Lexical Summary arróstos: Sick, ill Original Word: ἄρρωστος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance feeble, sickly. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of rhonnumi; infirm -- sick (folk, -ly). see GREEK a see GREEK rhonnumi HELPS Word-studies 732 árrhōstos (from 1 /A, "not" and 4517 /rhṓnnymi, "leave, depart") – properly, a persisting illness – literally, one "that will not leave"; chronic ill-health. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and rhónnumi Definition not strong, i.e. feeble, sickly NASB Translation sick (3), sick people (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 732: ἄρρωστοςἄρρωστος, ἄρρωστον (ῤώννυμι, which see), wihtout strength, weak; sick: Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:5, 13; Mark 16:18; 1 Corinthians 11:30. ((Hippocrates), Xenophon, Plutarch.) Topical Lexicon Lexical Texture and Semantic Range Ἄρρωστος denotes bodily weakness or sickness severe enough to rob a person of normal strength. In every New Testament setting the focus is on physical malady, though spiritual implications often accompany the contexts in which the term appears. Occurrences in the Gospel Narrative Matthew 14:14, Mark 6:5, Mark 6:13, and Mark 16:18 cluster the word around the public ministry of Jesus Christ and the mission He entrusted to His followers. • Matthew 14:14 – “When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.” The healing of the ἀρρώστους crowns the feeding-of-the-five-thousand scene, revealing the Shepherd-heart of the Messiah who meets both physical and spiritual hunger. • Mark 6:5 – Nazareth’s unbelief limited neither Christ’s compassion nor His ability; “He could not do any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.” The presence of ἄρρωστοι magnifies the tragedy of unbelief while underscoring that even minimal faith receives genuine mercy. • Mark 6:13 – The Twelve, newly commissioned, “drove out many demons and anointed many of the sick with oil and healed them.” The term bridges physical affliction and spiritual oppression, displaying the Kingdom’s holistic deliverance. • Mark 16:18 – “...they will place their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.” Within the longer ending of Mark, ἄρρωστοι appear in the promise of accompanying signs, locating healing within gospel proclamation rather than separate from it. Apostolic Admonition: 1 Corinthians 11:30 Paul addresses abuses of the Lord’s Table: “That is why many of you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” Here ἄρρωστοι serves as a covenantal warning. Physical illness may function as temporal discipline within the household of God, urging self-examination and reverent participation in Christ’s body and blood. Yet the same passage offers assurance: judged rightly now, believers avoid final condemnation (1 Corinthians 11:32). Theological Threads Compassion of God Each Gospel occurrence connects sickness with Christ’s compassionate gaze (Matthew 14:14) or that of His representatives (Mark 6:13). Healing is never portrayed as a mere display of power; it is the outflow of divine mercy. Messianic Authentication Miraculous recovery of ἄρρωστοι validates Jesus’ identity (Matthew 11:4-5 echoes) and substantiates apostolic preaching (Mark 16:20). Healing signals the in-breaking reign of God promised by the prophets. Holistic Salvation Ἄρρωστος frames both physical relief and spiritual realities. Demonic expulsion in Mark 6:13, and covenant discipline in 1 Corinthians 11:30, show that the biblical view of humanity is integrated; sickness can overlap with spiritual bondage or moral disregard, though Scripture never reduces all illness to personal sin (cf. John 9:3). Authority and Means Jesus heals by word (Matthew 8:16), touch (Mark 6:5), and mediation through disciples (Mark 6:13; 16:18), establishing multiple legitimate means—prayer, laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and sovereign decree. These remain consistent with James 5:14-16 even though ἄρρωστος is not used there. Judgment and Mercy 1 Corinthians 11 demonstrates that divine chastening can involve sickness, but the goal is restoration, not destruction. The same table that brings judgment to the irreverent also declares healing and unity to the repentant. Historical and Ministry Significance Early Church Practice Patristic writers testify that healing continued as an apologetic for the gospel (e.g., Irenaeus, Justin Martyr). Hospital-like institutions, pioneered by Christians, flowed from the conviction that caring for ἄρρωστοι emulates Christ. Pastoral Application 1. Proclaim Christ’s authority to heal while acknowledging His sovereignty (Philippians 2:27). Eschatological Hope The healing of ἄρρωστοι is provisional, pointing toward the day when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4). Present recoveries are sign-posts to the resurrection, where sickness will be forever abolished. Summary Ἄρρωστος in the New Testament encapsulates bodily infirmity addressed by Christ’s compassionate authority, extended through His church, occasionally employed as loving discipline, and ultimately eclipsed by the promised restoration of all things. Forms and Transliterations αρρωστοι άρρωστοι ἄρρωστοι αρρωστοις αρρώστοις ἀρρώστοις άρρωστον άρρωστός αρρωστους αρρώστους ἀρρώστους αρσενικά αρσενικάς αρσενικόν αρσενικού αρσενικώ αρσενικών arrostoi arrōstoi árrostoi árrōstoi arrostois arrōstois arrṓstois arrostous arrōstous arrṓstousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 14:14 Adj-AMPGRK: ἐθεράπευσεν τοὺς ἀρρώστους αὐτῶν NAS: for them and healed their sick. KJV: he healed their sick. INT: healed the sick of them Mark 6:5 Adj-DMP Mark 6:13 Adj-AMP Mark 16:18 Adj-AMP 1 Corinthians 11:30 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 732 |
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