Topical Bible: Amazed

Jump to: ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The term "amazed" in the Bible often describes a reaction of wonder, astonishment, or awe in response to the divine acts, teachings, or presence of God. This reaction is frequently seen in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels, where the miraculous works and profound teachings of Jesus Christ evoke amazement among the people.

Old Testament Context

While the specific term "amazed" is more prevalent in the New Testament, the Old Testament contains numerous instances where individuals or groups experience awe and wonder at God's mighty acts. For example, the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:31) left them in awe of God's power and led them to fear and trust in the LORD.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word often translated as "amazed" is "θαυμάζω" (thaumazō), which conveys a sense of wonder or astonishment. This reaction is frequently associated with the ministry of Jesus Christ.

1. Miracles of Jesus: The miracles performed by Jesus often left onlookers amazed. In Mark 2:12, after Jesus heals a paralytic, the crowd is described as being "amazed" and glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!" . Similarly, in Mark 5:42, when Jesus raises Jairus' daughter from the dead, those present are "completely astonished."

2. Teachings of Jesus: The authority and wisdom of Jesus' teachings also elicited amazement. In Matthew 7:28-29, after the Sermon on the Mount, it is recorded that "the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes" . This amazement often stemmed from the depth and authority of His words, which contrasted with the teachings of the religious leaders of the time.

3. Reactions to Jesus' Identity: The identity and claims of Jesus also provoked amazement. In Luke 4:22, after Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue and declares the fulfillment of the Scripture, "all spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips" . However, this amazement sometimes turned to skepticism or offense, as seen in Mark 6:2-3, where the people of Nazareth question Jesus' wisdom and miraculous powers, leading to disbelief.

4. Apostolic Ministry: The amazement continues in the Acts of the Apostles, where the early church's growth and the apostles' miraculous works evoke wonder. In Acts 3:10, after Peter heals a lame beggar, the people are "filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him" .

Theological Implications

The reaction of amazement in the biblical narrative underscores the divine authority and power of Jesus Christ and the early church. It highlights the human response to encountering the supernatural and the breaking in of God's kingdom through Jesus' ministry. This amazement serves as a testament to the authenticity and divine origin of Jesus' works and teachings, inviting believers to respond with faith and reverence.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Amaze.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

AMAZED

a-mazd': A term which illustrates the difficulty of expressing in one English word the wide range of startled emotion, wonder, astonishment, awe, covered, in the Old Testament, by four Hebrew words and in the New Testament by as many Greek words. Its Scripture originals range in meaning from amazement accompanied with terror and trembling to an astonishment full of perplexity, wonder, awe and joyous surprise. It is the word especially used to show the effect of Christ's miracles, teaching, character and Divine personality on those who saw and heard Him, and were made conscious of His supernatural power (Matthew 12:23: "All the multitudes were amazed"). The miracles of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit's bestowal of the gift of tongues produced the same universal wonder (Acts 2:7: "They were all amazed and marveled").

Dwight M. Pratt

Greek

1568. ekthambeo -- to amaze, to be amazed
... to amaze, to be amazed. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekthambeo Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-tham-beh'-o) Short Definition: I am greatly astonished Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1568.htm - 7k

1569. ekthambos -- utterly astounded, amazed
... utterly astounded, amazed. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ekthambos
Phonetic Spelling: (ek'-tham-bos) Short Definition: full of astonishment, amazed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1569.htm - 6k

1569a. ekthambos -- utterly astounded, amazed
... 1569, 1569a. ekthambos. 1569b . utterly astounded, amazed. Transliteration:
ekthambos Short Definition: amazed. Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1569a.htm - 5k

2296. thaumazo -- to marvel, wonder
... 2296 (from 2295 , "a wonder, marvel") -- properly, wonder at, be amazed (marvel),
ie astonished ; , "wondering very greatly" (Souter); to cause "wonder ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2296.htm - 9k

1839. existemi -- to displace, to stand aside from
... tenses: I astonish, amaze, (b) in intrans. tenses: I am astonished, amazed;
I am out of my mind, am mad. 1839 (from 1537, , "out ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1839.htm - 8k

1605. ekplesso -- to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to ...
... 1605 (from 1537 , "wholly ," intensifying 4141 , "to strike") -- properly, " of
one's senses" (), ie with the come of being utterly amazed (dumbfounded) or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1605.htm - 7k

2284. thambeo -- to astonish
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thambeo Phonetic Spelling: (tham-beh'-o) Short
Definition: I amaze Definition: I amaze; pass: I am amazed (almost terrified). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2284.htm - 7k

2285. thambos -- amazement
... amazed, astonished, wonder. Akin to an obsolete tapho (to dumbfound); stupefaction
(by surprise), ie Astonishment -- X amazed, + astonished, wonder. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2285.htm - 7k

1569b. ekthaumazo -- to wonder greatly
... 1569a, 1569b. ekthaumazo. 1570 . to wonder greatly. Transliteration:
ekthaumazo Short Definition: amazed. Word Origin from ek and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1569b.htm - 5k

1611. ekstasis -- a displacement (of the mind), ie bewilderment ...
... amazement, astonishment. From existemi; a displacement of the mind, ie Bewilderment,
"ecstasy" -- + be amazed, amazement, astonishment, trance. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1611.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

8539. tamah -- to be astounded or dumbfounded
... to be astounded or dumbfounded. Transliteration: tamah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-mah')
Short Definition: amazed. ... be amazed, be astonished, marvelously, wonder. ...
/hebrew/8539.htm - 6k

926. bahal -- to disturb, terrify
... be make affrighted afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash, thrust out,. A primitive
root; to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), ie (figuratively ...
/hebrew/926.htm - 6k

8074. shamem -- to be desolated or appalled
... make amazed, be astonished, be an astonishment, be, bring into, unto, lay,
lie,. A primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow ...
/hebrew/8074.htm - 6k

Library

Therefore be Amazed, You Great and Small who Fear God...
... Section 13. Therefore be amazed, you great and small who fear God? 13.
Therefore be amazed, you great and small who fear God, and ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 13 therefore be amazed.htm

Our Lord in the Garden
... "He began to be sore amazed" is Mark's inexpressibly striking contribution
to this awful, this absolutely unfathomable history. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xi our lord in the.htm

The Private Thoughts and Words of Jesus
... Here are the very words: "And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus
went before them; and they were amazed, and as they followed they were ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the private thoughts and words.htm

Matt. xiii. 53
... For these utterly senseless men, when they ought to have marvelled, and to have
been amazed at the power of His words, they on the contrary hold Him cheap ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xlviii matt xiii 53.htm

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
... before the people by asking sneering and sarcastic questions.] 15 And straightway
all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxx third withdrawal from herods 5.htm

The Resolution of the Difficulty Set Forth for Consideration is ...
... [1972]. 56. As being man, therefore, He doubts; as man He is amazed. Neither
His power nor His Godhead is amazed, but His soul; He ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii the resolution of.htm

Messiah Unpitied, and Without a Comforter
... But He, Himself, was terrified, amazed, and filled with anguish when He suffered
for us. ... He began to be amazed [ ekthambeo ], or astonished. ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxii messiah unpitied and.htm

But, Says Some One, "Are These Things to be Understood of the Lord ...
... And because all who should hear these things preached by the Apostles would be
perfectly amazed, therefore also the Prophet speaking in their person exclaims ...
/.../21 but says some one.htm

Sunday --The Day of Resurrection.
... And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side,
arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his last week/sundaythe day of resurrection.htm

Matt. xx. 17-19.
... 2463] and another again saith, that even they themselves understood not His words,
but the saying was hid from them, and that they were amazed as they followed ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxv matt xx 17-19.htm

Thesaurus

Amazed (75 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Amaze. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
AMAZED. ... Dwight M. Pratt. Multi-Version Concordance Amazed (75 Occurrences). ...
/a/amazed.htm - 27k

Amazement (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The condition of being amazed; bewilderment [Obs.]; overwhelming wonder,
as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration. 2. (n.) Frenzy; madness. ...
/a/amazement.htm - 15k

Continued (148 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS). Acts 2:12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed,
saying one to another, "What does this mean?" (See NAS). ...
/c/continued.htm - 34k

Magus
... James Version). In Acts 8:11 it is also said that "of long time he had amazed"
them "with his sorceries" (magiais). The claim, given ...
/m/magus.htm - 23k

Astounded (12 Occurrences)
... They were amazed with great amazement. (See NAS). ... (See RSV). Psalms 48:5 They saw,
straightway they were amazed; they were affrighted, they hasted away. ...
/a/astounded.htm - 9k

Wondered (45 Occurrences)
... (WEY DBY YLT NAS). Mark 6:51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind
ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. ...
/w/wondered.htm - 19k

Wonder (148 Occurrences)
... a miracle. 3. (vi) To be affected with surprise or admiration; to be struck
with astonishment; to be amazed; to marvel. 4. (vi) To ...
/w/wonder.htm - 37k

Utterly (170 Occurrences)
... victory. (WEY). Matthew 19:25 These words utterly amazed the disciples,
and they asked, "Who then can be saved?" (WEY). Matthew 21 ...
/u/utterly.htm - 39k

Walked (178 Occurrences)
... Mark 2:12 He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them
all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw ...
/w/walked.htm - 38k

Insomuch (24 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV). Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among
themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? ...
/i/insomuch.htm - 13k

Resources

Should Mark 16:9-20 be in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the Word became flesh (John 1:14)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be bewitched? | GotQuestions.org

Amazed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Amazed (75 Occurrences)

Matthew 7:28
When Jesus had concluded this discourse, the crowds were filled with amazement at His teaching,
(See NAS NIV)

Matthew 8:27
and the men, filled with amazement, exclaimed, "What kind of man is this? for the very winds and waves obey him!"
(See NAS NIV)

Matthew 9:33
When the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke. The multitudes marveled, saying, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel!"
(See NAS NIV)

Matthew 12:23
All the multitudes were amazed, and said, "Can this be the son of David?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Matthew 13:54
Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?
(See NIV)

Matthew 15:31
so that the people were amazed to see the dumb speaking, the maimed with their hands perfect, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they gave the glory to the God of Israel.
(WEY NIV)

Matthew 19:25
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
(KJV WEY WBS YLT)

Matthew 21:20
When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"
(See NAS NIV)

Matthew 22:22
When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.
(See NAS NIV)

Matthew 27:14
He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.
(See NAS)

Mark 1:22
They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
(See NAS NIV)

Mark 1:27
They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 2:12
He arose, and immediately took up the mat, and went out in front of them all; so that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 5:20
He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
(See NAS NIV)

Mark 5:42
Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
(WEB ASV YLT)

Mark 6:2
And when sabbath was come he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing were amazed, saying, Whence has this man these things? and what is the wisdom that is given to him, and such works of power are done by his hands?
(DBY NIV)

Mark 6:51
He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NIV)

Mark 9:15
Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 10:24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
(WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 10:26
They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then who can be saved?"
(See NIV)

Mark 10:32
They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 11:18
The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
(See NIV)

Mark 12:17
Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled greatly at him.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 14:33
And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Mark 15:5
But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.
(See NAS NIV)

Mark 16:5
Entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were amazed.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 16:6
He said to them, "Don't be amazed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!
(WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 16:8
And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
(KJV WBS)

Luke 2:33
Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,
(See NAS)

Luke 2:47
All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 2:48
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Luke 4:22
All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"
(See NIV)

Luke 4:32
and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
(See NAS NIV)

Luke 4:36
And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
(KJV WBS RSV NIV)

Luke 5:9
For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
(WEB WEY)

Luke 5:26
And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Luke 8:25
He said to them, "Where is your faith?" Being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, "Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"
(See NAS)

Luke 8:56
Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 9:43
And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
(KJV WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Luke 11:14
He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. It happened, when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
(See NAS NIV)

Luke 20:26
They weren't able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer, and were silent.
(See NAS)

Luke 24:22
Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;
(WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 24:37
and being amazed, and becoming affrighted, they were thinking themselves to see a spirit.
(YLT)

John 3:7
Don't marvel that I said to you,'You must be born anew.'
(See NAS)

John 4:27
At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, "What are you looking for?" or, "Why do you speak with her?"
(See NAS)

John 7:15
The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"
(See NIV)

Acts 2:6
So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.
(WEY)

Acts 2:7
They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 2:12
They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Acts 3:11
And at the lame man who was healed holding Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch called Solomon's -- greatly amazed,
(YLT)

Acts 3:12
When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, "You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?
(See NAS)

Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus.
(See NAS)

Acts 8:9
But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
(WEB ASV RSV NIV)

Acts 8:11
They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
(WEB ASV YLT RSV NIV)

Acts 8:13
Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
(WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 9:21
All who heard him were amazed, and said, "Isn't this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!"
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 10:45
They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Acts 12:16
But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Acts 13:12
Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.
(DBY NAS NIV)

Galatians 1:6
I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different "good news";
(See NAS)

Revelation 13:3
I saw that one of his heads seemed to have been mortally wounded; but his mortal wound was healed, and the whole world was amazed and followed him.
(WEY NAS)

Exodus 15:15
Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Judges 20:41
And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Job 26:11
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.
(See NAS)

Job 32:15
"They are amazed. They answer no more. They don't have a word to say.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 48:5
They saw it, then they were amazed. They were dismayed. They hurried away.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS)

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 13:8
And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Isaiah 29:9
Be surprised and full of wonder; let your eyes be covered and be blind: be overcome, but not with wine; go with uncertain steps, but not because of strong drink.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 2:12
Be astonished, ye heavens, at this, and shudder; be amazed very much, saith Jehovah.
(DBY JPS)

Jeremiah 4:9
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall be amazed.
(DBY)

Ezekiel 27:35
All the inhabitants of the isles are amazed at thee, and their kings are horribly afraid, their countenance is troubled.
(DBY)

Ezekiel 28:19
All they that know thee among the peoples shall be amazed at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt never be any more.
(DBY)

Ezekiel 32:10
Yes, I will make many peoples amazed at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Habakkuk 1:5
"Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Amazed

Related Terms

Magus

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Filled (336 Occurrences)

Amazed (75 Occurrences)

Waves (43 Occurrences)

Exclaimed (45 Occurrences)

Meanwhile (38 Occurrences)

Crowds (62 Occurrences)

Astonied (12 Occurrences)