ἔμφοβος

full of fear, terrified

Definition

The adjective ἔμφοβος describes a state of being 'full of fear' or 'terrified,' indicating an intense, often overwhelming emotional response to a startling or supernatural event. In the New Testament, it consistently describes the reaction of individuals encountering divine or angelic beings, such as the women at the tomb (Luke 24:5) or Peter in his vision (Acts 10:4). The fear is not merely anxiety but a profound awe and alarm in the direct presence of the holy or miraculous, as seen when Felix becomes 'terrified' during Paul's discourse on righteousness (Acts 24:25).

Biblical Usage

ἔμφοβος is used exclusively in narrative contexts within Luke-Acts and Revelation, always describing human reactions to divine interventions. In Luke 24:5,37, it characterizes the disciples' terror upon seeing the resurrected Jesus or angels. In Acts, it marks key visionary moments: an angel appears to Cornelius (Acts 10:4), Paul recounts his Damascus road experience (Acts 22:9), and Felix hears Paul's preaching (Acts 24:25). The sole use in Revelation 11:13 describes the terror of survivors after a great earthquake, maintaining the theme of reaction to God's dramatic acts.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐν (en, 'in') and φόβος (phobos, 'fear'), ἔμφοβος literally means 'in fear' or 'possessed by fear.' It intensifies the root noun φόβος, conveying a state completely dominated by alarm or terror. This compound form emphasizes the totality of the emotional experience.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the human response to divine revelation. The 'fear' it describes is not sinful cowardice but a reverent, awe-struck recognition of God's power and holiness breaking into the human sphere. Understanding ἔμφοβος enriches reading by clarifying that such terror often precedes faith or understanding, as seen in angelic commands to 'not be afraid' (e.g., Luke 24:5), marking the beginning of a transformative encounter with God.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish worlds, encountering the divine was expected to provoke profound fear, as it signified a boundary crossing between the mortal and immortal realms. This terror was a recognized religious response to epiphanies, differing from modern notions of fear by inherently containing an element of sacred awe and recognition of overwhelming power.

φοβέω (phobeō, G5399) — the related verb meaning 'to fear' or 'to be afraid,' describing the action rather than the state. δειλός (deilos, G1169) — denotes 'cowardly' fear, often with a negative moral connotation absent from ἔμφοβος. τρόμος (tromos, G5156) — 'trembling,' a physical manifestation often accompanying the emotional state of ἔμφοβος.

Word Details

Scripture References