Original Word: μαλακία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: malakia
Pronunciation: mah-lah-KEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-ak-ee'-ah)
Definition: Weakness, infirmity, softness
Meaning: weakness, illness, sickness.

disease.

From malakos; softness, i.e. Enervation (debility) -- disease.

see GREEK malakos

3119 malakía (from 3120 /malakós, "soft") – a disease or condition that weakens ("softens") the victim. 3119 (malakía) is an ailment that disables – "a debilitating infirmity" causing the body to lose muscle fiber, etc.

Word Origin
from malakos
Definition
softness, weakness
NASB Translation
sickness (3).

STRONGS NT 3119: μαλακία

μαλακία, μαλακίας, ἡ (μαλακός);

1. properly, softness (from Herodotus down).

2. in the N. T. (like ἀσθένεια, ἀρρωστία) infirmity, debility, bodily weakness, sickness (the Sept. for חלִי, disease, Deuteronomy 7:15; Deuteronomy 28:61; Isaiah 38:9, etc.); joined with νόσος, Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:1.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root μαλακός (malakos), meaning "soft" or "effeminate."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for μαλακία, the concept of physical weakness or disease can be related to several Hebrew terms that describe illness or infirmity, such as חֳלִי (choli • Strong's Hebrew 2483), which means "sickness" or "disease." This reflects the broader biblical theme of healing and restoration found throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Usage: The word μαλακία is used in the New Testament to describe physical or moral weakness. It appears in contexts that discuss ailments or conditions that render a person weak or infirm.

Context: The term μαλακία is found in the New Testament, specifically in the context of physical ailments. In Matthew 4:24 (BSB), it is used to describe various diseases and afflictions that Jesus healed: "The news about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them." Here, μαλακία is translated as "diseases," indicating a state of physical infirmity or weakness.

The term is also associated with moral weakness in some interpretations, particularly when considering its root μαλακός, which can imply effeminacy or a lack of moral fortitude. However, in the context of the New Testament, the primary focus is on physical conditions that Jesus had the power to heal, demonstrating His authority over both the physical and spiritual realms.

The use of μαλακία in the New Testament underscores the compassion of Jesus and His mission to restore wholeness to those who are suffering. It highlights the transformative power of His ministry, which addressed both the physical and spiritual needs of individuals.

εμαλακίσθη εμαλακίσθην μαλακία μαλακίαις μαλακιαν μαλακίαν μαλακίας μαλακισθείς μαλακισθήναι μαλακίσθητι μεμαλάκισται malakian malakíanInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts