The term "lunatick" appears in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, specifically in the New Testament, and is understood in modern translations to refer to individuals suffering from what we would now recognize as epilepsy or similar conditions. The term is derived from the Latin "lunaticus," which is related to the moon ("luna"), reflecting an ancient belief that the phases of the moon could influence mental health.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 4:24 : "News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them." In this passage, the Berean Standard Bible uses "those having seizures" to describe individuals who, in the KJV, are referred to as "lunatick." This reflects a more accurate understanding of the condition as a physical ailment rather than a spiritual or mystical one.

2. Matthew 17:15 : "Lord, have mercy on my son, he said. He has seizures and is suffering terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water." Here, the father of a boy describes his son's condition, which the KJV refers to as being "lunatick." The Berean Standard Bible translates this as "seizures," indicating a medical condition that Jesus heals.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In biblical times, ailments such as epilepsy were often misunderstood and attributed to spiritual or supernatural causes. The term "lunatick" reflects the ancient belief that the moon could affect human behavior and health. This belief was widespread in various cultures and persisted into the Middle Ages.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the healing of those described as "lunatick" by Jesus demonstrates His authority over both physical and spiritual realms. It underscores the compassion of Christ, who heals all manner of diseases and afflictions, and His power to restore individuals to wholeness. The accounts of healing in the Gospels serve as a testament to Jesus' divine nature and His mission to bring about the Kingdom of God, where suffering and illness are overcome.

Modern Understanding:

Today, the term "lunatick" is considered outdated and is replaced by more precise medical terminology. The conditions described in the Bible as "lunatick" are now understood as neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, which can be treated with modern medicine. This shift in understanding reflects advancements in medical science and a more compassionate approach to mental and physical health.

Application for Believers:

For contemporary believers, these passages encourage a compassionate response to those suffering from physical and mental health issues. They remind Christians of the importance of prayer, faith, and the pursuit of healing, whether through divine intervention or medical means. The example of Jesus' healing ministry serves as a model for caring for the sick and afflicted in today's world.LUNATIC(K)

lu'-na-tik:

I. Epilepsy.

1. Incorrect Translation:

The English word "lunatic," which in popular speech signifies a sufferer from any mental derangement, whether periodic or chronic, other than congenital idiocy, appears in the King James Version as a translation of the Greek word seleniazomai, in the two passages where it occurs. In the Revised Version (British and American) the word has very properly been displaced by the strictly accurate term "epileptic." This change is justified not only by the extra-Biblical usage (see Liddell and Scott, under the word), but clearly enough by Matthew 17:15 (compare 4:24), where epilepsy is circumstantially described.

2. Original Meaning:

The original meaning of the term seleniazomai, "moon-struck," is connected with the popular belief, widespread and of strange persistency, that the moon, in certain of its phases, is injurious to human beings, especially in the case of diseases of a periodic or remittent character. There are no data by which to determine whether, in the New Testament times, this particular word represented a living and active belief or had passed into the state of usage in which the original metaphor disappears, and the word simply indicates the fact signified without reference to the idea embodied in the etymology. We still use the word "lunatic" to signify a person mentally diseased, although we have long since ceased to believe in the moon's influence in such cases.

II. Madness.

The Bible designates "madness," or alienation of mind, by various terms, all of which seem to be onomatopoetic. These various words seem to be derived from the strange and fierce or mournful cries uttered by the unfortunate victims of this dread malady. In Deuteronomy 28:34 the word "maddened" is meshugga`, participle of shagha` (compare also 1 Samuel 21:15). With this corresponds the word mainomai, in the New Testament. In 1 Samuel 21:13 (Hebrew 14) the word is a form of the verb chalal, which is also a derivative from the sound indicated.

In certain cases, though by no means uniformly, madness is ascribed to demon-possession (Luke 8:26 f). One is struck by the fact that mental derangement occupies a very small place in Scripture.

Louis Matthews Sweet

On the Morrow of the Transfiguration
... faith, notwithstanding all that they had seen and learned, He had still to bear,
expressly attributing [3726] their failure in restoring the lunatick, to their ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii on the morrow.htm

The Early Welcome and the First Ministers of the King
... 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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the early welcome and the.htm

The Second Part.
... and Vapours have no constant light, or continued heat (as the fixed starres ever
like themselves) but have onely their aguish fits, & lunatick moods; sometimes ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the second part.htm

The Fourth Day in Passion-Week - Jesus in his Last Sabbatic Rest ...
... We see disappointment in his face when not climbing the Mount of Transfiguration,
and disappointment in the failure to heal the lunatick child. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the fourth day.htm

Lunatick (2 Occurrences)
... in Scripture. Louis Matthews Sweet. Multi-Version Concordance Lunatick
(2 Occurrences). Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout ...
/l/lunatick.htm - 9k

Lunatic (2 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/l/lunatic.htm - 7k

Vexed (37 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:15 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. (KJV). ...
/v/vexed.htm - 16k

Ofttimes (3 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:15 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. (KJV). ...
/o/ofttimes.htm - 7k

Lunatics (1 Occurrence)

/l/lunatics.htm - 6k

Falleth (119 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:15 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. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/f/falleth.htm - 37k

Fame (38 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/f/fame.htm - 21k

Divers (36 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/d/divers.htm - 20k

Palsy (12 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/p/palsy.htm - 12k

Sore (156 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Matthew 17:15 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. ...
/s/sore.htm - 40k

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