παραφρονέω
paraphronéō
G3912 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be out of one's mind; to think irrationally or act without reason. Primarily refers to being deranged in thought or behaving in a way that departs from rational thinking, and by extension may indicate foolishness or madness depending on context. It is not restricted to clinical insanity but includes a range of irrational or senseless behavior.
Semantic Range
to be out of one's mind, to act irrationally, to behave senselessly, to be insane, to act foolishly
Root / Etymology
From the preposition παρά (beside, beyond) and the verb φρονέω (to think, to have understanding). The compound signals thinking that is beside, beyond, or contrary to sound mind or reason.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, παραφρονέω commonly describes a departure from reason, often in the contexts of madness, frenzy, or senselessness. It is not necessarily a technical term for mental illness but more broadly denotes irrational thinking or extreme folly. In the Septuagint, as well as in contemporary Greek literature, it may refer to both actual madness and figurative foolishness. In the New Testament (e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:23), it is used by Paul with irony or self-deprecation, suggesting behavior that others might regard as irrational or 'out of one's mind' rather than literal insanity. English translations such as 'act as a fool,' 'be mad,' and 'be out of one's mind' capture facets of the word, but may not consistently convey its flexible use across different authors and eras. The contrast with σωφρονέω ('to be of sound mind') is instructive for understanding the semantic field.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from παρά and φρονέω; to misthink, i.e. be insane (silly):--as a fool.
Root Family
παραφρονέω (paraphroneō) — to think beside reason, to be out of one's mind, to act irrationally
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3912-01 |
παραφρονῶν | paraphronon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
as a madman | being irrational | being irrational | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3912-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:23 | παραφρονῶν | paraphronon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
as a madman | being irrational | being irrational |