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# feeble

«feeble» in Mova's judaism dictionary: **Very weak, without strength or energy** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (feeble, feebler, feeblest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Very weak, without strength or energy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#m1)

2) Not good enough or not convincing: «a feeble excuse», «a feeble joke». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

Interpretation: Jacob's trick with the flocks gives him the stronger animals. Tradition sees his careful work as honest, since Laban had cheated him many times. Later books use "feeble" for weak knees and hands, and for weak creatures like the rock-badgers. Feeble hands show fear and loss of courage, and Job's friend praises those who strengthen the feeble. In the primary lessons: In stories: an old or sick character has a feeble voice or feeble steps. In everyday life: «That's a feeble excuse!» means it is not a good reason. «Feeble light» is dim light.

### examples

- but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. (Torah GEN.30.42, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x1)
- Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. (Writings JOB.4.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x2)
- The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags; (Writings PRO.30.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x3)
- And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted. (Prophets 2SA.4.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x4)
- The baby bird was feeble and couldn't fly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x5)
- "Help," she said in a feeble voice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x6)
- That's a feeble excuse for not doing your homework! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x7)
- The torch gave a feeble light. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x8)
- He made a feeble attempt to lift the box. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x9)
- The joke was so feeble nobody laughed. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x10)
- Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/#x11)

### note

Adverb: feebly. Opposite: strong, powerful. Can be unkind if said about a person; fine for excuses and jokes.

### In the corpora

- [And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were affrighted.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/neviim/jps/2SA.112/)
- [The rock-badgers are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the crags;](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/PRO.890/)
- [Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/jps/JOB.69/)
- [At last a feeble voice answers from an old beech tree: «Ratty!](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/35-willows-ch3-part3-snow-in-the-wild-wood/5/)
- [Toad's «feeble voice»: «Thank you so much, dear Ratty!](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/47-willows-ch6-part3-toad-tricks-the-rat/19/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «feeble» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/F/feeble/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.