Topical Encyclopedia
Madness, as referenced in the Bible, often denotes a state of mental disturbance or irrational behavior, sometimes attributed to divine judgment or spiritual affliction. The concept of madness is explored in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both literal and metaphorical interpretations.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, madness is frequently associated with divine punishment or a departure from God's wisdom.
Deuteronomy 28:28 warns of madness as a consequence of disobedience to God's commandments: "The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind." This passage underscores the belief that turning away from God can lead to mental and spiritual turmoil.
The account of King Saul provides a vivid example of madness in the biblical narrative. After being rejected by God as king, Saul experiences a tormenting spirit that drives him to irrational and violent behavior.
1 Samuel 16:14 states, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him." Saul's madness is depicted as a direct result of his disobedience and loss of divine favor.
Wisdom LiteratureIn Ecclesiastes, madness is contrasted with wisdom, highlighting the futility of human endeavors apart from God.
Ecclesiastes 1:17 says, "So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind." The author, traditionally understood to be Solomon, explores the limits of human understanding and the vanity of life without divine purpose.
Prophetic LiteratureThe prophets also speak of madness in the context of judgment and societal decay.
Jeremiah 25:16 describes the nations drinking the cup of God's wrath, resulting in madness: "They will drink and stagger and go out of their minds because of the sword that I will send among them." Here, madness symbolizes the chaos and destruction that accompany divine retribution.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, madness is mentioned in relation to demonic possession and spiritual warfare. The Gospels recount several instances where Jesus heals individuals afflicted with unclean spirits, restoring them to soundness of mind. In
Mark 5:15, after Jesus casts out a legion of demons from a man, it is noted, "They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid."
The Apostle Paul, in his defense before Festus, is accused of madness due to his fervent preaching of the Gospel.
Acts 26:24 records Festus's reaction: "At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. 'You are out of your mind, Paul!' he shouted. 'Your great learning is driving you insane.'" Paul's response emphasizes the rationality and truth of his message, contrasting worldly perceptions of madness with spiritual insight.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, madness in the Bible often serves as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness and confusion that result from sin and separation from God. It highlights the need for divine intervention and the restoration of order through faith and obedience. The biblical portrayal of madness underscores the importance of aligning one's life with God's will to achieve true wisdom and understanding.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
MadnessIn Scripture "madness" is recognized as a derangement proceeding either from weakness and misdirection of intellect or from ungovernable violence of passion. In one passage alone, (John 10:20) is madness expressly connected with demoniacal possession by the Jews in their cavil against our Lord; in none is it referred to any physical causes.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
This word is used in its proper sense in
Deuteronomy 28:34,
John 10:20,
1 Corinthians 14:23. It also denotes a reckless state of mind arising from various causes, as over-study (
Ecclesiastes 1:17;
2:12), blind rage (
Luke 6:11), or a depraved temper (
Ecclesiastes 7:25;
9:3;
2 Peter 2:16). David feigned madness (
1 Samuel 21:13) at Gath because he "was sore afraid of Achish."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The condition of being mad; insanity; lunacy.
2. (a.) Frenzy; ungovernable rage; extreme folly.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MAD; MADNESShalal, 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 inPsalm 102:8. InDeuteronomy 28:28-34 it is used to characterize the state of panic produced by the oppression of tyrannical conquerors, or (as inZechariah 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" inJeremiah 50:38. The madman ofProverbs 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 VersionMatthew 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 inActs 26:11 Paul says that before his conversion he was "exceedingly mad" (emmainomenos) against the Christians. In1 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 alsoLUNATIC.
Alexander Macalister
MADNESS
mad'-nes.
SeeMAD, MADNESS.
Greek
3913. paraphronia --madness...madness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paraphronia Phonetic Spelling:
(par-af-ron-ee'-ah) Short Definition:
madness, folly Definition:
madness...3130. mania -- frenzy,madness
... frenzy,madness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: mania Phonetic
Spelling: (man-ee'-ah) Short Definition: ravingmadness Definition: raving...
454. anoia -- folly, foolishness
... folly, foolishness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anoia Phonetic
Spelling: (an'-oy-ah) Short Definition: folly,madness Definition: folly...
Strong's Hebrew
1948. holeluth --madness... 1947, 1948. holeluth. 1949 .
madness. Transliteration: holeluth Phonetic
Spelling: (ho-lay-looth') Short Definition:
madness. Word
...1947. holelah --madness
... 1946, 1947. holelah. 1948 .madness. Transliteration: holelah Phonetic
Spelling: (ho-lay-law') Short Definition:madness. Word Origin...
7697. shiggaon --madness
... 7696, 7697. shiggaon. 7698 .madness. Transliteration: shiggaon Phonetic
Spelling: (shig-gaw-yone') Short Definition:madness. Word...
1984b. halal -- to be boastful, to praise
... boasts (3), boasts boast (1), deride (1), drive madly (1), give praise (1), giving
praise (1), glory (8), go mad (1), going mad (1), mad (1),madness (1), make...
Library
WhetherMadness is an Impediment to Marriage?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENTS OF IMPOTENCE, SPELL, FRENZY ORMADNESS, INCEST AND DEFECTIVE
AGE (FIVE ARTICLES) Whethermadness is an impediment to marriage?...
The Distemper, Folly, andMadness of Sin.
... first and third lines of the stanza. Hymn 2:153. The distemper, folly,
andmadness of sin. 1 Sin like a venomous disease Infects...
The Distemper, Folly, andMadness of Sin
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 153 The distemper, folly, andmadness of sin. CM The distemper,
folly, andmadness of sin. Sin, like a venomous disease,....
OMadness, which Knowest not How to Love Men...
... Book IV Chapter VII Omadness, which knowest not how to love men? Omadness,
which knowest not how to love men, like men! O foolish...
Madness and Death.
...Madness and Death. I was coming along north Clark street one evening when
a man shot past me like an arrow. But he had seen me, and...
I Say Not, Therefore, with what Error, but with what UtterMadness...
... Section 22. I say not, therefore, with what error, but with what utter
madness? 22. I say not, therefore, with what error, but...
He Leads to Reformation his Friend Alypius, Seized withMadness...
... Book VI. Chapter VII."He Leads to Reformation His Friend Alypius, Seized
withMadness for the Circensian Games. 11. These things...
Of the Impediments of Impotence, Spell, Frenzy orMadness, Incest...
... OF THE IMPEDIMENTS OF IMPOTENCE, SPELL, FRENZY ORMADNESS, INCEST AND DEFECTIVE
AGE (FIVE ARTICLES).... (2) Whether a spell is? (3) Whether frenzy ormadness is?...
The Republic had Passed Its Paroxysm of Fever, of Demagoguical...
... XII. The Republic had passed its paroxysm of fever, of demagoguicalmadness?
The Republic had passed its paroxysm of fever, of...
But if it is PerfectMadness to Hold Such a view for It...
... Book I. Chapter 7. " 8. But if it is perfectmadness to hold such a
view for it? "8. But if it is perfectmadness to hold...
Thesaurus
Madness (13 Occurrences)... David feigned
madness (1 Samuel 21:13) at Gath because he "was sore afraid of Achish.".
Noah Webster's Dictionary.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MAD;
MADNESS...Mad (22 Occurrences)
... 6. (superl.) Proceeding from, or indicating,madness; expressing distraction;
prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness.... MAD;MADNESS....
Lunatick (2 Occurrences)
... II.Madness. The Bible designates "madness," or alienation of mind, by various
terms, all of which seem to be onomatopoetic. These...
Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences)
... 7.Madness: No reference is made in any of these inscriptions to
Nebuchadnezzar's insanity. But aside from the fact that we could...
Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)
... were cast, Nebuchadnezzar was afflicted with some peculiar mental aberration as
a punishment for his pride and vanity, probably the form ofmadness known as...
Bewilderment (7 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Deuteronomy 28:28 Yahweh will strike you withmadness, and with
blindness, and with astonishment of heart; (See NAS). Psalms...
Applied (22 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV). Ecclesiastes 1:17 I applied my heart to know wisdom, and
to knowmadness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind....
Folly (68 Occurrences)
... These words do not occur in Prov, but in Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 7:25; cikhluth
is associated with "madness" ("Wickedness is folly, and....
Foolishness (30 Occurrences)
... heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things,
and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness ismadness....
Fool (95 Occurrences)
... These words do not occur in Prov, but in Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 7:25; cikhluth
is associated with "madness" ("Wickedness is folly, and....
Resources
Is Jesus a copy of Dionysus? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Christian calendar? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of “chasing the wind” in Ecclesiastes? | GotQuestions.orgMadness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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