"to be a lunatic, Mt. 4:24; 17:15*"
Definition and meaning
to be a lunatic, Mt. 4:24; 17:15*
In the original Greek the word is written: σεληνιάζομαι
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of seleniazomai (G4583) across the King James Bible.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
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Common questions
Strong's G4583 (seleniazomai) is a Greek word that means: to be a lunatic, Mt. 4:24; 17:15* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word seleniazomai (G4583) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4583 is seleniazomai, a Greek word defined as: to be a lunatic, Mt. 4:24; 17:15*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
seleniazomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.