μαίνομαι (mainomai)
mainomai
to rave
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb mainomai describes a state of being out of one’s mind, characterized by rage or frantic behavior that suggests insanity. It is not merely anger but a loss of rational control, often manifesting in loud, disordered speech or action. The word appears five times in the New Testament, most notably in Acts and John, where it captures the perception of others toward those speaking under divine inspiration or intense emotion.
In John 10:20, some Jews describe Jesus as mad because of His claims, while in Acts 26:24, Festus declares Paul to be raving due to his extensive learning and preaching. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 14:23, outsiders might view the whole church speaking in tongues as insane. The term carries a strong connotation of being possessed by an overwhelming force, whether perceived as demonic or divine, that drives a person beyond normal social boundaries.
Its root sense involves a kind of insensate craving or frenzy, pointing to a loss of self-control. Translators often render it "mad" or "raving," though these English words can sound dismissive today. In its biblical context, however, mainomai highlights the stark contrast between human reason and the powerful, sometimes unsettling, work of God in the world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mainomai describes a state of being out of one’s mind, often marked by rage or frantic behavior that suggests insanity. It is not merely anger but a loss of rational control, manifesting in loud, disordered speech or action. In the New Testament, it captures how others perceive those speaking under divine inspiration or intense emotion.
In John 10:20, some Jews describe Jesus as mad because of His claims, while in Acts 26:24, Festus declares Paul to be raving due to his extensive learning. This term highlights the stark contrast between human reason and the powerful, sometimes unsettling, work of God. It reminds us that divine truth can appear foolish or crazy to those who do not understand its source.
When we encounter misunderstanding or ridicule for our faith, this word offers comfort. It shows that even Jesus and Paul faced such accusations. We are not alone in feeling misunderstood. Trust that God’s purpose remains steady, even when others see only chaos.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you are mad?1×
- is insane;1×
- You rave.1×
- You are insane1×
- I am insane1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μαίνῃ.1×
- μαίνῃ1×
- μαίνομαί1×
- μαίνεται·1×
- μαίνεσθε;1×
Key Verses
-
John 10:20
Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”
This verse shows how Jesus' divine claims were perceived as madness by some Jews, highlighting the clash between spiritual truth and human skepticism.
-
Acts 26:24
As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
Festus's loud declaration that Paul is crazy underscores how intense preaching can be misinterpreted as insanity by those outside the faith.