Bible Encyclopedia: Mad

Jump to: ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MAD; MADNESS

halal, shagha`; mania):

1. In the Old Testament:

These words, and derivatives from the same roots are used to express various conditions of mental derangement. Though usually translated "mad," or "madness" they are often used for temporary conditions to which one would scarcely apply them today except as common colloquial inaccuracies. The madness coupled with folly in Ecclesiastes is rather the excessive frivolity and dissipation on the part of the idle rich (so in 1:17; 2:2-12; 7:25; 9:03; 10:13). The insensate fury of the wicked against the good is called by this name in Psalm 102:8. In Deuteronomy 28:28-34 it is used to characterize the state of panic produced by the oppression of tyrannical conquerors, or (as in Zechariah 12:4) by the judgment of God on sinners. This condition of mind is metaphorically called a drunkenness with the wine of God's wrath (Jeremiah 25:16; Jeremiah 51:7). The same mental condition due to terror-striking idols is called "madness" in Jeremiah 50:38. The madman of Proverbs 26:18 is a malicious person who carries his frivolous jest to an unreasonable length, for he is responsible for the mischief he causes. The ecstatic condition of one under the inspiration of the Divine or of evil spirits, such as that described by Balaam (Numbers 24:3 f), or that which Saul experienced (1 Samuel 10:10), is compared to madness; and conversely in the Near East at the present day the insane are supposed to be Divinely inspired and to be peculiarly under the Divine protection. This was the motive which led David, when at the court of Achish, to feign madness (1 Samuel 21:13-15). It is only within the last few years that any provision has been made in Palestine for the restraint even of dangerous lunatics, and there are many insane persons wandering at large there.

This association of madness with inspiration is expressed in the name "this mad fellow" given to the prophet who came to anoint Jehu, which did not necessarily convey a disrespectful meaning (2 Kings 9:11). The true prophetic spirit was, however, differentiated from the ravings of the false prophets by Isaiah (44:25), these latter being called mad by Jeremiah (29:26) and Hosea (9:7).

The most interesting case of real insanity recorded in the Old Testament is that of Saul, who, from being a shy, self-conscious young man, became, on his exaltation to the kingship, puffed up with a megalomania, alternating with fits of black depression with homicidal impulses, finally dying by suicide. The cause of his madness is said to have been an evil spirit from God (1 Samuel 18:10), and when, under the influence of the ecstatic mood which alternated with his depression, he conducted himself like a lunatic (1 Samuel 19:23 f), his mutterings are called "prophesyings." The use of music in his case as a remedy (1 Samuel 16:16) may be compared with Elisha's use of the same means to produce the prophetic ecstasy (2 Kings 3:15).

The story of Nebuchadnezzar is another history of a sudden accession of insanity in one puffed up by self-conceit and excessive prosperity. His delusion that he had become as an ox is of the same nature as that of the daughters of Procyus recorded in the So of Silenus by Virgil (Ecl. vi.48).

2. In the New Testament:

In the New Testament the word "lunatic" (seleniazomenoi) (the King James Version Matthew 4:24; Matthew 17:15) is correctly rendered in the Revised Version (British and American) "epileptic." Undoubtedly many of the demoniacs were persons suffering from insanity. The words "mad" or "madness" occur 8 times, but usually in the sense of paroxysms of passion, excitement, and foolishness. Thus in Acts 26:11 Paul says that before his conversion he was "exceedingly mad" (emmainomenos) against the Christians. In 1 Corinthians 14:23, those who "speak with tongues" in Christian assemblies are said to appear "mad" to the outsider. Rhoda was called "mad" when she announced that Peter was at the door (Acts 12:15). The madness with which the Jews were filled when our Lord healed the man with the withered hand is called anoia, which is literally senselessness (Luke 6:11), and the madness of Balaam is called paraphronia, "being beside himself" (2 Peter 2:16). Paul is accused by Festus of having become deranged by overstudy (Acts 26:24). It is still the belief among the fellahin that lunatics are people inspired by spirits, good or evil, and it is probable that all persons showing mental derangement would naturally be described as "possessed," so that, without entering into the vexed question of demoniacal possession, any cases of insanity cured by our Lord or the apostles would naturally be classed in the same category.

See also LUNATIC.

Alexander Macalister

Greek

3105. mainomai -- to rage, be mad
... to rage, be mad. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mainomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mah'-ee-nom-ahee) Short Definition: I am raving mad Definition: I am raving ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3105.htm - 7k

5520. cholao -- to be melancholy, mad, angry
... to be melancholy, mad, angry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: cholao Phonetic
Spelling: (khol-ah'-o) Short Definition: I am angry with Definition: I am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5520.htm - 6k

3130. mania -- frenzy, madness
... See 3105 (). Word Origin from mainomai Definition frenzy, madness NASB Word Usage
mad (1). madness, frenzy. From mainomai; craziness -- (+ make) X mad. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3130.htm - 6k

1693. emmainomai -- to rage against
... be mad against. From en and mainomai; to rave on, ie Rage at -- be mad against.
see GREEK en. see GREEK mainomai. (emmainomenos) -- 1 Occurrence. 1692, 1693. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1693.htm - 7k

3914. paracheimazo -- to winter at
... to winter at. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paracheimazo Phonetic Spelling:
(par-akh-i-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I pass the winter Definition: I pass ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3914.htm - 6k

5492. cheimazo -- to expose to winter cold, to drive with storm
... to expose to winter cold, to drive with storm. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
cheimazo Phonetic Spelling: (khi-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I am storm ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5492.htm - 6k

593. apodokimazo -- to reject
... to reject. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodokimazo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ok-ee-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I reject after testing, I disqualify ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/593.htm - 7k

1839. existemi -- to displace, to stand aside from
... in trans. tenses: I astonish, amaze, (b) in intrans. tenses: I am astonished,
amazed; I am out of my mind, am mad. 1839 (from 1537 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1839.htm - 8k

2296. thaumazo -- to marvel, wonder
... to marvel, wonder. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thaumazo Phonetic Spelling:
(thou-mad'-zo) Short Definition: I wonder, admire Definition: (a) intrans ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2296.htm - 9k

3099. Madiam -- Midian, a region of Arabia
... Midian, a region of Arabia. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Madiam Phonetic Spelling: (mad-ee-on') Short Definition: Midian Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3099.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7696. shaga -- to be mad
... 7695, 7696. shaga. 7697 . to be mad. Transliteration: shaga Phonetic Spelling:
(shaw-gah') Short Definition: madman. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7696.htm - 6k

4055. mad -- a measure, cloth garment
mad or med. 4054, 4055. mad or med. 4056 . a measure, cloth garment.
Transliteration: mad or med Phonetic Spelling: (mad) Short Definition: armor. ...
/hebrew/4055.htm - 6k

1984b. halal -- to be boastful, to praise
... 9), boasted (1), boastful (3), boasts (3), boasts boast (1), deride (1), drive madly
(1), give praise (1), giving praise (1), glory (8), go mad (1), going mad ...
/hebrew/1984b.htm - 6k

3856. lahah -- to languish, faint
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to languish, faint NASB Word Usage
languished (1). faint, mad. A primitive root meaning properly ...
/hebrew/3856.htm - 6k

4069. maddua -- why? for what reason?
... why? for what reason? Transliteration: maddua or maddua Phonetic Spelling:
(mad-doo'-ah) Short Definition: why. Word Origin from mah and yada Definition why? ...
/hebrew/4069.htm - 6k

4093. madda -- knowledge, thought
... 4092, 4093. madda or madda. 4094 . knowledge, thought. Transliteration: madda
or madda Phonetic Spelling: (mad-daw') Short Definition: knowledge. ...
/hebrew/4093.htm - 6k

4062. madhebah -- golden city
... 4061, 4062. madhebah. 4063 . golden city. Transliteration: madhebah Phonetic
Spelling: (mad-hay-baw') Short Definition: city. Word Origin see marhebah. ...
/hebrew/4062.htm - 5k

4089. Madmannah -- a city in S. Judah, also a descendant of Caleb
... Madmannah. 4090 . a city in S. Judah, also a descendant of Caleb. Transliteration:
Madmannah Phonetic Spelling: (mad-man-naw') Short Definition: Madmannah. ...
/hebrew/4089.htm - 6k

4095. madregah -- steep place, a steep
... 4094b, 4095. madregah. 4096 . steep place, a steep. Transliteration: madregah
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-ray-gaw') Short Definition: pathway. ...
/hebrew/4095.htm - 6k

4087. madmenah -- place of dung, dung pit
... 4086, 4087. madmenah. 4088 . place of dung, dung pit. Transliteration: madmenah
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-may-naw') Short Definition: pile. ...
/hebrew/4087.htm - 6k

Library

Of Some who are Mad Enough to Suppose that the Books were ...
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter X."Of Some Who are Mad Enough to Suppose
that the Books Were Inscribed with the Names of Peter and Paul. 15. ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter x of some who are.htm

Book v. Our Reply, in the Previous Books, to the Mad and ...
... Book V. Our reply, in the previous books, to the mad and blasphemous
doctrines of the heretics� 1. Our reply, in the previous ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book v our reply in.htm

Bishop Hosius Said: but if any Such Person Should be Found So Mad ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon II. Bishop Hosius said: But if any
such person should be found so mad or audacious� (Greek.) ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon ii bishop hosius said .htm

Now Suppose that While You were Writing This, as You Tell us You ...
... in strange doctrines, you will then pronounce worthy of execration because of his
strange doctrines; as to what you are writing about mad dogs bringing feigned ...
/.../21 now suppose that while.htm

But Upon those who have Used Dissimulation Like David...
... But upon those who have used dissimulation like David, who feigned himself to be
mad [2292] to avoid death, being not mad in reality; and those who have not ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon v but upon those.htm

The Blood-Shedding
... The man is mad, sir; take the rudder from his hand; he is clean gone mad! If
he should ever run on shore, shut him up as a hopeless lunatic. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the blood-shedding.htm

"Come Thou and all Thy House into the Ark. "
... Thank God a man can afford to be mad. A mad man thinks everyone else mad but himself
A drunkard does not call himself mad when he is drinking up all his means. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/the overcoming life/come thou and all thy.htm

'Before Governors and Kings'
... And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou
art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.25. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/before governors and kings.htm

One Thing is Needful;
... Heaven forbid that we should be such mad fools, as to make no provision for the
journey; no inquiries about our prospects in that eternity into which we must ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/one thing is needful.htm

And Disputes
... back they went towards Lincoln. At Cheshunt he found a poor, mad sailor
triced up in a doorway by hands and feet. Hugh ran to him ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter vii name disputes.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A slattern.

2. (n.) The name of a female fairy, esp. the queen of the fairies; and hence, sometimes, any fairy.

3. (p. p) of Made.

4. (superl.) Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane.

5. (superl.) Excited beyond self-control or the restraint of reason; inflamed by violent or uncontrollable desire, passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred; mad against political reform.

6. (superl.) Proceeding from, or indicating, madness; expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness.

7. (superl.) Extravagant; immoderate.

8. (superl.) Furious with rage, terror, or disease; -- said of the lower animals; as, a mad bull; esp., having hydrophobia; rabid; as, a mad dog.

9. (superl.) Angry; out of patience; vexed; as, to get mad at a person.

10. (superl.) Having impaired polarity; -- applied to a compass needle.

11. (v. t.) To make mad or furious; to madden.

12. (v. i.) To be mad; to go mad; to rave. See Madding.

13. (n.) An earthworm.

Thesaurus

Mad (22 Occurrences)
... superl.) Excited beyond self-control or the restraint of reason; inflamed by violent
or uncontrollable desire, passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror ...
/m/mad.htm - 19k

Mad-men (1 Occurrence)
Mad-men. Madmen, Mad-men. Madmenah . Multi-Version Concordance
Mad-men (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 21:15 Have I need of ...
/m/mad-men.htm - 6k

Mad-man (1 Occurrence)
Mad-man. Madman, Mad-man. Madmannah . Multi-Version Concordance
Mad-man (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 21:15 Have I need of ...
/m/mad-man.htm - 6k

Madness (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The condition of being mad; insanity; lunacy.
2 ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAD; MADNESS. halal ...
/m/madness.htm - 17k

Madman (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A man who is mad; lunatic; a crazy person.
Multi-Version Concordance Madman (8 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians ...
/m/madman.htm - 8k

Madmen (3 Occurrences)
...mad'-men (madhmen; kai pausin pausetai): A town in Moab against which Jeremiah
prophesied (48:2). The play upon the words here suggests a possible error in ...
/m/madmen.htm - 8k

Wood (226 Occurrences)
... see FOREST. Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Mad; insane; possessed; rabid; furious;
frantic. 2. (vi) To grow mad; to act like a madman; to mad. ...
/w/wood.htm - 42k

Insane (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Exhibiting unsoundness or disorded of mind; not
sane; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted. See Insanity. ...
/i/insane.htm - 9k

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... The audience which followed was brought to an abrupt conclusion by the interruption
of Paul's speech (Acts 26:1-23) by Festus: "Paul, thou art mad; thy much ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

Bible Concordance

Mad (22 Occurrences)

John 10:20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
(KJV WEY ASV YLT RSV NIV)

Acts 12:15 And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Acts 26:11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
(KJV ASV YLT)

Acts 26:24 As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!"
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 26:25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
(KJV WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 28:34 so that you shall be mad for the sight of your eyes which you shall see.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 21:13 He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 21:14 Then said Achish to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 21:15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?"
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" He said to them, "You know the man and what his talk was."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 102:8 My enemies reproach me all day. Those who are mad at me use my name as a curse.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Proverbs 26:18 Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 7:7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Isaiah 10:31 Madmenah is a fugitive. The inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 44:25 who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 25:16 They shall drink, and reel back and forth, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 29:26 Yahweh has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Yahweh, for every man who is mad, and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 50:38 A drought is on her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon has been a golden cup in Yahweh's hand, who made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 9:7 The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Mad

Related Terms

Mad-men (1 Occurrence)

Mad-man (1 Occurrence)

Madness (13 Occurrences)

Madman (8 Occurrences)

Madmen (3 Occurrences)

Wood (226 Occurrences)

Insane (10 Occurrences)

Festus (14 Occurrences)

Raving (4 Occurrences)