The term "awestruck" refers to a profound sense of reverence, wonder, or amazement, often in response to the divine or the miraculous. In the biblical context, being awestruck is a common reaction to the presence and actions of God, His angels, or His chosen servants. This response is deeply rooted in the recognition of God's majesty, power, and holiness.

Biblical Instances of Being Awestruck

1. Theophanies and Divine Encounters: Throughout the Bible, individuals who encounter God or His manifestations often experience a sense of awe. For example, when Moses encounters God in the burning bush, he is instructed to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). The encounter leaves Moses awestruck, aware of the divine presence and his own unworthiness.

2. Miracles and Signs: Miraculous events often leave witnesses in awe. In the New Testament, when Jesus calms the storm, His disciples are filled with awe and wonder, asking, "Who is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:27). Such miracles reveal Jesus' divine authority and elicit a response of reverence and amazement.

3. Visions and Revelations: Prophets and apostles who receive visions from God often describe being overwhelmed by the experience. In the book of Revelation, John falls at the feet of the glorified Christ "as though dead" (Revelation 1:17), illustrating the overwhelming nature of divine revelation.

4. Worship and Praise: The Psalms frequently express a sense of awe in worship. Psalm 33:8 declares, "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him." This call to reverence is a response to God's creative power and His righteous judgment.

5. Judgment and Holiness: The holiness and justice of God also inspire awe. When Isaiah has a vision of the Lord seated on a throne, he is struck by his own sinfulness in the presence of divine holiness, exclaiming, "Woe is me, for I am ruined!" (Isaiah 6:5). This reaction underscores the awe that God's purity and righteousness evoke.

Theological Significance

Being awestruck is not merely an emotional response but a recognition of God's transcendence and immanence. It reflects a proper understanding of the Creator-creature relationship, where humans acknowledge their limitations and God's infinite greatness. This sense of awe is foundational to the fear of the Lord, which is described as "the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).

Practical Implications

For believers, cultivating a sense of awe towards God is essential for a vibrant spiritual life. It encourages humility, deepens worship, and fosters obedience. Recognizing God's majesty and power leads to a life of reverence and devotion, aligning one's heart with His purposes and commands.

In summary, being awestruck is a biblically grounded response to the divine, characterized by reverence, wonder, and a recognition of God's supreme authority and holiness. It is a vital aspect of the believer's relationship with God, shaping both worship and daily living.5399. phobeo -- to put to flight, to terrify, frighten
... Word Origin from phobos Definition to put to flight, to terrify, frighten NASB Word
Usage afraid (39), am afraid (2), awestruck (1), fear (27), feared (5 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5399.htm - 9k

Anxieties and Troubles, Friends and Foes
... a baptised Christian, and a real one, as his ancestors have been for nearly four
centuries; but of Jewish race, and that,' he added in an awestruck tone, 'the ...
/.../chapter xxi anxieties and troubles.htm

The Open Grave at Bethany
... his livid face, he came stumbling out into the light that dazed his eyes, closed
for four dark days, and stood silent and motionless in that awestruck crowd. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the open grave at bethany.htm

St. Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters
... sobs as she mourns over the sins of Church and world, and again chanting high prophecy
of restoration and renewal, or telling in awestruck undertone sacred ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/st catherine of siena as.htm

To Brother Raimondo of Capua of the Order of the Preachers
... Hither her enemies pursued her, but as they drew near, fell back of a sudden, awestruck,
as she herself here tells us, by her words and bearing. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to brother raimondo of capua 4.htm

To Brother Raimondo of the Preaching Order when He was in Genoa
... But we grieve with a new, awestruck perception of the loneliness of her great soul,
as we realize that to Raimondo was to be given perforce her deepest ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to brother raimondo of the.htm

The Thunderbolt Averted
... the flat of his sword. It is Macedonius the barley-eater,' exclaimed several
voices in awestruck tones. The name filled both the ...
/.../chapter viii the thunderbolt averted.htm

Philip and St. Jerome
... it on the Mount of Olives; as he wandered to the ruins of the house of the two sisters,
and saw the grave of Lazarus at Bethany; as he stood awestruck on the ...
/.../chapter lxiii philip and st.htm

The Veil Rent
... At the moment when the loud cry of the dying Christ rung over the heads of the
awestruck multitude, that veil was, as it were, laid hold of by a pair of giant ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the veil rent.htm

The Two Storms (Jesus Walking on the Water)
... the mention of their new dread (fear of the supernatural Man replacing their terror
amid the convulsions of nature), and of their awestruck questioning among ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 35-41 6 47-52 the two.htm

Matt. xxvii. 27-29.
... I mean that, when they ought to have been awestruck, when they ought to have wept,
which even the people did, this they did not, but, on the contrary, were ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxvii matt xxvii 27-29.htm

Awestruck (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Awestruck (1 Occurrence). Matthew 9:8 And the
crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the ...
/a/awestruck.htm - 6k

Awe-struck (9 Occurrences)
Awe-struck. Awestruck, Awe-struck. Awful . Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Struck
with awe. ... (WEY). Awestruck, Awe-struck. Awful . Reference Bible.
/a/awe-struck.htm - 9k

Awe-stricken (1 Occurrence)
Awe-stricken. Awesome, Awe-stricken. Awestruck . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(a.) Awe-struck. ... (WEY). Awesome, Awe-stricken. Awestruck . Reference Bible.
/a/awe-stricken.htm - 6k

Election (6 Occurrences)
... as part of a vast whole of view and teaching, occur such passages as Ephesians
2:8, 9 and Romans 11:33-36, and even the stern, or rather awestruck, phrases of ...
/e/election.htm - 26k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... His great teacher disappears in a whirlwind, and, awestruck by the wonderful sight,
Elisha rends his clothes, takes up the garment of Elijah, retraces his ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

What did Jesus mean when He said, “Peace, be still”? | GotQuestions.org

Awestruck: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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