κάμνω

I am weary, ill

Definition

The verb κάμνω primarily means 'to be weary, tired, or exhausted,' often from labor or hardship. It can also carry the sense of 'to be sick or ill,' indicating physical infirmity. In Hebrews 12:3, it describes becoming 'weary' or 'faint' in one's soul from resisting sin. In James 5:15, the meaning shifts to physical sickness, as the prayer of faith will save the one who is 'sick.' Revelation 2:3 returns to the sense of endurance, where the Ephesian church has not grown 'weary' in perseverance.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only three times in the New Testament, each in a distinct context. In Hebrews 12:3, it describes spiritual weariness in the Christian struggle. In James 5:15, it refers specifically to physical illness within the context of healing and prayer. In Revelation 2:3, it conveys perseverance without growing tired in doing good works, as addressed to a church. The usage spans pastoral exhortation (Hebrews), practical instruction (James), and prophetic encouragement (Revelation).

Etymology

The word κάμνω is a primary Greek verb meaning 'to labor, toil, become weary.' It is related to the noun κόπος (kopos, G2873), meaning 'labor' or 'trouble,' which often appears in similar contexts of weariness. The fundamental idea is the exhaustion resulting from strenuous effort, which naturally extended to include the weariness caused by sickness.

Semantic Range

This word enriches understanding of the Christian life as one involving real struggle and potential weariness, both physically and spiritually. In Hebrews 12:3, it connects to the doctrine of perseverance, encouraging believers to look to Jesus to avoid growing faint. In James 5:15, it relates to divine healing and the power of prayer in the community of faith. Recognizing the dual sense of physical and spiritual weariness highlights the holistic nature of human experience addressed by Scripture.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, physical labor was often strenuous and could lead to genuine exhaustion, making the primary sense of 'weariness' very tangible. The extension to sickness reflects a worldview where prolonged physical debility was seen as a form of wearing down. The cultural expectation of endurance in hardship makes the exhortations in Hebrews and Revelation particularly resonant for original audiences facing persecution or social pressure.

κόπος (kopos, G2873) — a noun meaning 'labor, trouble, weariness,' often the cause or result of the action described by κάμνω. ἐκλύω (ekluō, G1590) — to be faint, grow weak, or loose, often in a more extreme state of exhaustion. ἀσθενέω (astheneō, G770) — to be weak or sick, focusing more on the state of infirmity than the process of becoming weary.

Word Details

Scripture References