Lexical Summary ekthambeó: To be greatly amazed, to be astounded, to be alarmed Original Word: ἐκθαμβέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance affright, greatly astonished.From ekthambos; to astonish utterly -- affright, greatly (sore) amaze. see GREEK ekthambos HELPS Word-studies 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. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ekthambos Definition to amaze, to be amazed NASB Translation amazed (3), very distressed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1568: ἐκθαμβέωἐκθαμβέω, 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, Strong’s Greek 1568 appears only in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 9:15; 14:33; 16:5; 16:6). Each occurrence portrays an overwhelming, visceral response when the human realm encounters the unveiled power or purpose of God. The verb conveys a sudden, breathtaking mix of awe, fear, and astonishment that silences ordinary reactions and prepares the heart to recognize divine activity. Contours of Meaning Across the Four Passages 1. Mark 9:15 – At the return of Jesus from the mount of transfiguration, “when all the crowd saw Him, they were greatly amazed and ran to greet Him.” The radiance that lingered from the heavenly vision leaves the people speechless before they rush toward Him. The term underscores the lingering afterglow of divine glory even after the transfiguration scene has ended. Christological Significance In Mark’s narrative the word frames three decisive revelations of Christ’s identity: Together the occurrences move from unveiled majesty, through agony, to triumphant life. The emotional intensity attached to the verb reinforces Mark’s portrayal of Jesus as the One who elicits awe whether in exaltation, suffering, or resurrection. Discipleship and Pastoral Implications The reaction portrayed by this verb is not mere psychological shock; it is the proper human response to encountering the holy. Healthy Christian experience still oscillates between trembling and trusting. Leaders who shepherd God’s people should expect seasons when divine dealings leave believers momentarily speechless. The pastoral task is to echo the angelic counsel, “Do not be alarmed,” grounding emotions in the sure word of the risen Christ. Historical and Literary Observations Mark writes to a Roman audience familiar with abrupt action and strong emotion. By choosing this rare verb, he intensifies dramatic moments that would capture listeners in oral reading. Early church fathers, such as Cyril of Alexandria, highlight the word’s rarity to stress the extraordinary nature of the events described. Doctrinal Reflection 1. Revelation: God discloses Himself in ways that overwhelm natural faculties. Practical Application for Ministry • Preaching: Use the term’s contexts to show that genuine encounters with God disrupt complacency before instilling peace. Connections to the Broader Biblical Theme of Fear and Awe Proverbs associates “the fear of the LORD” with knowledge and wisdom, while Isaiah’s visions leave him exclaiming, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). The Gospel term gathers those threads into Christ’s ministry, showing that the shocking holiness of God now centers on Jesus Himself. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 1568 captures extraordinary moments when heaven’s reality intersects earthly perception. Whether beholding Christ’s glory, witnessing His anguish, or discovering His empty tomb, the Gospel of Mark employs this verb to unveil the emotional shockwave of God’s redemptive plan. The word invites every generation to move from startled awe to settled faith in the crucified and risen Lord. Englishman's Concordance Mark 9:15 V-AIP-3PGRK: ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐξεθαμβήθησαν καὶ προστρέχοντες NAS: saw Him, they were amazed and [began] running KJV: him, were greatly amazed, and INT: having seen him were greatly amazed and running to [him] Mark 14:33 V-PNM/P Mark 16:5 V-AIP-3P Mark 16:6 V-PMM/P-2P Strong's Greek 1568 |
    |