Human Strength and Weakness in Biblical Perspective

The Bible presents a nuanced view of human strength and weakness, often contrasting human frailty with divine power and highlighting how God works through human limitations. This perspective is evident throughout both the Old and New Testaments, shaping theological understanding across various Christian traditions.

In the Old Testament, the concept of human weakness is frequently linked to a need for divine intervention. Isaiah, for instance, calls to "strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees" ^[1]. This imagery underscores a state of enfeeblement that requires external support. The prophet further declares that God "gives power to the weak" and "increases the strength of him who has no might" ^[2]. This suggests that human weakness is not an impediment to God's work but rather a condition in which divine power is most clearly manifested. The "power of God" is described in various ways, including His voice, finger, hand, and arm, signifying its greatness, might, and irresistibility ^[5]. The name "Jasiel," meaning "the strength of God," also reflects this understanding of divine power ^[6].

The New Testament continues to explore this theme, often in the context of the Christian life and the nature of faith. The author of Hebrews echoes Isaiah's call to "strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble," applying it to believers ^[4]. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, touches on different kinds of weakness, noting that "one man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables," referring to scruples or lack of conviction in certain matters ^[3].

A significant aspect of this biblical perspective is the idea that God's strength is perfected in human weakness. The crucifixion of Christ, though appearing as an act of weakness, is understood as a demonstration of God's power. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown comment on 1 Corinthians 1:25, stating that the "foolishness of God" (God's plan of salvation) and the "weakness of God" (Christ crucified) are paradoxically where God's strength is perfected ^[7]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that Christ was "crucified through weakness" but "liveth by the power of God," emphasizing that even in apparent vulnerability, divine power was at work ^[13]. He further observes that "the strength of the Lord is perfected in weakness," citing the courage of women who acknowledged Jesus at his death when others forsook him ^[9].

This principle extends to believers. Paul's personal experience, where he was told by the Lord, "My strength is made perfect in weakness," highlights that God's power is most fully displayed when human strength is absent ^[12]. Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, applies this doctrine to believers, stating that when "our strength shall fail, and we shall be almost laid low, we may call to remembrance that the Lord stretches out his hand 'to the faint'" ^[8]. Similarly, Jamieson, Fausset & Brown interpret Zechariah 4:6 ("Not by might... but by my Spirit") to mean that human weakness is no obstacle to God's work, as "God's might will perfect strength out of weakness" ^[10]. They also explain that Christ's "assumption of our weakness was the source... from which the possibility of His crucifixion flowed," and that believers, in union with Christ, experience weakness for a time ^[11].

The Puritan commentator Matthew Henry describes the Jewish church's experience in Babylonian captivity as God "weakened my strength in the way," illustrating how national weakness could be a part of God's providential plan ^[14]. This collective experience mirrors the individual one, where moments of profound weakness serve to highlight reliance on divine power.

Sources

Isaiah “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. -- Isaiah 35:3”
Isaiah “He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. -- Isaiah 40:29”
Romans “One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. -- Romans 14:2”
Hebrews “Hebrews 12:12 (NASB) — Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jasiel — the strength of God”
1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 1:25: foolishness of God--that is, God's plan of salvation which men deem "foolishness." weakness of God--Christ "crucified through weakness" (Co2 13:4, the great stumbling-block of the Jews), yet "living by the power of God." So He perfects strength out of the weakness of His servants (Co1 2:3; Co2 12:9).”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.45: to God to give assistance to those who were thus exhausted and weakened. He therefore magnifies the power of God on this ground, that they may conclude and believe that they ought not to doubt of their salvation so long as they enjoy his favor. It was indeed to the people who were held captive in Babylon that the Prophet looked; but we ought also to apply this doctrine to ourselves, that whenever our strength shall fail, and we shall be almost laid low, we may call to remembrance that the Lord stretches out his hand “to the faint,” who are si”
Mark (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Mark 15:47: Beheld where he was laid - The courage and affection of these holy women cannot be too much admired. The strength of the Lord is perfected in weakness; for here a timid man, and a few weak women, acknowledge Jesus in death, when the strong and the mighty utterly forsook him. Human strength and human weakness are only names in religion. The mightiest Man, in the hour of trial, can do nothing without the strength of God; and the weakest Woman can do all things, if Christ strengthen her. These truths are sufficiently exemplified in the case of Peter and all his brother ”
Zechariah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 4:6: Not by might . . . but by my Spirit--As the lamps burned continually, supplied with oil from a source (the living olive trees) which man did not make, so Zerubbabel need not be disheartened because of his weakness; for as the work is one to be effected by the living Spirit (compare Hag 2:5) of God, man's weakness is no obstacle, for God's might will perfect strength out of weakness (Hos 1:7; Co2 12:10; Heb 11:34). "Might and power" express human strength of every description, physical, mental, moral. Or, "might" is the strength of many (an "army"); "”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 13:4: though--omitted in some of the oldest manuscripts; then translate, "For He was even crucified," &c. through weakness--Greek, "from weakness"; that is, His assumption of our weakness was the source, or necessary condition, from which the possibility of His crucifixion flowed (Heb 2:14; Phi 2:7-8). by--Greek, "from"; "owing to." the power of God--the Father (Rom 1:4; Rom 6:4; Eph 1:20). weak in him--that is, in virtue of our union with Him, and after His pattern, weakness predominates in us for a time (exhibited in our "infirmities" and we”
2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 12:9: said--literally, "He hath said," implying that His answer is enough [ALFORD]. is sufficient--The trial must endure, but the grace shall also endure and never fail thee [ALFORD], (Deu 33:25). The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that following them up he might say, "O Lord, Thy grace is sufficient for me" [BENGEL]. my strength--Greek, "power." is made perfect--has its most perfect manifestation. in weakness--Do not ask for sensible strength, FOR My power is perfected in man's "strengthlessness" (so the Greek). The "for" implies, thy”
2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 13:4: For though he was crucified through weakness - It is true Christ was crucified, and his crucifixion appeared to be the effect of his weakness; yet even this was not so; he gave up his life, none could take it away from him; and in his last struggle, had he even been deficient in power, he could have had more than twelve legions of angels to support him against the high priest's mob, Mat 26:53; but how then could the Scripture be fulfilled? And had he not died, how could the human race have been saved? Yet he liveth by the power of God - Though he appeared to ”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 102:23: We may here observe, I. The imminent danger that the Jewish church was in of being quite extirpated and cut off by the captivity in Babylon (Psa 102:23): He weakened my strength in the way. They were for many ages in the way to the performance of the great promise made to their fathers concerning the Messiah, longing as much for it as ever a traveller did to be at his journey's end. The legal institutions led them in the way; but when the ten tribes were lost in Assyria, and the two almost lost in Babylon, the strength of that nation was weakened, and, in all ap”

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