5296 disabilities

Physical incapacities resulting from physical or spiritual causes.

Examples of disabilities

Barrenness Ge 11:30; Ge 25:21; Mt 19:12

Blindness Mt 12:22; Mt 15:30; Mt 20:30; Mk 8:22; Jn 9:1

Deafness Ps 38:13; Mk 7:32

Muteness Ps 38:13; Mt 12:22; Lk 11:14

Lameness Lev 21:18; 2Sa 5:6; Mt 15:31; Mt 21:14; Ac 14:8

Causes of disabilities

God’s judgment Dt 28:28

Accident 2Sa 4:4; 2Ki 1:2

Old age Ge 27:1; 1Sa 4:15; 2Sa 19:35; Ps 71:9; Ecc 12:3-4; Zec 8:4; Heb 11:21

Congenital defects Mt 19:12; Jn 9:1; Ac 14:8

Cruelty Jdg 1:6-7; Jdg 16:21; 1Sa 11:2; 2Ki 25:7; Eze 23:25

Illness 1Ki 15:23 pp 2Ch 16:12; Gal 4:13-15

Acts of God Ge 19:11; Ge 32:25,31-32; Lev 26:16; 1Ki 13:4; 2Ki 6:18; 2Ki 15:5; 2Ch 21:18-19; 2Ch 26:19-21; Lk 1:20; Ac 9:8 Saul’s blindness; Ac 13:11; Ac 22:11

Acts of evil spirits Mt 9:32-33; Mt 12:22; Mk 9:17,25-26; Lk 11:14; Lk 13:11,16

Unfavourable aspects of disability

Unfair advantage taken of the disabled Lev 19:14; 2Sa 19:26; Jn 5:7

Disabilities restrict service for God Lev 21:16-23; 2Sa 19:31-37

Favourable aspects of disabilities

Prayer to the Lord Ge 25:21; 1Sa 1:10; Mt 9:27; Mt 20:30; Mk 7:32; Mk 8:22; 2Co 12:8

Prevention of overconfidence 2Co 12:7

Proof of God’s grace 2Co 12:9-10

Demonstration of God’s power Jn 9:2-3

Disability and God’s people

God’s blessing may prevent or remove disability Ge 25:21; Ex 23:25-26; Ps 113:9; Isa 49:21; Isa 54:1; Lk 1:36; Heb 11:11

God’s providence Ex 4:11

God protects his servants by disabling their enemies 2Ki 6:18

Human attitudes to disabilities

Bitterness 1Sa 1:10

Contempt Ge 16:4; 1Sa 1:6; 2Ki 2:23; Pr 17:5

Inertness Jn 5:6

Rejoicing 2Co 12:9-10

God’s compassion towards those with disabilities

Revealed in the precepts of the law Lev 19:14; Dt 27:18

Revealed in the promises of the prophets Isa 42:16; Jer 31:8; Mic 4:6-7; Zep 3:19

Revealed in the deeds of Jesus Christ Mt 9:27-33; Mt 15:29-31 pp Mk 7:31-37; Mt 21:14; Lk 7:21-23

Responsibilities towards those with disabilities

To treat them with respect Lev 19:14

Not to take advantage of them Dt 27:18

To provide help for them Job 29:15; Pr 31:8; Lk 14:13-14

See also