatō, kai ouk asthenamō? tinos skandalizotō kai ouk mis puromō?… is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and …
asthenatō“sick”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular6×
John 11:3… auton legarōntais; Kurior, ide hon filasō asthenatō.… Lord, the one You love is sick.”
John 11:6hōs oun akouata hoti asthenatō, tote men menata en ho ate …So on hearing that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for …
Romans 14:21“becomes weak.”… adelfos su proskoptatō ē skandalizotō ē asthenatō;… to cause your brother to stumble.
2 Corinthians 11:29tinos asthenatō, kai ouk asthenamō? tinos skandalizotō kai …Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who …
2 Corinthians 13:3… lalarōntou Christou; hos eis vin ouk asthenatō alla dunatatō en vi,… speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is …
James 5:14asthenatō tinos en vi? proskaletar toin presbuteroin …Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of …
asthenanō“weak”happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 13:4… ek dunamiau theou. kai gar nis asthenanō en auto, alla zōani sun auto …… God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power …
asthenate“sick”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular3×
John 4:46… ate tinos basilikos hou tos huios asthenate en Kafarnaoum.… a royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
John 11:2… trichai autau, hau tos adelfos Lazaros asthenate.(Mary, whose brother Lazarus was sick, was to anoint the Lord with …
Romans 8:3… gar adunatem tou nomou, en he asthenate dia tau sarkau, tos theos ton …… to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by …
asthenama“sick”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
Matthew 25:36gumnos kai peribalava min, asthenama kai episkepteva min, en fulaka ome …… and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I …
asthenata“ill”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Philippians 2:26… vin, kai adēmonarōntos dioti akouava hoti asthenata.… distressed because you heard he was ill.
Philippians 2:27“ill”kai gar asthenata paraplēsiem thanato; alla tos theos elēata …… was sick indeed, nearly unto death. But God had mercy on him, and …
asthenanē“weak”has happened · weperfect active indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 11:21kata atimian legamō, hōs hoti nis asthenanē; en he de an tinos tolmateiō, …… I concede that we were too weak for that! Speaking as a fool …
asthenameiō“weak”happening now · Ipresent active subjunctive 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 12:10… kai stenochōriai, huper Christou; hotan gar asthenameiō, tote dunatos amō.… in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
asthenaneiō“weak”happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 13:9chairanō gar hotan nis asthenaneiō, vis de dunatois aveiō; houtem kai …… fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our …
asthenarōntos“sick”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine4×
John 5:7“sick”apokrinita auto tos asthenarōntos; Kurior, anthrōpon ouk echamō hina hotan …“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water …
John 11:1Ate de tinos asthenarōntos, Lazaros apo Bēthaniau ek tau kōmau …… time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village …
Romans 14:2… men pisteuatō esthiara panteim, tos de asthenarōntos lachaneim esthiatō.… all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.
1 Corinthians 8:11apolotō gar tos asthenarōntos en ta sa gnōsia, tos adelfos …So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is …
asthenarōnton“sick”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine3×
Matthew 25:39pote de sin horana asthenarōnton ē en fulaka kai erchana pros …When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
Romans 14:1Ton de asthenarōnton ta pistia proslabovōr, mē eis diakrisiain …Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
2 Timothy 4:20… Korintha, Trofimon de apolipama en Milēta asthenarōnton.… at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
asthenarōntan“weak”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular feminine1×
1 Corinthians 8:12… adelfoin kai tuptarōntois autoiu tan suneidēsian asthenarōntan eis Christon hamartavō.… in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.
asthenarōntoin“sick”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine4×
Matthew 10:8asthenarōntoin therapeuavōr, nekroin egeravōr, leproin katharizavōr, daimoneim …Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers …
Mark 6:56… agroin en tai agorai tithale toin asthenarōntoin, kai parakalale auton hina kan teu …… towns and countrysides — they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him …
Luke 4:40“sick”… de tou hēliou hapantois hosois echale asthenarōntoin nosai poikilai agala autoin pros auton; …At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and …
Acts 19:12hōste kai epi toin asthenarōntoin apoferorō apo tou chrōtou autou soudarieim …… touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits …
asthenarōntoiu“sick”happening now · of, belonging topresent active participle genitive plural masculine3×
John 5:3en houtai katakeiote plēthem toiu asthenarōntoiu, tufloiu, chōloiu, xēroiu.… lay a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the …
John 6:2… teim sēmeim heim poiate epi toiu asthenarōntoiu.… signs He was performing on the sick.
Acts 20:35… hoti houtōs kopiarōntoin datō antilaborō toiu asthenarōntoiu, mnēmoneuarō tē toiu logoiu tou kuriou …… hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord …
asthenarantos“weaken”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative singular masculine1×
Romans 4:19“weaken”kai mē asthenarantos ta pistia katanoata tem heautou sōmem …… in his faith, he acknowledged the decrepitness of his body (since he …
asthenarantan“sick”happened · objectaorist active participle accusative singular feminine1×
Acts 9:37geneta de en tai hēmerai ekeinai asthenarantan autan apothnēskara; louarantois de tithala autan …At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was …