2285. thambos

Lexical Summary

thambos: Astonishment, amazement, wonder

Original Word: θάμβος
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: thambos
Pronunciation: THAM-bos
Phonetic Spelling: (tham'-bos)
KJV: X amazed, + astonished, wonder
NASB: amazement, wonder
Word Origin: [akin to an obsolete tapho "to dumbfound"]

1. overwhelming amazement (by surprise), i.e. astonishment

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

amazed, astonished, wonder.

Akin to an obsolete tapho (to dumbfound); stupefaction (by surprise), i.e. Astonishment -- X amazed, + astonished, wonder.

HELPS Word-studies

2285 thámbos (J. Thayer traces this term back to a Sanskrit root meaning "make immoveable") – properly, utter amazement (with a sense of wonder), referring to someone who becomes stunned (dumbfounded) at what they see or hear; a state of amazement "due to the suddenness and unusualness of the phenomenon – with either a positive or a negative reaction . . . " (L & N, 1, 25.208).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a prim. root thaph-
Definition
amazement
NASB Translation
amazement (2), wonder (1).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 2285 pictures that sudden, breathtaking surge of awe that seizes the heart when God breaks into ordinary time with unmistakable power. Found only three times in the New Testament, it consistently signals a moment in which human categories give way to the palpable presence of the divine.

Narrative Occurrences

1. Luke 4:36 – At Capernaum, Jesus commands an unclean spirit, and “All the people were amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’ ”.
2. Luke 5:9 – After the miraculous catch, “he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken.”
3. Acts 3:10 – When the man lame from birth walks, the onlookers “were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

Astonishment and Christ’s Messianic Authority

In Luke 4, the astonishment focuses on Jesus’ word. Authority and power are not merely asserted; they are displayed. Demons obey instantly, authenticating His identity as the Holy One of God (Luke 4:34). The amazement of the crowd confirms that His teaching is unlike that of the scribes, fulfilling prophetic expectations of a Spirit-anointed Messiah who proclaims liberty to captives.

Astonishment and the Call to Discipleship

Peter’s reaction in Luke 5:9 is more than surprise at a large haul of fish; it prepares the heart for surrender. The narrative moves directly from astonishment to Peter’s confession of sinfulness (5:8) and to the call, “From now on you will catch men” (5:10). Genuine encounter with the Lord’s power exposes personal unworthiness and invites wholehearted commitment.

Astonishment and Apostolic Witness

Acts 3:10 locates the same emotion in Jerusalem after Pentecost. The healed beggar clings to Peter and John, and the crowd’s amazement becomes an evangelistic platform. Peter explains that the miracle comes through the risen Jesus, urging repentance so that “times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). Thus early Christian preaching leverages holy astonishment to direct attention to Christ, not to human agents.

Relation to Old Testament Revelation

Moments of trembling wonder accompany theophanies throughout Scripture—Jacob at Bethel, Israel at Sinai, Isaiah in the temple. The New Testament occurrences continue this pattern: God acts, people are overwhelmed, and revelation follows. The emotion is never an end in itself; it is a doorway to deeper understanding of God’s character and purposes.

Theological Dimensions

• Revelation: Astonishment confirms that the kingdom has broken in.
• Holiness: The sudden realization of divine otherness exposes human finitude.
• Faith: Wonder invites trust. Spectators are urged to move from amazement to belief.
• Mission: Each instance propels witness—first by Jesus, then by the apostles.

Practical and Ministerial Implications

1. Expectancy in Worship – Corporate gatherings should anticipate God’s manifest activity, cultivating reverent openness rather than routine.
2. Preaching and Teaching – Proclamation should retain the note of divine authority that evokes awe, grounding it in Scripture rather than personality.
3. Evangelism – Testimonies of God’s interventions can awaken holy curiosity, providing natural bridges to the gospel.
4. Personal Devotion – Recording and remembering God’s surprising works sustains gratitude and strengthens faith during seasons when His hand seems hidden.

Conclusion

Strong’s Greek 2285 reminds believers that the living God still interrupts the ordinary with the extraordinary. When He does, astonishment is appropriate—but it must lead on to repentance, faith, and obedient witness, lest the moment’s wonder fade without eternal fruit.

Forms and Transliterations

θάμβει θάμβοι θαμβος θάμβος θαμβους θάμβους thambos thámbos thambous thámbous

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 4:36 N-NNS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο θάμβος ἐπὶ πάντας
NAS: And amazement came upon them all,
KJV: they were all amazed, and spake
INT: And came astonishment upon all

Luke 5:9 N-NNS
GRK: θάμβος γὰρ περιέσχεν
NAS: For amazement had seized him and all
INT: amazement indeed laid hold on

Acts 3:10 N-GNS
GRK: καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν θάμβους καὶ ἐκστάσεως
NAS: and they were filled with wonder and amazement
KJV: they were filled with wonder and
INT: and they were filled with wonder and amazement

Strong's Greek 2285
3 Occurrences

θάμβος — 2 Occ.
θάμβους — 1 Occ.