Quick Definition
παραλύω v. I relax, enfeeble
Strong's Definition
to loosen beside, i.e. relax (perfect passive participle, paralyzed or enfeebled)
Derivation: from G3844 (παρά) and G3089 (λύω);
KJV Usage: feeble, sick of the (taken with) palsy
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | λύω
23.170 · (παραλύομαι[a]) · Physiological Processes and States · Sickness, Disease, Weakness
to be paralyzed, to be lame to suffer paralysis in one or more limbs, especially in the leg or foot In HEB 12:12 παραλύομαι occurs in a highly figurative context: τὰ παραλελυμένα γόνατα ἀνορθώσατε ‘straighten up the paralyzed knees.’ It is often better in this context to speak of ‘strengthening the weak knees,’ but in any event, the reference to the physical situation of the individual is merely a way of speaking about a psychological state (see 25.152).
25.152 · (παραλύομαι[b]) · Attitudes and Emotions · Encouragement, Consolation
Collocation: τὰ παραλελυμένα γόνατα ἀνορθόω
to become encouraged, to encourage oneself by determination (an idiom, literally: straighten paralyzed knees) to gain encouragement by a strong resolve See discussion at 23.170.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
παραλύω paralyō 5x
to unloose from proper fixity or consistency of substance; to enervate or paralyze the body or limbs; pass. to be enervated or enfeebled, Heb. 12:12; pass. perf. part. παραλελυμένος, paralytic, Lk. 5:18, 24
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
παρα-λύω,
[in LXX: Je 6:24, 27:43, Ez 21:7 (12) (רפה), etc.;]
to loose from the side, set free.
to weaken, enfeeble; pass., to be enfeebled, esp. by a paralytic stroke: Lk 5:18, 24, Ac 8:7 9:33, He 12:12(LXX).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
παραλύω. For the literal sense ‘‘loose,”’ ‘‘set free,’ cf. PSI IV. 435° (B.C. 258-7) (as restored by Deissmann, Z 04, p. 121) ἐμοῦ δὲ πία]ρ[ακαλέσαντος τὸν θεὸν Σάραπιν, ὅπως ἄμ με παραλύσηι τοῦ ἐνταῦθα [ἔργο]υ, Sy// 226 (= *495)17 (c. B.C. 230) ἐξ ὧν ἀπέλυσε μὲν τὴμ πόλιν ὀφειλημάτων, παρέλυσε δὲ τόκων. The subst. παράλυσις occurs in Artem. p. 26314.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
παραλύω (paraluō) — to paralyze. παραλύω [see. λύω]:
I. with accusative of things, loose and take off, detach, τὰ πηδάλια τῶν νεῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+] taking off the rudders, [Refs 5th c.BC+] — _passive_, παραλελυμέναι τοὺς ταρσούς with their oars taken off, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —middle, π. τὴν ῥαφὴν [τοῦ χιτῶνος] [Refs]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I. b hamstring, ἅρματα [LXX]
I.2. undo, put an end to, πόνους [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν τοῦ παιδίου ἀμφισβήτησιν relinquish it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, get rid of, τὸν κίνδυνον [Refs 1st c.BC+]
I.3. undo secretly, τὰ σακκία τῶν χρημάτων [Refs 1st c.BC+]
I.4. pay a penalty, [LXX]; = Latin persolvo, νόμισμα [Refs 6th c.AD+]
II. with accusative person et genitive of things, part from, πολλοὺς ἤδη παρέλυσεν θάνατος δάμαρτος [Refs 5th c.BC+] was detached from them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ τῆς στρατιῆς release from military service, [Refs] (and in passive, to be exempt from it, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; π. τινὰ δυσφρονᾶν set free from cares, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ τῆς στρατηγίης dismiss from the command, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (so in passive, π. τῆς φυλακῆς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also τὴν ἀρχήν τινι π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοὺς Ἀθηναίους π. τῆς ἐς αὐτὸν ὀργῆς set them free, release them from.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with accusative only, set free, δυστάνου ψυχάν [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, obtain leave of absence from, τοὺς παιδονόμους [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III. loose besides, in addition, π. καὶ ἑτέραν [κύνα] [Refs 5th c.BC+]
IV. disable, enfeeble, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—mostly in passive, to be paralysed, δεξιὴ χεὶρ παρελύθη [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, to be exhausted, flag, ἡ δύναμις.. τῆς πόλεως παρελύθη [Refs 5th c.BC+]