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Topical Encyclopedia
Astonishment, as depicted in the Bible, refers to a profound sense of wonder, amazement, or shock often experienced in response to divine acts, teachings, or revelations. This emotional response is frequently encountered in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the human reaction to God's power and the unfolding of His divine plan.

Old Testament Instances

In the Old Testament, astonishment is often associated with the miraculous works of God and His intervention in the lives of His people. For example, in the book of Exodus, the Israelites experience astonishment at the parting of the Red Sea, a miraculous event that demonstrates God's power and deliverance. The psalmist captures this sense of wonder in Psalm 77:14, "You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples."

The prophets also speak of astonishment in the context of God's judgment and the unfolding of His plans. In Habakkuk 1:5, the prophet declares, "Look at the nations and observe—be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you." Here, astonishment is linked to the unexpected and often incomprehensible ways in which God operates.

New Testament Instances

In the New Testament, astonishment frequently accompanies the ministry of Jesus Christ. His teachings and miracles often left the crowds and His disciples in awe. In Matthew 7:28-29, following the Sermon on the Mount, it is recorded, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

The miracles of Jesus also evoke astonishment. In Mark 5:42, after Jesus raises Jairus's daughter from the dead, the people present are described as being "overcome with great amazement." Similarly, in Mark 6:51, when Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, the disciples are "completely astounded."

Astonishment in the Early Church

The early church also experienced astonishment as the apostles performed miracles and spread the Gospel. In Acts 2:7, during the event of Pentecost, the crowd is "amazed and perplexed" as they hear the apostles speaking in various tongues. This astonishment serves as a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit and the fulfillment of God's promises.

Theological Significance

Astonishment in the biblical narrative underscores the transcendence and immanence of God. It reflects the human recognition of God's majesty and the often-unexpected ways in which He reveals Himself. This response of awe and wonder is a natural reaction to encountering the divine and serves to draw individuals closer to an understanding of God's nature and His purposes.

Throughout Scripture, astonishment is not merely an emotional reaction but a catalyst for deeper faith and understanding. It challenges individuals to move beyond their limited perspectives and to embrace the mystery and majesty of God's work in the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of sensation; stupor; loss of sense.

2. (n.) Dismay; consternation.

3. (n.) The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable, wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of surprise; amazement.

4. (n.) The object causing such an emotion.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ASTONISHMENT

as-ton'-ish-ment: Amazement; mental surprise, excitement, wonder; often the cause of the startled emotion, as in Deuteronomy 28:37: "Thou shall become an astonishment." The chosen people, visited with calamities for idolatry would become a source of amazement to all nations (Jeremiah 25:9, 11, 18); Solomon's' lofty and beautiful temple would be "an astonishment" (2 Chronicles 7:21 the King James Version). For original terms and fuller study see ASTONISHED.

Greek
1611. ekstasis -- a displacement (of the mind), ie bewilderment ...
... Word Origin from existemi Definition a displacement (of the mind), ie bewilderment,
ecstasy NASB Word Usage amazement (1), astonishment (2), completely* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1611.htm - 7k

2285. thambos -- amazement
... amazement. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: thambos Phonetic Spelling:
(tham'-bos) Short Definition: astonishment Definition: astonishment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2285.htm - 7k

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

2295. thauma -- a wonder
... Cognate: 2295 -- a wonder, evoking "emotional" astonishment (gaping) at the marvel,
ie performed to powerfully strike the viewer (uniquely, individually). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2295.htm - 6k

1605. ekplesso -- to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to ...
... amaze, astonish. From ek and plesso; to strike with astonishment -- amaze, astonish.
see GREEK ek. see GREEK plesso. (ekplessesthai) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1605.htm - 7k

1769. enneos -- speechless.
... Word Origin variant reading for eneos, qv. speechless. From enneuo; dumb (as making
signs), ie Silent from astonishment -- speechless. see GREEK enneuo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1769.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
8541. timmahon -- bewilderment
... Word Origin from tamah Definition bewilderment NASB Word Usage bewilderment (2).
astonishment. From tamahh; consternation -- astonishment. see HEBREW tamahh. ...
/hebrew/8541.htm - 6k

8078. shimmamon -- horror
... Word Origin from shamem Definition horror NASB Word Usage horror (2). astonishment.
From shamem; stupefaction -- astonishment. see HEBREW shamem. 8077, 8078. ...
/hebrew/8078.htm - 6k

8653. tarelah -- a reeling
... Word Origin from raal Definition a reeling NASB Word Usage reeling (2), stagger
(1). astonishment, trembling. From ra'al; reeling -- astonishment, trembling. ...
/hebrew/8653.htm - 6k

4923. meshammah -- devastation, waste, horror
... astonishment, desolate. From shamem; a waste or amazement -- astonishment, desolate.
see HEBREW shamem. 4922, 4923. meshammah. 4924 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4923.htm - 6k

8047. shammah -- waste, horror
... ruin, desolation, waste. From shamem; ruin; by implication, consternation --
astonishment, desolate(-ion), waste, wonderful thing. see HEBREW shamem. ...
/hebrew/8047.htm - 6k

8077. shemamah -- devastation, waste
... laid, most desolate waste. Or shimamah {shee-mam-aw'}; feminine of shamem; devastation;
figuratively, astonishment -- (laid, X most) desolate(- ion), waste. ...
/hebrew/8077.htm - 6k

8539. tamah -- to be astounded or dumbfounded
... root Definition to be astounded or dumbfounded NASB Word Usage amazed (2), astonished
(1), astonishment (2), astounded (1), look (1), looked (1), shocked (1 ...
/hebrew/8539.htm - 6k

8074. shamem -- to be desolated or appalled
... 1), ruined (1), ruins (1). make amazed, be astonished, be an astonishment,
be, bring into, unto, lay, lie,. A primitive root; to ...
/hebrew/8074.htm - 6k

Library

Jesus, the Great Object of Astonishment.
... JESUS, THE GREAT OBJECT OF ASTONISHMENT. A COMMUNION ADDRESS AT MENTONE.
"Behold, My ... 15. JESUS, THE GREAT OBJECT ASTONISHMENT. OUR ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/jesus the great object of.htm

Simon's Astonishment at Peter's Treatment of the Scriptures.
... Homily XVIII. Chapter XXI."Simon's Astonishment at Peter's Treatment
of the Scriptures. When Peter said this, Simon pretended ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xxi simons astonishment at peters.htm

Of the Question as to the Consistency of the Several Notices Given ...
... Chapter XX."Of the Question as to the Consistency of the Several Notices Given by
Matthew, Mark, and Luke, on the Subject of the Astonishment Felt by the ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xx of the question as.htm

Of his Coming into his Own Country, and of the Astonishment of the ...
... Chapter XLII."Of His Coming into His Own Country, and of the Astonishment of the
People at His Doctrine, as They Looked with Contempt Upon His Lineage; Of ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlii of his coming into.htm

Second Greek Form.
... And they that happened to be there were struck with astonishment, saying: Whence
is this child, that every word he says is certainly accomplished? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of thomas/second greek form .htm

The Fourth Word from the Cross
... This was a word of astonishment and agony, yet also of victory. I. Of what nature
had been the meditations of our Lord during the three hours of silence? ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter xvii the fourth word.htm

Chapter twenty-six
... from the position he had held so long, in order to go and live himself in the centre
of the worst part of Chicago, the public astonishment reached its height. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-six.htm

The Patient Teacher, and the Slow Scholars
... dashed with pain. 'Why reason ye? Having eyes, see ye not? Do ye not remember?'
That speaks of His astonishment. Do not start at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the patient teacher and the.htm

La Brea
... The just cause of astonishment is, that the laws are, on the whole, invariable;
that the customs are so seldom broken; that sun and moon, plants and animals ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

Three Celebrated Mysteries.
... [615] A star shone forth in heaven above all the other stars, the light of which
was inexpressible, while its novelty struck men with astonishment. ...
/.../chapter xix three celebrated mysteries.htm

Thesaurus
Astonishment (51 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ASTONISHMENT. ... For original terms and fuller study
see ASTONISHED. Multi-Version Concordance Astonishment (51 Occurrences). ...
/a/astonishment.htm - 24k

Hissing (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 29:8 Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and
he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a ...
/h/hissing.htm - 9k

Horror (51 Occurrences)
... (See JPS RSV NIV). Deuteronomy 28:37 You shall become an astonishment, a proverb,
and a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh shall lead you away. ...
/h/horror.htm - 23k

Object (76 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 28:37 You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among
all the peoples where Yahweh shall lead you away. (See NIV). ...
/o/object.htm - 31k

Taunt (38 Occurrences)
... Taunt (38 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 28:37 You shall become an astonishment, a proverb,
and a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh shall lead you away. ...
/t/taunt.htm - 18k

Scorn (65 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Deuteronomy 28:37 You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and
a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh shall lead you away. (See NIV). ...
/s/scorn.htm - 31k

Exclaimed (45 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:33 When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds
exclaimed in astonishment, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel." (WEY). ...
/e/exclaimed.htm - 19k

Execration (9 Occurrences)
... and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all
the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a ...
/e/execration.htm - 10k

Byword (14 Occurrences)
... bi'-wurd: shammah = "consternation," "astonishment," "waste," "wonderful language,"
"object of remark" (Deuteronomy 28:37 1 Kings 9:7 2 Chronicles 7:20); mashal ...
/b/byword.htm - 12k

Astonied (12 Occurrences)
... ton'-isht, as-ton'-id (shamem, "astonished," the root idea being "silent," ie struck
dumb with amazement; ekplessomai, "to be struck with astonishment," as if ...
/a/astonied.htm - 12k

Resources
What did Jesus look like? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Zechariah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Zacchaeus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Astonishment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus
Concordance
Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:33
When the demon was expelled, the dumb man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in astonishment, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel."
(WEY)

Matthew 13:54
And He came into His own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue, so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, "Where did he obtain such wisdom, and these wondrous powers?
(WEY)

Matthew 21:20
When the disciples saw it they exclaimed in astonishment, "How instantaneously the fig-tree has withered away!"
(WEY)

Mark 2:12
The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."
(WEY)

Mark 5:42
And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Mark 16:8
They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Luke 1:63
He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
(See NIV)

Luke 4:36
And astonishment came upon all, and they spoke to one another, saying, What word is this? for with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.
(DBY)

Luke 5:9
For astonishment had laid hold on him, and on all those who were with him, at the haul of fishes which they had taken;
(BBE WBS)

Luke 5:26
And astonishment seized all, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.
(DBY YLT NAS)

Luke 24:41
But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, "Have you any food here?"
(WEY)

Revelation 17:6
And I saw the woman drinking herself drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her I was filled with utter astonishment.
(WEY)

Genesis 43:33
They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled one with another.
(See NAS NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:28
Yahweh will strike you with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 28:37
You shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh shall lead you away.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Kings 22:19
because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before Jehovah, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah.
(See JPS)

2 Chronicles 7:21
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 29:8
Therefore the wrath of Yahweh was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

2 Chronicles 30:7
And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.
(See JPS)

Psalms 60:3
Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 13:8
And they shall be affrighted; pangs and throes shall take hold them; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail; they shall look aghast one at another; their faces shall be faces of flame.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 63:5
And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my wrath, it upheld me.
(See JPS)

Jeremiah 8:21
For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 18:16
to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 19:8
I will make this city an astonishment, and a hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all its plagues.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 25:9
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says Yahweh, and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 25:11
This whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 25:18
to wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and its kings, and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 25:38
He has left his covert, as the lion; for their land is become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword, and because of his fierce anger.
(WEB ASV)

Jeremiah 29:18
I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of horror, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations where I have driven them;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 42:18
For thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: As my anger and my wrath has been poured forth on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath be poured forth on you, when you shall enter into Egypt; and you shall be an object of horror, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and you shall see this place no more.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 44:12
I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even to the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an object of horror, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 44:22
so that Yahweh could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore your land has become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 49:13
For I have sworn by myself, says Yahweh, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all its cities shall be perpetual wastes.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 49:17
Edom shall become an astonishment: everyone who passes by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its plagues.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY)

Jeremiah 50:23
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
(DBY)

Jeremiah 51:37
Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 51:41
How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
(KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 3:15
And I come in unto the Removed, at Tel-Ahib, who are dwelling at the river Chebar, and where they are dwelling I also dwell seven days, causing astonishment in their midst.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 4:16
Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 5:15
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, to the nations that are around you, when I shall execute judgments on you in anger and in wrath, and in wrathful rebukes; (I, Yahweh, have spoken it;)
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 12:19
And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 14:8
and I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
(WEB ASV)

Ezekiel 23:33
You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister Samaria.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 33:28
I will make the land a desolation and an astonishment; and the pride of her power shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, so that none shall pass through.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Ezekiel 33:29
Then shall they know that I am Yahweh, when I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment, because of all their abominations which they have committed.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Ezekiel 35:3
and tell it, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and an astonishment.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Ezekiel 35:7
Thus will I make Mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation; and I will cut off from it him who passes through and him who returns.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 8:13
And I hear a certain holy one speaking, and a certain holy one saith to the wonderful numberer who is speaking: Till when 'is' the vision of the continual 'sacrifice', and of the transgression, an astonishment, to make both sanctuary and host a treading down?
(YLT)

Micah 6:16
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I may make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing: and ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
(See JPS)

Zechariah 12:4
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Astonishment

Related Terms

Astounded (12 Occurrences)

Astarte (2 Occurrences)

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Astonishingly
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