Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(paralysis). Partial or total death of muscle and nerve (1 Kings 13:4-6; Matt. 4:24; Luke 6:6).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
The Greek word, παραλὐω, to loosen, shows that the disease was paralysis. Persons thus afflicted were brought to the Lord on beds or couches (Matt. 9:2-6; Mark 2:3-10; Luke 5:18, 24; Acts 8:7; Acts 9:33). The paralyzed were a type of that thorough human helplessness which can be relieved and raised up by God only.