Original Word: ἐκθαμβέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ekthambeó
Pronunciation: ek-tham-BEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ek-tham-beh'-o)
Definition: To be greatly amazed, to be astounded, to be alarmed
Meaning: I am greatly astonished, am awe-struck.

affright, greatly astonished.

From ekthambos; to astonish utterly -- affright, greatly (sore) amaze.

see GREEK ekthambos

1568 ekthambéō (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2285 /thámbos, "astonished") – properly, out of one's senses with the outcome of being amazed to the level of wonder.

Word Origin
from ekthambos
Definition
to amaze, to be amazed
NASB Translation
amazed (3), very distressed (1).

STRONGS NT 1568: ἐκθαμβέω

ἐκθαμβέω, ἐκθαμβω: Passive (present ἐκθαμβοῦμαι); 1 aorist ἐξεθαμβήθην; (ἔκθαμβος, which see);

1. transitive, to throw into amazement or terror; to alarm thoroughly, to terrify: Sir. 30:9; (Job 33:7 Aq., Complutensian).

2. intransitive, to be struck with amazement; to be thoroughly amazed, astounded; in Greek writings once, the Orphica Arg. 1217. In the N. T. only in the passive and by Mark: to be amazed, for joy at the unexpected coming of Christ, ; to be struck with terror, f; joined with ἀδημονεῖν, .

Word Origin: Derived from ἐκ (ek, "out of") and θαμβέω (thambéō, "to astonish" or "to amaze").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἐκθαμβέω, similar concepts of fear and amazement in response to divine encounters can be found in Hebrew words such as יָרֵא (yare', Strong's 3372), which means "to fear" or "to be afraid," often used in the context of reverence for God. Another related term is תַּמָּה (tammah, Strong's 8539), meaning "to be astounded" or "to be amazed." These Hebrew terms reflect similar emotional responses to the divine as those captured by ἐκθαμβέω in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: The verb ἐκθαμβέω is used in the New Testament to describe reactions of profound amazement or fear, typically in the context of witnessing miraculous events or divine revelations.

Context: The Greek verb ἐκθαμβέω appears in the New Testament to express a deep emotional response of awe or fear. This term is notably used in the Gospel accounts to describe the reactions of individuals who encounter the divine power and presence of Jesus Christ. For instance, in Mark 9:15, the crowd is described as being "greatly amazed" when they see Jesus, indicating a reaction that goes beyond mere surprise to a profound sense of wonder and reverence. Similarly, in Mark 14:33, Jesus Himself is described as being "deeply distressed" in the Garden of Gethsemane, highlighting the intense emotional turmoil He experienced in anticipation of His crucifixion.

The use of ἐκθαμβέω underscores the impact of divine encounters on human perception, often leading to a transformative realization of God's power and majesty. This term captures the essence of the human response to the divine, characterized by a mixture of fear, reverence, and awe. In the context of the New Testament, such reactions often serve to affirm the divine authority and identity of Jesus, as well as the profound implications of His ministry and mission.

εκθαμβεισθαι εκθαμβείσθαι ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι εκθαμβεισθε εκθαμβείσθε ἐκθαμβεῖσθε εξεθαμβήθη εξεθαμβηθησαν εξεθαμβήθησαν ἐξεθαμβήθησαν ekthambeisthai ekthambeîsthai ekthambeisthe ekthambeîsthe exethambethesan exethambēthēsan exethambḗthesan exethambḗthēsanInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts