3105. mainomai

Lexicon

mainomai: to be mad, to rave, to be insane

Original Word: μαίνομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: mainomai
Pronunciation: MAH-ee-noh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (mah'-ee-nom-ahee)
Definition: to be mad, to rave, to be insane
Meaning: I am raving mad, speak as a madman.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

be beside oneself, rage

Middle voice from a primary mao (to long for; through the idea of insensate craving); to rave as a "maniac" -- be beside self (mad).

HELPS Word-studies

3105 maínomai (the root of the English terms, "maniac" and "mania") – to rave, full of inner rage (fury); to act as though out of one's senses – getting so mad (angry) it amounts to acting "mad" (temporarily deranged).

Example: Jn 10:19,20: "¹⁹A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. ²⁰Many of them were saying, 'He has a demon and is insane (3105 /maínomai). Why do you listen to Him?' " (NASU).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the root man-
Definition
to rage, be mad
NASB Translation
am (1), insane (1), mad (1), mind (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3105: μαίνομαι

μαίνομαι; (from Homer down); to be mad, to rave: said of one who so speaks that he seems not to be in his right mind, Acts 12:15; Acts 26:24; 1 Corinthians 14:23; opposed to σωφροσύνης ῤήματα ἀποφθέγγεσθαι, Acts 26:25; joined with δαιμόνιον ἔχειν, John 10:20. (Compare: ἐμμαίνομαι.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primary verb

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for μαίνομαι, similar concepts of madness or irrational behavior can be found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Some related Hebrew words include:

• H1984 (הָלַל, halal): Often translated as "to boast" or "to be foolish," this word can imply a sense of irrational exuberance or madness, as seen in contexts like Psalm 102:8.

• H7696 (שָׁגַע, shagah): Meaning "to be mad" or "to act insanely," this word is used in 1 Samuel 21:13, where David feigns madness before Achish.

These Hebrew terms, while not direct equivalents, share thematic similarities with μαίνομαι in describing states of mind that deviate from rationality or conventional behavior.

Usage: The verb μαίνομαι is used in the New Testament to describe a state of madness or irrational behavior. It conveys the idea of being out of one's mind or acting in a frenzied manner.

Context: The Greek verb μαίνομαι appears in the New Testament to describe instances where individuals are perceived as being out of their senses or behaving irrationally. This term is used in contexts where the actions or words of a person are considered beyond the bounds of normal, rational behavior.

In the Berean Standard Bible, μαίνομαι is notably used in Acts 26:24, where Festus exclaims to Paul, "You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!" Here, Festus accuses Paul of being insane due to his fervent defense of the Gospel and his profound theological insights. This usage highlights the tension between the spiritual truths Paul was proclaiming and the perception of those truths by a secular audience.

The term also reflects the broader cultural understanding of madness in the ancient world, where being "mad" could imply a loss of reason or being possessed by a divine or supernatural force. In the biblical context, it often underscores the contrast between human understanding and divine revelation, where what appears as madness to the world is, in fact, wisdom from God.

Forms and Transliterations

μαινεσθε μαίνεσθε μαινεται μαίνεται Μαινη μαίνη Μαίνῃ μαινομαι μαίνομαι μαινομένω μαιούσθε μαιωθήσονται Maine Mainē Maínei Maínēi mainesthe maínesthe mainetai maínetai mainomai maínomai

Englishman's Concordance

John 10:20 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἔχει καὶ μαίνεται τί αὐτοῦ
NAS: a demon and is insane. Why
KJV: a devil, and is mad; why hear ye
INT: he has and is mad why him

Acts 12:15 V-PIM/P-2S
GRK: αὐτὴν εἶπαν Μαίνῃ ἡ δὲ
NAS: They said to her, You are out of your mind! But she kept insisting
KJV: her, Thou art mad. But
INT: her they said You are mad but

Acts 26:24 V-PIM/P-2S
GRK: φωνῇ φησίν Μαίνῃ Παῦλε τὰ
NAS: Paul, you are out of your mind! [Your] great
KJV: Paul, thou art beside thyself; much
INT: voice said You are insane Paul the

Acts 26:25 V-PIM/P-1S
GRK: Παῦλος Οὐ μαίνομαι φησίν κράτιστε
NAS: said, I am not out of my mind, most excellent
KJV: I am not mad, most noble Festus;
INT: Paul not I am insane says most noble

1 Corinthians 14:23 V-PIM/P-2P
GRK: ἐροῦσιν ὅτι μαίνεσθε
NAS: will they not say that you are mad?
KJV: say that ye are mad?
INT: will they say that you are mad

Strong's Greek 3105
5 Occurrences

Μαίνῃ — 2 Occ.
μαίνεσθε — 1 Occ.
μαίνεται — 1 Occ.
μαίνομαι — 1 Occ.