Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5296 disabilities
Physical incapacities resulting from physical or spiritual causes.
Examples of disabilities
Barrenness
Genesis 11:30; Genesis 25:21; Matthew 19:12
Blindness
Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:30; Matthew 20:30; Mark 8:22; John 9:1
Deafness
Psalm 38:13; Mark 7:32
Muteness
Psalm 38:13; Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14
Lameness
Leviticus 21:18; 2 Samuel 5:6; Matthew 15:31; Matthew 21:14; Acts 14:8
Causes of disabilities
God's judgment
Deuteronomy 28:28
Accident
2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 1:2
Old age
Genesis 27:1; 1 Samuel 4:15; 2 Samuel 19:35; Psalm 71:9; Ecclesiastes 12:3-4; Zechariah 8:4; Hebrews 11:21
Congenital defects
Matthew 19:12; John 9:1; Acts 14:8
Cruelty
Judges 1:6-7; Judges 16:21; 1 Samuel 11:2; 2 Kings 25:7; Ezekiel 23:25
Illness
1 Kings 15:23 pp 2 Chronicles 16:12; Galatians 4:13-15
Acts of God
Genesis 19:11; Genesis 32:25,31-32; Leviticus 26:16; 1 Kings 13:4; 2 Kings 6:18; Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 21:18-19; 2 C 19-21; Luke 1:20; Acts 9:8 Saul's blindness; Acts 13:11; Acts 22:11
Acts of evil spirits
Matthew 9:32-33; Matthew 12:22; Mark 9:17,25-26; Luke 11:14; Luke 13:11,16
Unfavourable aspects of disability
Unfair advantage taken of the disabled
Leviticus 19:14; 2 Samuel 19:26; John 5:7
Disabilities restrict service for God
Leviticus 21:16-23; 2 Samuel 19:31-37
Favourable aspects of disabilities
Prayer to the Lord
Genesis 25:21; 1 Samuel 1:10; Matthew 9:27; Matthew 20:30; Mark 7:32; Mark 8:22; 2 Corinthians 12:8
Prevention of overconfidence
2 Corinthians 12:7
Proof of God's grace
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Demonstration of God's power
John 9:2-3
Disability and God's people
God's blessing may prevent or remove disability
Genesis 25:21; Exodus 23:25-26; Psalm 113:9; Isaiah 49:21; Isaiah 54:1; Luke 1:36; Hebrews 11:11
God's providence
Exodus 4:11
God protects his servants by disabling their enemies
2 Kings 6:18
Human attitudes to disabilities
Bitterness
1 Samuel 1:10
Contempt
Genesis 16:4; 1 Samuel 1:6; 2 Kings 2:23; Proverbs 17:5
Inertness
John 5:6
Rejoicing
God's compassion towards those with disabilities
Revealed in the precepts of the law
Leviticus 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:18
Revealed in the promises of the prophets
Isaiah 42:16; Jeremiah 31:8; Micah 4:6-7; Zephaniah 3:19
Revealed in the deeds of Jesus Christ
Matthew 9:27-33; Matthew 15:29-31 pp Mark 7:31-37; Matthew 21:14; Luke 7:21-23
Responsibilities towards those with disabilities
To treat them with respect
Leviticus 19:14
Not to take advantage of them
Deuteronomy 27:18
To provide help for them
Job 29:15; Proverbs 31:8; Luke 14:13-14
See also
1030 God, compassion 1310 God as judge 5133 blindness 5147 deafness 5162 lameness 5168 muteness 5225 barrenness 5278 cripples 5297 disease 5333 healing 5726 old age, attainment 5823 cruelty
