Greek word · G732

ἄρρωστος

arrōstos

ill

Literally 'without strength' (from a- 'not' + rhōnnymi 'be strong'). It means sick, ailing or feeble, and is a general word for illness rather than the name of a particular disease.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 25, 2026

What it means

ἄρρωστος, -ον

(ἀ- neg., ῥώννυμι), [in LXX: 1 Kings 14:5Α, Malachi 1:8 (חָלָה), Sirach 7:35 * ;]

feeble, sickly: Matthew 14:14, Mark 6:5, 13 16:18, 1 Corinthians 11:30.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Mark 16:18

Range of meaning: Literally 'without strength' (from a- 'not' + rhōnnymi 'be strong'). It means sick, ailing or feeble, and is a general word for illness rather than the name of a particular disease.
Against the English: 'Sick' (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate. YLT's 'ailing' keeps more of the sense of weakness.
Used elsewhere in the period: Mark 6:5 (Jesus 'laid his hands on a few arrōstois and healed them') and Mark 6:13 (the Twelve 'anointed many arrōstous with oil and healed them'); also Matthew 14:14 and 1 Corinthians 11:30. It is common in Greek medical writing and in the Septuagint (e.g. 1 Kings 14:5).

From the study of Matthew 14:14

Range of meaning: From a- ('not') plus the root of ῥώννυμι ('to be strong'). It means feeble, sickly, ill, often with long-term weakness in view.
Against the English: Most versions have 'sick'. YLT 'infirm' keeps the idea of being without strength.
Used elsewhere in the period: Used in classical Greek and medical writers for sickly or invalid people. In the LXX: Sirach 7:35 (visiting the sick) and 1 Kings 14:5 (Jeroboam's son). In the NT: Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:5, 13; 16:18; 1 Corinthians 11:30. This is the only place Matthew uses it.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 11:30

Range of meaning: Sick, ill, infirm, ailing. In the NT it always refers to physical illness (Matt 14:14; Mark 6:5, 13; 16:18).
Against the English: KJV and WEB 'sickly' suggests someone frail by constitution. The Greek simply means 'ill'. BSB and the modern versions' 'sick' or 'ill' fits.
Used elsewhere in the period: Common in Hellenistic Greek for the sick. The LXX uses it for illness, e.g. Sirach 7:35 ('do not hesitate to visit the sick'), and Malachi 1:8, 13 for the sickly animals offered at the altar. In the Gospels it is used for the sick whom Jesus heals.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

Matthew 14:14 ἀρρώστους sick

When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Here: Literally 'without strength': the weak, the chronically ill, the bedridden. YLT has 'infirm'. Many of them would have been carried or helped along the shore by relatives.

Mark · 2

Mark 6:5 ἀρρώστοις sick

So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
Mark 6:13 ἀρρώστους sick

They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 11:30 ἄρρωστοι, sick,

That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

Here: Literally 'without strength' (a-, 'not', plus rhōnnymi, 'to be strong'). It was an ordinary word for people who are ill. Together with 'weak' it describes real physical sickness in the church.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.