Consternation refers to a state of paralyzing dismay or fear, often accompanied by confusion and helplessness. In the biblical context, consternation is frequently depicted as a reaction to divine judgment or the overwhelming presence of God. It is a profound emotional response that can affect individuals, groups, or entire nations.

Biblical Instances of Consternation

1. Divine Judgment: Consternation often arises in the context of God's judgment upon the wicked. In Deuteronomy 28:28, as part of the curses for disobedience, the Lord warns, "The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind." This confusion can be understood as a form of consternation, where the people are left in a state of bewilderment and fear due to their rebellion against God.

2. The Day of the Lord: The prophetic literature frequently describes the Day of the Lord as a time of great consternation for those who oppose God. In Zephaniah 1:15, the prophet declares, "That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness." The imagery here conveys a sense of overwhelming fear and confusion as God's righteous judgment is executed.

3. Enemies of Israel: Consternation is also depicted as a tool used by God against the enemies of Israel. In Exodus 23:27, God promises, "I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run." Here, consternation serves as a divine strategy to protect and advance the cause of His chosen people.

4. The Presence of God: The overwhelming presence of God can also induce consternation. In Isaiah 6:5, when the prophet Isaiah encounters the holiness of God, he exclaims, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts." Isaiah's reaction is one of awe and fear, recognizing his own unworthiness in the presence of divine majesty.

Theological Implications

Consternation in the Bible often serves as a reminder of the holiness and power of God. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine judgment. For believers, it is a call to reverence and obedience, recognizing that God is both just and merciful. The fear of the Lord, which can initially manifest as consternation, is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), leading to a deeper understanding of God's character and His purposes.

Practical Application

For Christians today, the concept of consternation can serve as a warning against complacency in spiritual matters. It encourages a healthy fear of the Lord, prompting believers to live in a manner that honors God and aligns with His will. It also offers comfort, knowing that God is sovereign and that His plans will ultimately prevail, even when the world seems to be in disarray.(n.) Terror combined with amazement; dismay.4423. ptoesis -- a fluttering, excitement, hence terror
... hence terror. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ptoesis Phonetic Spelling:
(pto'-ay-sis) Short Definition: terror, consternation Definition: terror ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4423.htm - 6k8541. 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

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

4288. mechittah -- terror, destruction, ruin
... From chathah; properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly)
consternation -- destruction, dismaying, ruin, terror. see HEBREW chathah. ...
/hebrew/4288.htm - 6k

8539. tamah -- to be astounded or dumbfounded
... be amazed, be astonished, marvelously, wonder. A primitive root; to be in consternation
-- be amazed, be astonished, marvel(-lously), wonder. 8538, 8539. ...
/hebrew/8539.htm - 6k

8074. shamem -- to be desolated or appalled
... desolated or appalled NASB Word Usage appalled (13), astonished (8), astounded
(1), become desolate (1), causes horror (1), causing consternation (1), desolate ...
/hebrew/8074.htm - 6k

The World's Consternation at the Sudden and Secret Removal of the ...
... Chapter Nine The Worldward Results of the Redeemer's Return 1. The World's
Consternation at the sudden and secret Removal of the Church. ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/1 the worlds consternation at.htm

Death.
... Suppose one man should die quietly, another should die suddenly, and a third should
die under great consternation of spirit; no man can judge of their eternal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxiv death.htm

Concerning Fear.
... Book II. Chapter XV."Concerning Fear. Fear is divided into six varieties: viz.,
shrinking [1825] , shame, disgrace, consternation, panic, anxiety [1826] . ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xv concerning fear.htm

At Court
... Mazarin's astonishment and disgust when he heard that Vincent de Paul had been
appointed one of the number were as great as Vincent's own consternation. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 8 at court.htm

Account Given by the Heretics of the Formation of Achamoth; Origin ...
... her, she would be filled with joy, and laugh; then, again, she would be struck with
terror; or, at other times, would sink into consternation and bewilderment. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter iv account given by the.htm

The Burning of Athens.
... apply to the oracle."Response of the oracle."The prodigy in the temple."Discomfiture
of the Persians."The spirit warriors."Consternation at Athens ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

The Signs of Pentecost.
... And we concede that the purpose of the signs was realized in the perplexity and
consternation which they caused in the hearts of those present. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxvii the signs of pentecost.htm

Concerning the Seditions at Jerusalem and what Terrible Miseries ...
... The citizens themselves were under a terrible consternation and fear; nor had they
any opportunity of taking counsel, and of changing their conduct; nor were ...
/.../chapter 1 concerning the seditions.htm

Letter cxlvii. To Sabinianus.
... I am filled with consternation and a shiver runs through me, soul and body, when
I try to set before your eyes the deed that you have done. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxlvii to sabinianus.htm

A Great Household
... Although the prospect of such a post filled the humble parish priest with
consternation, he owed too much to de Berulle to refuse. ...
/.../forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 3 a great household.htm

Consternation (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Terror combined with amazement; dismay.
Multi-Version Concordance Consternation (8 Occurrences). 1 ...
/c/consternation.htm - 8k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... of Yahweh," that is, in the temple proper; which book, when Shaphan read therefrom
to the king, caused the latter to rend his robe in dismay and consternation. ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... fracture," more often "destruction" (eg Proverbs 16:18), from shabhar, "to break."
The form shebarim is also found in Job 41:25, "consternation," the King ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Ekron (20 Occurrences)
... Zephaniah declares that it shall be rooted up (2:4), and Zechariah speaks of its
consternation at the fall of Tyre (9:5, 7). From the Assyrian records we learn ...
/e/ekron.htm - 17k

Ekronite (1 Occurrence)
... Zephaniah declares that it shall be rooted up (2:4), and Zechariah speaks of its
consternation at the fall of Tyre (9:5, 7). From the Assyrian records we learn ...
/e/ekronite.htm - 9k

Daniel (74 Occurrences)
... He made known and also interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream; and many years afterwards,
when he was now an old man, amid the alarm and consternation of the ...
/d/daniel.htm - 79k

Despair (23 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Job 41:25 When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason
of consternation they are beside themselves. (See JPS). ...
/d/despair.htm - 14k

Dismay (16 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and disabling
terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation. 5 ...
/d/dismay.htm - 11k

Pain (172 Occurrences)
... in Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 21:3 Daniel 10:16, and translated "pangs" or "sorrows." In
other passages where we have the same comparison of consternation in the ...
/p/pain.htm - 43k

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

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