The term "bewildered" refers to a state of confusion or perplexity, often resulting from a lack of understanding or clarity. In the context of the Bible, feelings of bewilderment can arise from various circumstances, including divine encounters, prophetic visions, or challenging life situations. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who experienced bewilderment, often leading to a deeper understanding of God's will and purpose.

Biblical Instances of Bewilderment

1. Prophetic Visions and Divine Encounters:
· The prophet Daniel experienced bewilderment when he received visions that were difficult to comprehend. In Daniel 8:27 , he states, "I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding." Daniel's bewilderment highlights the complexity of divine revelations and the human struggle to grasp their full meaning.

2. The Disciples of Jesus:
· The disciples often found themselves bewildered by Jesus' teachings and actions. In Mark 9:32 , after Jesus predicts His death and resurrection, it is recorded, "But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it." Their confusion underscores the challenge of comprehending the mysteries of God's redemptive plan.

3. The Early Church:
· The early Christians sometimes faced bewilderment as they navigated the new covenant established through Christ. In Acts 2:12 , during the event of Pentecost, the crowd's reaction to the apostles speaking in various tongues is described: "Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'" This moment of bewilderment opened the door for Peter to explain the fulfillment of prophecy and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Theological Implications

Bewilderment in the Bible often serves as a precursor to revelation and understanding. It is a natural human response to the divine, which transcends human logic and comprehension. In moments of bewilderment, believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and clarity through prayer, study of Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. James 1:5 offers reassurance: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Spiritual Growth Through Bewilderment

Experiencing bewilderment can lead to spiritual growth as it drives individuals to seek deeper truths and a closer relationship with God. It is an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in God's sovereignty, even when His ways are not immediately clear. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

In summary, while bewilderment may initially seem disorienting, it is often a catalyst for greater insight and spiritual maturity. Through the examples of biblical figures who faced confusion and sought divine guidance, believers are reminded of the importance of trusting in God's wisdom and timing.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Bewilder.

2. (a.) Greatly perplexed; as, a bewildered mind.

4797. sugcheo -- to pour together, ie to confuse, throw into ...
... Word Origin from sun and cheo (to pour) Definition to pour together, ie to confuse,
throw into confusion NASB Word Usage bewildered (1), confounding (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4797.htm - 7k5753a. avah -- to bend, twist
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to bend, twist NASB Word Usage bent (1), bewildered
(1), distorts (1), made my crooked (1), perverse (2), perverted (2). ...
/hebrew/5753a.htm - 5k

8159. shaah -- to gaze
... or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate,
be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewildered -- depart, be ...
/hebrew/8159.htm - 6k

2398. chata -- to miss, go wrong, sin
... root Definition to miss, go wrong, sin NASB Word Usage bear the blame (2), bewildered
(1), bore the loss (1), bring sin (1), cleanse (5), cleansed (1 ...
/hebrew/2398.htm - 6k

The Lawful and Unlawful Use of Law.
... At Ephesus, over which Timothy was bishop, people had been bewildered by the teaching
of converted Jews, who mixed the old leaven of Judaism with the new ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xix the lawful and unlawful.htm

The Incredulous Disciples
... Mark's theme is mainly what they thought of the testimony to the Resurrection.
I. He shows us, first, bewildered love and sorrow. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the incredulous disciples.htm

Chapter three
... He was gathering up his bewildered senses, and began to remonstrate, "Why, it
isn't feasible to run a paper nowadays on any such basis. It's too ideal. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter three.htm

Christ's 'little Whiles'
... Then we have in the subsequent part of our text the blundering of the bewildered
disciples and the patient answer of the long-suffering Teacher. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/christs little whiles.htm

The Angel in the Tomb
... to be to describe rather the manner in which the report of the Resurrection affected
the disciples, and so he makes prominent the bewildered astonishment of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the angel in the tomb.htm

The Resurrection Morning
... I. The open sepulchre and the bewildered alarm it excited. ... II. Peter and John at
the tomb, the dawning of faith, and the continuance of bewildered wonder. ...
/.../the resurrection morning.htm

The Death of the Master and the Death of the Servant
... spirits made constant by the remembrance of that Calvary where Jesus died with more
of trembling reluctance, shrinking, and apparent bewildered unmanning than ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the death of the master.htm

Significant Phrases
... bent and disposition. benumbed and powerless. bewildered and stupefied. bigots and
blockheads. ... crumbling and shapeless. crushed and bewildered. cultured and refined ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ii significant phrases.htm

Blessed be that First Day of Thine, Lord, Wherewith this Day of ...
... For the deaf is bewildered in the time of the thunderclap, the heady man is bewildered
also at the voice of instruction; if fearful thunder terrifies the deaf ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iii blessed be that.htm

The First Kings.
... In token of the reality of these things, and to assure the mind of the bewildered
young man, the prophet foretold the incidents of his homeward journey, and ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm

Bewildered (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Bewilder. 2. (a.) Greatly perplexed; as, a bewildered mind.
Multi-Version Concordance Bewildered (11 Occurrences). ...
/b/bewildered.htm - 9k

Bewilderment (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state of being bewildered. 2. (n.)
A bewildering tangle or confusion. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/b/bewilderment.htm - 8k

Influence (13 Occurrences)
... achievements. (WEY). Acts 8:11 His influence over them arose from their having
been, for a long time, bewildered by his sorceries. (WEY). ...
/i/influence.htm - 11k

Beware (51 Occurrences)

/b/beware.htm - 21k

Overwhelms (5 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Isaiah 21:4 My heart is bewildered, terror hath overwhelmed me; the twilight
that I longed for hath been turned for me into trembling. (See NAS). ...
/o/overwhelms.htm - 7k

Occurred (23 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Acts 2:6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and
were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. ...
/o/occurred.htm - 12k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Having wandered from, or unable to find, the way; bewildered; perplexed;
as, a child lost in the woods; a stranger lost in London. ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Gained (66 Occurrences)
... Acts 9:22 Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living
in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ. ...
/g/gained.htm - 25k

Proofs (3 Occurrences)
... Acts 9:22 Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living
in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Christ. ...
/p/proofs.htm - 7k

Astounded (12 Occurrences)
... to any one. (WEY). Acts 2:12 They were all astounded and bewildered, and
asked one another, "What can this mean?" (WEY). Acts 3:11 ...
/a/astounded.htm - 9k

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Bewildered: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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