ἔκθαμβος

full of astonishment, amazed

Definition

The adjective ἔκθαμβος describes a state of being utterly astonished, amazed, or overwhelmed with awe. It conveys a sense of being 'out of' one's normal composure due to a profound, often shocking, experience. In its single New Testament occurrence in Acts 3:11, it describes the crowd's reaction upon seeing a lame man healed and then clinging to Peter and John. The word implies more than simple surprise; it suggests a deep, awe-struck wonder at a display of divine power.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 3:11. It describes the collective emotional state of all the people who witnessed the healing of the lame beggar at the temple gate called Beautiful. The context is a public miracle performed through the apostles, which immediately draws a crowd and sets the stage for Peter's sermon. The usage highlights the public, undeniable, and awe-inspiring nature of the apostolic sign.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of,' and the root θάμβος (thambos), meaning 'astonishment' or 'amazement.' Thus, ἔκθαμβος literally means 'out of amazement' or 'thoroughly amazed,' picturing someone so astonished they are moved out of their ordinary state of mind. It is an intensive form, emphasizing the completeness of the awe.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the proper human response to a direct manifestation of God's power. The crowd's being 'utterly astonished' (ἔκθαμβος) at the miracle in Acts 3:11 is not an end in itself but serves as the divinely orchestrated opening for the gospel proclamation that follows in Peter's sermon (Acts 3:12-26). It underscores that miracles in Acts are 'signs' meant to authenticate the message and messengers of the risen Christ, provoking awe that leads to an opportunity for explanation and faith.

In the Greco-Roman world, public spaces like the temple were common venues for teaching and gathering. A miraculous healing would have been seen as a powerful divine sign, potentially attributed to gods or magicians. The crowd's intense, collective amazement (ἔκθαμβος) reflects a cultural readiness to interpret such an event as supernatural, which Peter then redirects to the God of Israel and His Messiah, Jesus.

θαυμάζω (thaumazō, G2296) — a more common verb for 'to marvel' or 'wonder,' often at teaching or events. ἔκστασις (ekstasis, G1611) — 'ecstasy' or 'trance,' a state of being beside oneself, sometimes from amazement but also from vision. ἐξίστημι (existēmi, G1839) — 'to astonish' or 'to be out of one's mind,' a stronger verb implying being displaced from normal thought.

Word Details

Scripture References