ἔκθαμβος

Pronunciation Guide: ek-tham-bos (emphasis on the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1569: ἔκθαμβος (ekthambos) describes a state of being utterly amazed, astonished, or overwhelmed with wonder to the point of being stunned or shocked. It conveys extreme amazement mixed with awe and often a sense of fear or reverence. This powerful emotional response typically occurs when witnessing something extraordinary, miraculous, or divine in nature.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Adjective
• Root: Compound of ἐκ (ek, “out of,” intensifying prefix) + θάμβος (thambos, “amazement, astonishment”)
• Language origin: Koine Greek
• Primary usage: Narrative sections describing reactions to miracles or divine manifestations
• Appears only once in the New Testament (Acts 3:11)
• Related to the verb ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeo) and the noun θάμβος (thambos)

ἔκθαμβος Morphology:

• ἔκθαμβος (nominative singular masculine/feminine) – utterly amazed
• ἔκθαμβον (nominative/accusative singular neuter) – utterly amazed
• ἐκθάμβου (genitive singular) – of one utterly amazed
• ἐκθάμβῳ (dative singular) – to/with one utterly amazed
• ἔκθαμβοι (nominative plural masculine/feminine) – utterly amazed ones

Origin & History

The term ἔκθαμβος is a compound word formed from the intensifying prefix ἐκ (meaning “out of” or “from”) and the noun θάμβος (meaning “amazement” or “astonishment”). The root θάμβος appears in classical Greek literature, including works by Euripides and Plato, typically denoting a sense of wonder mixed with fear or reverence. In the Septuagint (LXX), the related term θάμβος appears in contexts of awe-inspiring divine manifestations, such as in Ezekiel’s visions.

The intensifying prefix ἐκ elevates the emotion from mere wonder to overwhelming amazement. This intensification reflects the Hellenistic tendency to create compound words that amplify emotional responses, particularly in religious contexts. The Church Fathers, notably John Chrysostom in his homilies on Acts, emphasized this word’s connection to divine revelation and the appropriate human response to God’s mighty works.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A state of being utterly astonished or amazed, often accompanied by fear or reverence
• Overwhelming wonder that leaves one temporarily speechless or immobilized
• Profound awe in response to witnessing something supernatural or divine
• Stunned amazement that surpasses normal surprise or wonder
• A visceral reaction of shock combined with reverence

ἔκθαμβος Translation Options:

• “Utterly amazed” – Captures the intensity of the emotion while remaining accessible
• “Completely astounded” – Emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the experience
• “Awestruck” – Conveys the element of reverence often present in the reaction
• “Dumbfounded” – Highlights the speechless quality of the reaction
• “Overcome with wonder” – Expresses the way this emotion can temporarily overwhelm one’s faculties

Biblical Usage

The term ἔκθαμβος appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 3:11, where it describes the reaction of the crowd after witnessing Peter and John heal a man who had been lame from birth. The miracle occurred at the temple gate called Beautiful, and the formerly lame man was now walking, leaping, and praising God. The text states that “all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, utterly amazed [ἔκθαμβοι].”

While the adjective form appears only once, the related verb ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeo) appears four times in the New Testament, always in contexts of witnessing divine power or supernatural events. These instances include the disciples’ reaction to Yeshua’s transfiguration (Mark 9:15), Yeshua’s own emotional state in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33), and the women’s reaction at the empty tomb (Mark 16:5-6). The related noun θάμβος appears three times, including after miraculous healings (Luke 4:36, Luke 5:9, and Acts 3:10).

• “While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the portico called Solomon’s, utterly amazed [ἔκθαμβοι].” Acts 3:11
• “When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to ask for alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement [θάμβους] at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:10
• “Immediately when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed [ἐξεθαμβήθησαν], and began running up to greet Him.” Mark 9:15
• “And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled [ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι].” Mark 14:33
• “Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed [ἐξεθαμβήθησαν].” Mark 16:5
• “And amazement [θάμβος] seized them all, and they began glorifying God.” Luke 5:9
• “And amazement [θάμβος] came upon them all, and they began talking with one another.” Luke 4:36

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, particularly in Jewish and Greek contexts, emotional responses to divine manifestations were categorized and understood differently than in modern Western thought. The experience of ἔκθαμβος was not merely an internal emotional state but was considered an appropriate and even expected response to encountering the divine. The physical manifestations of this response – often including trembling, speechlessness, or prostration – were seen as evidence of genuine encounter with the sacred.

The setting of Solomon’s Portico in the Temple complex where this term appears in Acts 3:11 is significant. This eastern colonnade was a place associated with wisdom and teaching, named after Israel’s wisest king. It was here that the early believers gathered (Acts 5:12), and where Yeshua Himself taught (John 10:23). The irony would not have been lost on Luke’s readers: in this place named for human wisdom, divine power manifested in a way that transcended human understanding, leaving the crowd not in reasoned contemplation but in a state of ἔκθαμβος – utterly amazed beyond words.

Theological Significance

The concept of ἔκθαμβος reveals a profound theological truth about the human encounter with divine reality. When God’s power breaks into the ordinary world, the appropriate response is not casual interest or intellectual curiosity, but overwhelmed amazement. This reaction acknowledges the vast difference between human limitations and divine capability, creating a moment of recognition that God operates beyond the constraints of natural law and human expectation.

In Acts 3, the healing of the lame man serves as a powerful demonstration of the kingdom of God now operating through the apostles after Pentecost. The crowd’s reaction of being ἔκθαμβοι (utterly amazed) represents the beginning of spiritual awakening – a recognition that something extraordinary has occurred that demands attention and response. This emotional response creates the opening for Peter’s subsequent sermon, which directs this amazement toward proper understanding and faith in the Messiah.

The progression from amazement (ἔκθαμβος) to understanding and belief reflects the pattern of divine revelation throughout Scripture. God often captures attention through powerful demonstrations before conveying deeper spiritual truths. The intensity of ἔκθαμβος serves to break through human complacency and open hearts to receive the message of salvation and transformation.

Personal Application

In our modern world, where cynicism and skepticism often prevail, the concept of ἔκθαμβος challenges us to maintain a capacity for wonder and awe in our spiritual lives. When we encounter God’s power – whether through answered prayer, unexpected provision, or spiritual transformation – we should allow ourselves to be utterly amazed rather than diminishing these experiences through rationalization or familiarity.

This state of being ἔκθαμβος can become a spiritual practice, cultivating a heart that remains open to divine intervention and maintains childlike wonder at God’s work. As we read Scripture, we can imaginatively place ourselves in these scenes of amazement, allowing the text to reawaken our capacity for holy awe. When we share testimonies of God’s work, we can speak with the authentic wonder of those who have witnessed something truly extraordinary, inviting others into this experience of sacred amazement that leads to deeper faith.

Related Words

• θάμβος (thambos) – amazement, astonishment; the root word without the intensifying prefix; denotes a strong emotional reaction of wonder or astonishment, often with an element of fear See G2285
• ἐκπλήσσω (ekplesso) – to be struck with astonishment, amazed; similar emotional response but with emphasis on being struck or impacted rather than filled with wonder See G1605
• ἐξίστημι (existemi) – to be amazed, astonished, beside oneself; denotes amazement so profound it temporarily displaces normal thinking See G1839
• θαυμάζω (thaumazo) – to wonder, marvel, be amazed; more general term for wonder without the intensity or fear component See G2296
• φοβέω (phobeo) – to fear, be afraid, be struck with fear; shares the element of fear but lacks the component of wonder or amazement See G5399

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the emotional state described by ἔκθαμβος was considered in ancient Greek medical texts to be potentially dangerous if experienced too intensely? Greek physicians warned that extreme states of amazement could temporarily stop the heart or cause breathing difficulties, which makes the frequent biblical use of this and similar terms to describe encounters with the divine particularly striking – suggesting that encountering God’s power brings one to the very edge of what human physiology can bear.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, derivatives of ἔκθαμβος are still used today to describe being dazzled or overwhelmed by beauty or splendor? The term has evolved to describe reactions to artistic masterpieces or natural wonders, retaining its connection to transcendent experiences that leave one temporarily speechless.
• Did you know that ancient Jewish mystical traditions, particularly those associated with Merkabah mysticism (throne-chariot visions like those in Ezekiel), specifically prepared practitioners for the overwhelming emotional and physical responses (similar to ἔκθαμβος) that might occur when encountering divine glory? These traditions included specific breathing techniques and postures designed to allow the mystic to endure the encounter without being overcome.

Remember This

ἔκθαμβος marks those moments when God’s supernatural power breaks through our natural expectations, leaving us utterly amazed and forever changed by the encounter.