MADNESS
Madness
The words rendered by mad, madman, madness, etc., in the A. Vers., vary considerably in the Hebrew of the O.T. In Deu 28:28; Deu 28:34; 1Sa 21:13-15, etc. (, etc., in the Sept.), they are derivatives of the root , shaga’, to be stirred or excited; in Jer 25:16; Jeremiah 1, 38; Jer 51:7; Ecc 1:17, etc. (Sept. ), from the root , hal’, to flash out, applied (like the Greek ) either to light or sound; in Isa 44:25, from , sakkel’, to make void or foolish (Sept. ); in Zec 12:4, from , tamah’, to wander (Sept. ). In the N.T. they are generally used to render or (as in Joh 10:20; Act 26:24; 1Co 14:23); but in 2Pe 2:16 the word is , and in Luk 6:11, The term is used in Scripture in its proper and old sense of a raving maniac or demented person (Deu 28:34; 1Sa 21:13; Joh 10:20; 1Co 14:23), and may be medically defined to be delirium without fever. Our Lord cured by his word several who were deprived of the exercise of their rational powers, and the circumstances of their histories prove that there could neither be mistake nor collusion respecting them. See LUNATIC. How far madness may be allied to, or connected with demoniacal possession (as implied in one passage, Joh 10:20), is a very intricate inquiry; and whether in the present day (as perhaps anciently) evil spirits may not take advantage from distemperature of the bodily frame to augment evils endured by the patient is more than may be affirmed, though the idea seems to be not absolutely repugnant to reason (see Thomson, Land and Book. 1:213). SEE DAEMONIAC.
The term mad is likewise applied in Scripture, as in common life, to any subordinate but violent disturbance of the mental faculties, whether springing from a disordered intellect (as by over-study, Act 26:24-25; from startling intelligence, Act 12:15; from preternatural excitement, Hos 9:7; Isa 44:25; from resistance of oppression, Ecc 7:7; from inebriety, Jer 25:16; Jer 51:7; or simple fatuity, 2Ki 9:11; Jer 29:26), or from irregular and furious passion (e.g. as a persecutor, Act 26:11; Psa 102:8; from idolatrous hallucination, Jeremiah 1, 38; or wicked and extravagant jollity, Ecc 2:2). In like manner, madness expresses not only proper insanity (Deu 28:28, and so madman, 1Sa 21:15; Pro 26:18). but also a reckless state of mind (Ecc 10:13), bordering on delirium (Zec 12:4), whether induced by overstrained intellectual efforts (Ecc 1:17; Ecc 2:12), from blind rage (Luk 6:12), or the effect of depraved tempers (Ecc 7:25; Ecc 9:3; 2Pe 2:6). David’s madness (1Sa 21:13) is by many supposed not to have been feigned, but a real epilepsy or falling sickness; and the Sept. uses words which strongly indicate this sense ( ). It is urged in support of this opinion that the troubles which David underwent might very naturally weaken his constitutional strength, and that the force he suffered in being obliged to seek shelter in a foreign court would disturb his imagination in the highest degree. A due consideration, however, of the context and all the circumstances only serves to strengthen the opinion that it was feigned for obvious reasons (see Kitto’s Daily Bible Illustr. ad loc.). It is well known that among Oriental, as among most semi-civilized nations, madmen were looked upon with a kind of reverence, as possessed of a quasi-sacred character (see Lane, in od E. 2:346). This arises partly, no doubt, from the feeling that one on whom God’s hand is laid heavily should be safe from all other harm, but partly also from the belief that the loss of reason and self- control opened the mind to supernatural influence, and gave it therefore a supernatural sacredness. This belief was strengthened by the enthusiastic expression of idolatrous worship (see 1Ki 18:26; 1Ki 18:28), and (occasionally) of real inspiration (see 1Sa 19:21-24; comp. the application of mad fellow’ in 2Ki 9:11, and see Jer 29:26; Act 2:13).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Madness
This word is used in its proper sense in Deut. 28:34, John 10:20, 1 Cor. 14:23. It also denotes a reckless state of mind arising from various causes, as over-study (Eccl. 1:17; 2:12), blind rage (Luke 6:11), or a depraved temper (Eccl. 7:25; 9:3; 2 Pet. 2:16). David feigned madness (1 Sam. 21:13) at Gath because he “was sore afraid of Achish.”
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Madness
MADNESS.It is somewhat remarkable that the OT ideas about madness should differ so much from those of the Gospels. In the OT madness is due to the influence of a spirit from God (1Sa 16:14; 1Sa 18:10), in the Gospels to a demon; in the OT it is conceived of as being closely connected with the spirit of prophecy (which likewise came from God); this is clear from such passages as 1Sa 10:6; 1Sa 10:10-13; 1Sa 19:23-24, Hos 9:7, 2Ki 9:11, Jer 29:26; there is no sign of this in the Gospels.* [Note: See, however, Act 16:16 ff.] It was, no doubt, owing to the belief that madness was a sign of the indwelling of a spirit from God that a madman was looked upon (in the OT) as, in some sense, sacred; [Note: This is still the case in the East.] in the Gospels the reverse of this seems to be the case, if one regards the demoniac described in Luk 8:26-39 as a madman [see Demon].
There are very few references to madness in the Gospels; in Luk 6:11 the word is used (the (Revised Version margin) renders it foolishness), its meaning is certainly nearer to foolishness than to the modern notion of madness; perhaps its meaning is best expressed by the German ausser sieh, lit. outside of oneself, resulting in a temporary loss of mental balance; in 2Ti 3:9 the same word is translated folly, which, taken with the words corrupted in mind in the preceding verse, brings out the sense more fully. Another expression, used in Mat 4:24; Mat 17:15, is to be lunatic, or moonstruck,* [Note: Macalister (in Hastings DB iii. 328a) quotes Vicary, who says of the brain that it moueth and followeth the mouing of the Moone: for in the waxing of the Moone, the Brayne followeth upwardes: and in the wane of the Moone the Brayne discendeth downwardes, and vanishes in substance of vertue ; according to the Jewish conception, which connects epilepsy with demoniacal possession (Mat 17:18), the light of the moon drove demons away. [See Demon].] but from the context in the second passage there can be no doubt that this was epilepsy. Neither of these expressions answers to modern ideas of madness. There is, however, one other word (, Joh 10:20) which seems to correspond with what would be understood by madness nowadays, viz. to be bereft of reason; in the passage in question it is certainly used in this sense; at the same time it must be remembered that is connected with , which implies possession by some supernatural being. [Note: See Trench, Synonyms of the NT11, pp. 21, 22, cf. Act 16:16-18.] The same word, as well as , is used in Act 26:24-25, where and are placed in opposition to it, which confirms the meaning implied in Joh 10:20. [Note: A somewhat similar meaning belongs to in 2Co 11:23 and in 2Pe 2:16.] [See, further, Demon, Lunatic].
On two occasions in the Gospels we find madness or insanity definitely attributed to our Lord Himself. Once by His own friends, among whom, apparently, His mother and brethren were included (Mar 3:21, cf. Mar 3:31). We read that they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself (). Commentators are for the most part agreed that in this passage denotes insanity, or at least a mental excitement bordering upon it (cf. a similar use of the word by St. Paul, 2Co 5:13). The other occasion is that already referred to, when, according to St. John, certain of the Jews said of Jesus, He hath a devil, and is mad ( , Joh 10:20). In this case the madness is evidently ascribed to Satanic possession, and is not regarded merely as a derangement due to overwork and excitement. It is worth noting, however, that is applied to St. Paul in a less offensive way (, Act 26:24) by Festus. Authorized Version renders, Thou art beside thyself, which Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 consistently changes into, Thou art mad, to correspond with I am not mad ( ), most excellent Festus, in the next verse. The charge of madness brought against Jesus is characteristic and significant, and has many parallels in the history of Christs followers in the early (cf. Act 2:13 as well as Act 26:24-25, 2Co 5:13) and in the later Church. It is an illustration of the inability of the natural man to receive the things of the Spirit of God (2Co 2:14; cf. Joh 15:18; Joh 17:16).
W. O. E. Oesterley and J. C. Lambert.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Madness
madnes. See MAD, MADNESS.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Madness
See Insanity
Insanity
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Madness
Madness. In 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, Joh 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.
Fuente: Smith’s Bible Dictionary
MADNESS
the righteous charged with
2Ki9:11; Jer 29:26; Hos 9:7; Mar 3:21; Joh 10:20; Act 26:24
–SEE False Accusations, SPEECH