Physical incapacities resulting from physical or spiritual causes.

Genesis 11:30; 25:21

Examples of disabilities

Matthew 19:12

Barrenness

Matthew 12:22; 15:30; 20:30
Mark 8:22

Blindness

John 9:1
Psalms 38:13
Mark 7:32

Deafness

Psalms 38:13
Matthew 12:22

Muteness

Luke 11:14
Leviticus 21:18
2 Samuel 5:6

Lameness

Matthew 15:31; 21:14
Acts 14:8
Deuteronomy 28:28

Causes of disabilities

God's judgment

2 Samuel 4:4
2 Kings 1:2

Accident

Genesis 27:1
1 Samuel 4:15

Old age

2 Samuel 19:35
Psalms 71:9
Ecclesiastes 12:3-4
Zechariah 8:4
Hebrews 11:21
Matthew 19:12
John 9:1

Congenital defects

Acts 14:8
Judges 1:6-7; 16:21
1 Samuel 11:2

Cruelty

2 Kings 25:7
Ezekiel 23:25
1 Kings 15:23

Illness

Galatians 4:13-15

pp 2Ch 16:12

Genesis 19:11; 32:25,31-32
Leviticus 26:16

Acts of God

1 Kings 13:4
2 Kings 6:18; 15:5
2 Chronicles 21:18-19; 26:19-21
Luke 1:20
Acts 9:8
Acts 13:11; 22:11

Saul's blindness

Matthew 9:32-33; 12:22
Mark 9:17,25-26

Acts of evil spirits

Luke 11:14; 13:11,16
Leviticus 19:14

Unfavourable aspects of disability

2 Samuel 19:26

Unfair advantage taken of the disabled

John 5:7
Leviticus 21:16-23
2 Samuel 19:31-37

Disabilities restrict service for God

Genesis 25:21

Favourable aspects of disabilities

1 Samuel 1:10

Prayer to the Lord

Matthew 9:27; 20:30
Mark 7:32; 8:22
2 Corinthians 12:8
2 Corinthians 12:7

Prevention of overconfidence

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Proof of God's grace

John 9:2-3

Demonstration of God's power

Genesis 25:21

Disability and God's people

Exodus 23:25-26

God's blessing may prevent or remove disability

Psalms 113:9
Isaiah 49:21; 54:1
Luke 1:36
Hebrews 11:11
Exodus 4:11

God's providence

2 Kings 6:18

God protects his servants by disabling their enemies

1 Samuel 1:10

Human attitudes to disabilities

Bitterness

Genesis 16:4
1 Samuel 1:6

Contempt

2 Kings 2:23
Proverbs 17:5
John 5:6

Inertness

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Rejoicing

Leviticus 19:14

God's compassion towards those with disabilities

Deuteronomy 27:18

Revealed in the precepts of the law

Isaiah 42:16
Jeremiah 31:8

Revealed in the promises of the prophets

Micah 4:6-7
Zephaniah 3:19
Matthew 9:27-33; 15:29-31

Revealed in the deeds of Jesus Christ

Matthew 21:14
Luke 7:21-23

pp Mk 7:31-37

Leviticus 19:14

Responsibilities towards those with disabilities

To treat them with respect

Deuteronomy 27:18

Not to take advantage of them

Job 29:15
Proverbs 31:8

To provide help for them

Luke 14:13-14

See also

1030 God, compassion
1310 God as judge
5133 blindness
5148 ear
5163 legs
5169 nakedness
5225 barrenness
5279 crowds
5297 disease
5333 healing
5727 old age, attitudes
5823 cruelty