### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **παραλύω (paralýō)**, represented by `{{G3886}}`, is defined as "to loosen beside" or "relax." This term is used in scripture to describe a state of being paralyzed or enfeebled. It appears **5 times** across **5 unique verses**, consistently referring to a condition of physical powerlessness, rendered as "feeble" or "sick of the palsy."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G3886}}` primarily describes individuals suffering from paralysis who are brought to be healed. In Luke's Gospel, a man "taken with a palsy" is brought on a bed to Jesus [[Luke 5:18]], and Jesus directly addresses him as the "sick of the palsy" before healing him [[Luke 5:24]]. This theme continues in the book of Acts, where many "taken with palsies" are healed by the apostles [[Acts 8:7]] and Peter encounters Aeneas, who had been "sick of the palsy" for eight years [[Acts 9:33]]. The word is also used figuratively in Hebrews to describe "feeble" knees, encouraging believers to find strength [[Hebrews 12:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the condition and its remedy:
* `{{G3935}}` **paríēmi** (hang down): From a root meaning "to let by" or "relax," this word is used alongside `{{G3886}}` in [[Hebrews 12:12]] to describe "hands which hang down," illustrating a state of weakness.
* `{{G461}}` **anorthóō** (lift up): Meaning "to straighten up," this word presents the direct solution to the condition described in [[Hebrews 12:12]], commanding believers to "lift up" their weak hands and knees.
* `{{G1453}}` **egeírō** (Arise): Meaning to waken or rouse from disease or death, this is the command Jesus gives to the paralytic man, signifying the restorative power that counters the paralysis [[Luke 5:24]].
* `{{G2323}}` **therapeúō** (healed): This word, meaning to relieve of disease, describes the outcome for those "taken with palsies," highlighting the miraculous cure that follows an encounter with divine power [[Acts 8:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G3886}}` is tied to its role in demonstrating divine power over human frailty.
* **Evidence of Divine Authority:** The healing of the paralytic is explicitly used as a sign. Jesus performs the miracle so that the crowds may know "that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins" [[Luke 5:24]]. The physical restoration validates a deeper spiritual authority.
* **The Role of Community:** The man "taken with a palsy" in Luke's Gospel is brought to Jesus by his friends, who "sought means to bring him in" and "lay him before" Jesus [[Luke 5:18]], underscoring the importance of communal faith in seeking healing.
* **Metaphor for Spiritual Weakness:** In Hebrews, the image of "feeble knees" `{{G3886}}` serves as a metaphor for spiritual weariness. The command to "lift up" these limbs is an exhortation for believers to regain their strength and persevere in faith [[Hebrews 12:12]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{G3886}}` functions in scripture as more than a simple description of a physical ailment. It consistently represents a state of powerlessness that sets the stage for a demonstration of God's restorative power. Whether describing a literal paralytic being healed by Jesus or the "feeble" knees of a weary believer, the word highlights a fundamental biblical theme: divine strength is made perfect in human weakness.
TRV