The term "dumbfounded" refers to a state of being astonished or rendered speechless due to surprise or shock. In the context of the Bible, this reaction is often seen in response to divine revelation, miraculous events, or profound truths. The experience of being dumbfounded is a testament to the overwhelming power and majesty of God, which can leave individuals in awe and unable to articulate their thoughts.

Biblical Instances:

1. Job's Friends: In the Book of Job, Job's friends are initially dumbfounded by his suffering and sit in silence with him for seven days and nights. This reaction underscores the depth of Job's affliction and the inadequacy of human wisdom in the face of divine mysteries. Job 2:13 states, "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one spoke a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."

2. Daniel's Vision: The prophet Daniel experienced a state of being dumbfounded after receiving visions from God. In Daniel 8:27 , it is recorded, "I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding." Daniel's reaction highlights the overwhelming nature of divine revelations that surpass human comprehension.

3. The Disciples' Reaction to Jesus: The disciples of Jesus were often left dumbfounded by His teachings and miracles. For instance, when Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were filled with awe. Mark 4:41 describes their reaction: "Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, 'Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'" This illustrates their growing realization of Jesus' divine authority.

4. The Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus Christ left many dumbfounded, as it was an unprecedented event that defied natural laws. The women who visited the tomb were initially perplexed and speechless upon finding it empty. Luke 24:4 states, "While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them."

Theological Significance:

Being dumbfounded in the biblical sense often signifies an encounter with the divine that challenges human understanding and evokes a response of reverence and awe. It serves as a reminder of God's transcendence and the limitations of human perception. Such moments call believers to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when His ways are beyond human explanation.

Related Concepts:

· Awe and Reverence: The feeling of being dumbfounded is closely related to the biblical themes of awe and reverence for God. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

· Silence Before God: The Bible often associates silence with reverence and submission to God's will. Habakkuk 2:20 declares, "But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him."

· Mystery of God: The state of being dumbfounded reflects the mystery of God's nature and His works, which are often beyond human comprehension. Romans 11:33 exclaims, "O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!"1605. ekplesso -- to strike out, hence to strike with panic, to ...
... from 1537 , "wholly ," intensifying 4141 , "to strike") -- properly, " of one's
senses" (), ie with the come of being utterly amazed (dumbfounded) or left "at ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1605.htm - 7k

2284. thambeo -- to astonish
... Cognate: 2284 -- to astonish, amaze (passive, dumbfounded) to the point of becoming
emotionally "stalled" ("shutting down") -- also implying a sense of wonder ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2284.htm - 7k

2285. thambos -- amazement
... to a Sanskrit root meaning "make immoveable") -- properly, utter amazement (with
a sense of wonder), referring to someone who becomes (dumbfounded) at what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2285.htm - 7k

8539. tamah -- to be astounded or dumbfounded
... 8538, 8539. tamah. 8540 . to be astounded or dumbfounded. Transliteration:
tamah Phonetic Spelling: (taw-mah') Short Definition: amazed. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/8539.htm - 6k

1724. daham -- to astonish, astound
... astonished. A primitive root (compare duwach); to be dumb, ie (figuratively)
dumbfounded -- astonished. see HEBREW duwach. 1723, 1724. daham. 1725 . ...
/hebrew/1724.htm - 6k

Time Changes Nations' Dresses --And Fortunes.
... and the ram, now turned Roman, is doing his deeds of daring against the ramparts
which erst were his own, forthwith the Carthaginians stood dumbfounded as at a ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter i time changes nations dressesand.htm

Chapter three
... "Leave it out. We won't use it.". "But..." The managing editor was simply dumbfounded.
He stared at Norman as if the man was out of his mind. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter three.htm

Useful Phrases
... ductile language. dulcet tone. dull aversion. dumb surprise. dumbfounded amazement.
durable impression. dusky obscurity. dutiful compliance. dynamic energy. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section i useful phrases.htm

Dumbfounded (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Dumbfounded (1 Occurrence). Psalms 31:17 Let me not be
disappointed, Yahweh, for I have called on you. Let the wicked be disappointed. ...
/d/dumbfounded.htm - 6k

Dumb (34 Occurrences)

/d/dumb.htm - 20k

Dump (1 Occurrence)

/d/dump.htm - 7k

What is sensationalism? What is a sensationalist? | GotQuestions.org

Dumbfounded: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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