In the biblical context, "weakness" can refer to physical, spiritual, or moral frailty. It is a condition that affects all of humanity due to the fallen nature of the world and the inherent limitations of human beings. The Bible addresses weakness in various ways, offering both a realistic portrayal of human frailty and a hopeful message of divine strength and grace.

Physical Weakness

Physical weakness is a common human experience, often depicted in the Bible as a result of illness, age, or exhaustion. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, speaks of a "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7), which many scholars interpret as a physical ailment or limitation. Despite this weakness, Paul emphasizes that God's power is made perfect in weakness, stating, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Spiritual Weakness

Spiritual weakness refers to the struggle against sin and the inability to live up to God's standards without divine assistance. The Bible acknowledges that all humans are spiritually weak and in need of God's strength. In Romans 8:26, Paul writes, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words" . This passage highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in supporting believers in their spiritual frailty.

Moral Weakness

Moral weakness is the susceptibility to temptation and sin. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who succumbed to moral weakness, such as King David in his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). However, Scripture also offers hope for overcoming moral weakness through repentance and reliance on God's strength. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul assures believers, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it" .

Divine Strength in Weakness

The Bible consistently teaches that human weakness is an opportunity for God's power to be displayed. In Isaiah 40:29, it is written, "He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak" . This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing that reliance on God is the key to overcoming human limitations. The Apostle Paul, in his own experience of weakness, declares, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Christ's Example

Jesus Christ, though fully divine, experienced human weakness during His earthly ministry. He faced hunger, fatigue, and ultimately, the suffering of the cross. Yet, through His weakness, He accomplished the greatest act of strength—overcoming sin and death. Hebrews 4:15 states, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" . Christ's example provides believers with a model of how to endure and triumph over weakness through faith and obedience.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on weakness is multifaceted, acknowledging the reality of human frailty while pointing to the sufficiency of God's grace and strength. Believers are encouraged to embrace their weaknesses as opportunities for God's power to be revealed, trusting in His provision and guidance in all circumstances.1. (n.) The quality or state of being weak; want of strength or firmness; lack of vigor; want of resolution or of moral strength; feebleness.

2. (n.) That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution; a fault; a defect.

769. astheneia -- weakness, frailty
... weakness, frailty. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: astheneia Phonetic
Spelling: (as-then'-i-ah) Short Definition: want of strength, weakness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/769.htm - 7k

3119. malakia -- softness, weakness
... softness, weakness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: malakia Phonetic
Spelling: (mal-ak-ee'-ah) Short Definition: weakness, illness Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3119.htm - 6k

771. asthenema -- an infirmity
... an infirmity. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: asthenema Phonetic Spelling:
(as-then'-ay-mah) Short Definition: weakness, infirmity Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/771.htm - 6k

1133. gunaikarion -- a little woman, (contemptuously) a silly ...
... gunaikarion Phonetic Spelling: (goo-nahee-kar'-ee-on) Short Definition: a woman,
a poor weak woman Definition: a woman, with all a woman's weakness, a poor ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1133.htm - 6k

772. asthenes -- without strength, weak
... sthenes (strong) Definition without strength, weak NASB Word Usage helpless (1),
sick (6), unimpressive (1), weak (12), weak things (1), weaker (1), weakness (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/772.htm - 8k

4816. morek -- weakness
... 4815, 4816. morek. 4817 . weakness. Transliteration: morek Phonetic
Spelling: (mo'-rek) Short Definition: weakness. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4816.htm - 6k

2476. chalushah -- weakness, prostration
... 2475, 2476. chalushah. 2477 . weakness, prostration. Transliteration: chalushah
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-oo-shaw') Short Definition: defeat. Word Origin fem ...
/hebrew/2476.htm - 6k

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... A primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the
ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall -- bereave (from ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

2974. yaal -- to show willingness, be pleased, determine ...
... A primitive root (probably rather the same as ya'al through the idea of mental
weakness); properly, to yield, especially assent; hence (pos.) To undertake as ...
/hebrew/2974.htm - 6k

648. aphil -- late
... not grown up. From the same as 'aphel (in the sense of weakness); unripe -- not
grown up. see HEBREW 'aphel. 647b, 648. aphil. 649 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/648.htm - 6k

From Strength to Weakness
... From Strength to Weakness. "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory
in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/from strength to weakness .htm

On the Weakness of Free Will.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter X. On the weakness of free will.
For Holy Scripture supports the freedom of the will where ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter x on the weakness.htm

Although the Weakness of the Flesh Cannot Prevail against the ...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 4 Although the weakness of the flesh cannot
prevail against the power of God? Although the weakness ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 4 although the weakness.htm

The Final Conflict and Heaven in Weakness and Distress of Mind.
... The Final Conflict and Heaven In Weakness and Distress of Mind. VI. In Weakness
and Distress of Mind. 8,8,8,8. Herr Jesu Christ mein Lebens Licht. ...
/.../the final conflict and heaven 7.htm

Penitence the Weakness and Restlessness of Sin.
... Penitence The Weakness and Restlessness of Sin. IV. The Weakness and Restlessness
of Sin. 8,8,8,8. O Jesu K??nig hoch zu ehren. [274]Tersteegen.1731. ...
/.../penitence the weakness and restlessness.htm

Of the Weakness of Man.
... Chap. IV."Of the Weakness of Man. They also complain that man is liable
to diseases, and to untimely death. They are indignant ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap iv of the weakness of.htm

The Twentieth Chapter: Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of ...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Twentieth Chapter: Confessing Our Weakness
in the Miseries of Life. The Disciple I WILL bring ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twentieth chapter confessing our.htm

Weakness of the Pleas Urged in Defence of Second Marriage.
... Chapter XVI."Weakness of the Pleas Urged in Defence of Second Marriage.
But I smile when (the plea of) "infirmity of the flesh ...
/.../tertullian/on monogamy/chapter xvi weakness of the pleas.htm

Of this Weakness of His, He Saith in Another Place...
... Section 13. Of this weakness of his, he saith in another place? 13. Of
this weakness of his, he saith in another place, "We made ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 13 of this weakness.htm

Whether Weakness, Ignorance, Malice and Concupiscence are Suitably ...
... OF THE EFFECTS OF SIN, AND, FIRST, OF THE CORRUPTION OF THE GOOD OF NATURE (SIX
ARTICLES) Whether weakness, ignorance, malice and concupiscence are suitably ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether weakness ignorance malice and.htm

Weakness (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution; a fault; a
defect. Multi-Version Concordance Weakness (25 Occurrences). ...
/w/weakness.htm - 14k

Bodily (17 Occurrences)
... whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of
the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily weakness among the ...
/b/bodily.htm - 12k

Weaknesses (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 12:9 He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in ...
/w/weaknesses.htm - 8k

Weak (102 Occurrences)
... Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as
you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon ...
/w/weak.htm - 38k

Anthropology
... Delitzsch maintains, that 'ish points to a root 'osh "to be strong," and 'ishshah
to 'anash, as designating woman in her weakness (compare 1 Peter 3:7: "the ...
/a/anthropology.htm - 38k

Polygamy
... POLYGAMY. po-lig'-a-mi: 1. Meaning of the Term 2. Origin of Polygamy 3. The Old
Testament and Polygamy 4. Polygamy Unnatural The Eunuch 5. Weakness of Polygamy ...
/p/polygamy.htm - 19k

Deal (170 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Corinthians 13:4 For though it is true that He was crucified through
weakness, yet He now lives through the power of God. ...
/d/deal.htm - 40k

Glad (421 Occurrences)
... whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the glad tidings of
the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily weakness among the ...
/g/glad.htm - 37k

Frailty (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A physical, mental, or moral weakness; liableness to be broken or deceived.
2. (n.) A fault proceeding from weakness; foible; sin of infirmity. ...
/f/frailty.htm - 6k

Perfected (25 Occurrences)
... judgment. (WEB ASV YLT). 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said to me, My grace
suffices thee; for my power is perfected in weakness. Most ...
/p/perfected.htm - 13k

What was the reason behind Peter's denial of Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

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Weakness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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