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παραλύω

paralýō

G3886 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to loosen or weaken; primarily, to cause someone or something to lose strength, functionality, or effectiveness. In medical or physical contexts, to disable a limb or body (render unable to move, paralyze); by extension, to render powerless or ineffective, to enfeeble emotionally or spiritually.

Semantic Range

to paralyze, to disable the body, to render feeble or powerless, to enfeeble emotionally or spiritually

Root / Etymology

Compound of παρά (para, 'beside, alongside') and λύω (lyō, 'to loosen, untie, destroy'). The compound expresses the idea of being loosened at the side, i.e., having strength or cohesion disrupted.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, παραλύω could mean to unbind or loosen something at the side, but by the Hellenistic and Koine periods it was primarily used in physical and medical contexts to refer to the loss of bodily power, especially paralysis. In the New Testament (e.g. Mark 2:3, Acts 8:7), it refers specifically to people suffering from conditions that prevent normal movement, usually translated as 'paralyzed' or 'lame'—but ancient descriptions did not always distinguish neurological paralysis from other forms of debilitation. In non-medical or metaphorical usage (rarer in NT), it can refer to loss of efficacy or moral strength. English translations often use 'paralytic', 'cripple', or 'feeble', but these do not capture all nuances, especially non-physical debilitation. The word does not strictly indicate modern clinical definitions of paralysis but rather a range of conditions involving severe weakness or inability to move.

Translation Consistency

primary "paralyze" 5 occurrences

The SILEX range centers on causing loss of power or movement—specifically physical paralysis and by extension rendering powerless or ineffective. "Paralyze" is the most natural, precise, and commonly attested English verb for this sense (and matches the majority of existing renderings), while still covering the metaphorical uses (enfeeble, disable). It therefore best fulfills the consistency and naturalness requirements.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from παρά and λύω; to loosen beside, i.e. relax (perfect passive participle, paralyzed or enfeebled):--feeble, sick of the (taken with) palsy.

Root Family

παραλύω (paralyo) — to loosen, to disable, to paralyze

Root παραλυ- to loosen, to disable, to paralyze

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3886-04 παραλελυμένος paralelumenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG paralyzed having been paralyzed paralyzed 2
G3886-02 παραλελυμένῳ paralelumeno V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M SG paralyzed to the one having been paralyzed the one having been paralyzed 1
G3886-01 παραλελυμένα paralelumena V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL feeble having been paralyzed having been paralyzed 1
G3886-03 παραλελυμένοι paralelumenoi V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL who were paralyzed having been paralyzed paralyzed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3886-04 Luke 5:18 παραλελυμένος paralelumenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG paralyzed having been paralyzed paralyzed
G3886-02 Luke 5:24 παραλελυμένῳ paralelumeno V PRF PASS PTCP DAT M SG paralyzed to the one having been paralyzed the one having been paralyzed
G3886-03 Acts 8:7 παραλελυμένοι paralelumenoi V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M PL who were paralyzed having been paralyzed paralyzed ones
G3886-04 Acts 9:33 παραλελυμένος paralelumenos V PRF PASS PTCP NOM M SG paralyzed having been paralyzed paralyzed
G3886-01 Hebrews 12:12 παραλελυμένα paralelumena V PRF PASS PTCP ACC N PL feeble having been paralyzed having been paralyzed
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