Greek · G4583 · unreviewed

σεληνιάζομαι

Be epileptic

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σεληνιάζομαι G4583
Pronunciation selēniázomai

What does σεληνιάζομαι (selēniázomai) mean in the Bible?

σεληνιάζομαι (selēniázomai) is a Greek word meaning "be epileptic". σεληνιάζω (σελήνη), act, in Manetho (Caren.

Full entry for σεληνιάζομαι (G4583) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

be epileptic
Extended definition

Ancient belief that epilepsy resulted from moon's influence; term reflects pre-scientific medical understanding.

(σελήνη), act, in Manetho (Caren., 4, 81), in NT depon. -ομαι, to be moonstruck, i.e. epileptic (epilepsy being supposed to be influenced by the moon): Mat.4:24 17:15.

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present
Voices
Middle
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Present Middle Matt 4:24
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Middle Matt 17:15
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 2 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 1 participle 1
Tense
present 2
Voice
middle 2
Mood
participle 1 indicative 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources