Bible Dictionaries
Epilepsy

Holman Bible Dictionary

A disorder marked by erratic electrical discharges of the central nervous system resulting in convulsions. In ancient times epilepsy was thought to be triggered by the moon. The term at Matthew 4:24 translated as epilepsy by most modern translations is literally “moonstruck”. The KJV term “lunatic” from the Latin luna (moon) assumes the same cause for the disorder. Many interpreters understand the symptoms of the boy in Mark 9:17-29 (inability to speak, salivation, grinding teeth, rigid body, convulsions) as expressions of epilepsy.