afflicted

Everyday

1. Suffering from an illness, pain or trouble: «afflicted with a cough». tree →
2. Past form of «afflict»: to cause someone pain or trouble: «The village was afflicted by floods.» tree →
3. (formal) «The afflicted» means people who suffer. tree →

In the lessons

In history, health and Bible lessons «afflicted» describes people struck by disease, famine or disaster; the Bible speaks of comforting the afflicted. In news it is used for places hit by drought or war. Phrases: «afflicted with», «afflicted by», «comfort the afflicted».

Examples

• The town was afflicted by a terrible drought. tree →
• He was afflicted with a bad cough all winter. tree →
• Nurses cared for the afflicted during the plague. tree →
• Many crops were afflicted by disease that year. tree →
• Jesus healed many who were afflicted, Christians believe. tree →
• The old dog was afflicted with stiff legs. tree →
• “I have nothing to give,” said the afflicted mother, “but I will go to the world's end for you!” tree →

Note

Formal word; everyday words: «suffering from», «hit by». Noun: affliction (an illness or trouble). Do not confuse with «inflicted» (caused to someone else: «inflict pain»). Use «afflicted with/by».

In Jewish tradition

Means oppressed or treated harshly, as the Israelites were in Egypt. On Yom Kippur it means a person who humbles himself by fasting. In the Psalms and Isaiah, "the afflicted" are the poor, the suffering and the oppressed, whom God and judges must defend.

Interpretation. Tradition says a person who does not fast and afflict himself on Yom Kippur is "cut off" from the people. The Egyptian affliction is remembered at the Passover seder. The tradition reads the verses about the afflicted as a duty to protect the weak and a promise that God hears them.

Examples

• But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. (Torah EXO.1.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. (Torah DEU.26.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. (Torah LEV.23.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• I trusted even when I spoke: 'I am greatly afflicted.' (Writings PSA.116.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. (Writings PSA.82.3, JPS 1917) tree →
• Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine; (Prophets ISA.51.21, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Formal word; everyday words: «suffering from», «hit by». Noun: affliction (an illness or trouble). Do not confuse with «inflicted» (caused to someone else: «inflict pain»). Use «afflicted with/by».