Frail
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The term "frail" refers to the inherent weakness and vulnerability of human beings, both physically and spiritually. In the biblical context, frailty is often associated with the transient nature of human life and the susceptibility to sin and moral failure. The Bible frequently contrasts human frailty with the strength and eternal nature of God.

Human Frailty

The Bible acknowledges the physical frailty of human beings, emphasizing the brevity and uncertainty of life. In Psalm 103:15-16 , it is written, "As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more." This passage highlights the temporary and fragile nature of human existence, likening it to grass and flowers that quickly wither and disappear.

Job, a figure known for his suffering and endurance, also reflects on human frailty. In Job 14:1-2 , he states, "Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure." Here, Job underscores the brevity of life and the inevitable challenges that accompany it.

Spiritual Frailty

Beyond physical weakness, the Bible addresses the spiritual frailty of humanity, particularly the propensity to sin. In Romans 3:23 , the Apostle Paul writes, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse speaks to the universal nature of sin and the moral weakness inherent in all people.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this theme in Romans 7:18-19 , where he confesses, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do." This passage illustrates the internal struggle between the desire to live righteously and the reality of human weakness.

Divine Strength in Human Frailty

Despite human frailty, the Bible offers hope through the strength and grace of God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 , the Lord tells Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Paul responds by declaring, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me." This exchange highlights the transformative power of God's grace, which is made perfect in human weakness.

The Psalms frequently express reliance on God's strength amid human frailty. Psalm 46:1 proclaims, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble." This assurance of divine support provides comfort and encouragement to those who recognize their own limitations.

Conclusion

The concept of frailty in the Bible serves as a reminder of the limitations and vulnerabilities inherent in human nature. It underscores the need for reliance on God's strength and grace, which offer hope and redemption in the face of physical and spiritual weakness. Through acknowledging frailty, believers are encouraged to seek a deeper relationship with God, who provides the strength to overcome life's challenges.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.

2. (n.) The quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail.

3. (n.) A rush for weaving baskets.

4. (superl) Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.

5. (superl) Tender.

6. (superl) Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women.

Greek
3749. ostrakinos -- earthen
... of earth, earthen. From ostrakon ("oyster") (a tile, ie Terra cotta);
earthen-ware, ie Clayey; by implication, frail -- of earth, earthen. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3749.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
2310. chadel -- forbearing, lacking
... he that forbears, frail, rejected. From chadal; vacant, ie Ceasing or destitute --
he that forbeareth, frail, rejected. see HEBREW chadal. 2309, 2310. ...
/hebrew/2310.htm - 6k

605. anash -- to be weak, sick
... A primitive root; to be frail, feeble, or (figuratively) melancholy --
desperate(-ly wicked), incurable, sick, woeful. 604, 605. anash. 606 . ...
/hebrew/605.htm - 6k

2523. challash -- weak
... Word Origin from chalash Definition weak NASB Word Usage weak (1). weak. From chalash;
frail -- weak. see HEBREW chalash. 2522, 2523. challash. 2524 . ...
/hebrew/2523.htm - 6k

7390. rak -- tender, delicate, soft
... Word Origin from rakak Definition tender, delicate, soft NASB Word Usage frail
(1), gentle (1), inexperienced (2), refined (2), soft (2), tender (3), tender ...
/hebrew/7390.htm - 6k

Library

Frail Life and Succeeding Eternity.
... Hymn 2:55. Frail life and succeeding eternity. 1 Thee we adore, eternal Name, And
humbly own to thee, How feeble is our mortal frame! What dying worms are we! ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 2 55 frail life and.htm

Our Frail Bodies, and God Our Preserver.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:19. Our frail bodies,
and God our preserver. 1 Let others boast how strong they ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 2 19 our frail bodies.htm

Frail Life, and Succeeding Eternity.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 55 Frail life, and succeeding eternity. CM Frail life, and
succeeding eternity. Thee we adore, Eternal Name,. And humbly own to thee. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 55 frail life and.htm

Psalm 90 Part 1 Man Frail, and God Eternal.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 90 PART 1 Man frail, and God eternal. v.1-5 CM.
Man frail, and God eternal. Our God, our help in ages past,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 90 part 1 man.htm

Our Frail Bodies, and God Our Preserver.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 19 Our frail bodies, and God our Preserver. CM Our frail bodies,
and God our Preserver. Let others boast how strong they be,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/hymn 19 our frail bodies.htm

That all Things were Created for Some Use, Even those Things which ...
... Chap. IV."That All Things Were Created for Some Use, Even Those Things Which Appear
Evil; On What Account Man Enjoys Reason in So Frail a Body. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv that all things were.htm

Psalm 90:2. 1-5. First Part. CM Man Frail, and God Eternal.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 90:2. 1-5. First Part. CM Man frail,
and God eternal. 1 Our God, our help in ages past, Our ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 90 2 0 1-5 first part.htm

Since Then, in Reference to Our Hope of the Resurrection, Christ ...
... But it is evident that the man who is angry with a woman because she says that she
hopes not to have a frail body in the resurrection is of the opinion that ...
/.../7 since then in reference.htm

The Earthquake (Preached October 11, 1863. )
... And last week's earthquake was an awful message, reminding all reasonable souls
how frail man is, how frail his strongest works, how frail this seemingly solid ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xv the earthquake preached.htm

But Let us Come to These Two Commentaries which He Alone Excepts ...
... of all, as to these poor weak women about whom he makes himself merry, because they
say that after the resurrection they will not have their frail bodies since ...
/.../23 but let us come.htm

Thesaurus
Frail (6 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or
seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail. ...Frail (6 Occurrences). ...
/f/frail.htm - 8k

Fragrant (30 Occurrences)

/f/fragrant.htm - 16k

Nostrils (22 Occurrences)
... me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3). Therefore a life which
depends on so slight a thing as a breath is considered as utterly frail and of ...
/n/nostrils.htm - 17k

Nose (23 Occurrences)
... me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3). Therefore a life which
depends on so slight a thing as a breath is considered as utterly frail and of ...
/n/nose.htm - 19k

Longevity
... Eli was blind and feeble at 98. At 70 David was bedridden and frail. Manasseh, the
king of Judah whose reign was longest, died at 67; Uzziah died at 68. ...
/l/longevity.htm - 9k

Life's (4 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Psalms 39:4 "Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my
days. Let me know how frail I am. (See NIV). Ecclesiastes ...
/l/life's.htm - 7k

Weak (102 Occurrences)
... not compact; as, a weak ship. 5. (vi) Not stiff; pliant; frail; soft;
as, the weak stalk of a plant. 6. (vi) Not able to resist ...
/w/weak.htm - 38k

Wakeful (3 Occurrences)
... Mark 14:38 Be wakeful, all of you, and keep on praying, that you may not come into
temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail." (WEY). ...
/w/wakeful.htm - 7k

Frailty (1 Occurrence)

/f/frailty.htm - 6k

Fragile (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Easily broken; brittle; frail; delicate; easily
destroyed. Multi-Version Concordance Fragile (3 Occurrences). ...
/f/fragile.htm - 7k

Resources
What is chivalry? Does the Bible instruct men to be chivalrous? | GotQuestions.org

What is God's relationship to time? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong to be angry with God? | GotQuestions.org

Frail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Frail (6 Occurrences)

Matthew 26:41
Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."
(WEY)

Mark 14:38
Be wakeful, all of you, and keep on praying, that you may not come into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."
(WEY)

Romans 8:3
For what was impossible to the Law--powerless as it was because it acted through frail humanity--God effected. Sending His own Son in a body like that of sinful human nature and as a sacrifice for sin, He pronounced sentence upon sin in human nature;
(WEY)

Hebrews 7:8
Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive.
(WEY)

Genesis 33:13
Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 39:4
"Yahweh, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Frail

Related Terms

Anthropology

Spider (3 Occurrences)

Frail (6 Occurrences)

Frame (33 Occurrences)

Death (1610 Occurrences)

Vanity (100 Occurrences)

Vanities (14 Occurrences)

Infirmity (22 Occurrences)

Earthly (39 Occurrences)

Delicacy (1 Occurrence)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Adam (29 Occurrences)

Son (25967 Occurrences)

Mediation

Mediator (7 Occurrences)

Flesh (468 Occurrences)

Certainly (415 Occurrences)

Human (133 Occurrences)

Fragrant Spices
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