The term "startled" refers to a sudden shock or surprise that causes an immediate reaction, often of fear or alarm. In the context of the Bible, being startled is a human response to unexpected divine encounters, miraculous events, or sudden revelations. This reaction is seen in various narratives throughout Scripture, where individuals are confronted with the supernatural or the unexpected presence of God.

Biblical Instances of Being Startled:

1. Angelic Appearances:
· In the New Testament, the appearance of angels often caused individuals to be startled. For example, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the temple, he was "startled and overcome with fear" (Luke 1:12). This reaction underscores the awe-inspiring and sometimes terrifying nature of angelic beings.

2. Resurrection of Jesus:
· The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pivotal event that caused many to be startled. When the women went to the tomb and found it empty, they were initially perplexed and frightened by the appearance of angels who announced Jesus' resurrection (Luke 24:4-5). This startling event transformed their sorrow into joy and amazement.

3. Miraculous Events:
· Throughout the Gospels, Jesus performed miracles that startled onlookers. For instance, when Jesus calmed the storm, His disciples were "startled and asked, 'Who is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!'" (Mark 4:41). Their reaction highlights the divine authority of Jesus over nature.

4. Visions and Revelations:
· In the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel experienced visions that left him startled and troubled. In Daniel 8:17, when the angel Gabriel approached him, Daniel was "startled and fell facedown" . These visions often contained profound and sometimes unsettling revelations about future events.

Theological Implications:

The reaction of being startled in the Bible often signifies a moment of divine intervention or revelation. It serves as a reminder of the holiness and power of God, which can be both awe-inspiring and fear-inducing. The startled response of biblical figures often leads to a deeper understanding of God's purposes and a call to faith and obedience.

Human Response to the Divine:

Being startled is a natural human response to the divine presence or action. It reflects the finite nature of humanity when confronted with the infinite and the holy. This reaction can lead to a transformation in understanding and behavior, as individuals are called to recognize the authority and majesty of God.

In summary, the concept of being startled in the Bible is closely associated with encounters with the divine, whether through angelic appearances, miraculous events, or prophetic visions. These moments serve to reveal God's power and purpose, often leading to a deeper faith and commitment among those who experience them.(imp. & p. p.) of Startle.4422. ptoeo -- to terrify
... [4422 () in ancient Greek meant "to , be startled, terrified" ().]. Word Origin
a prim. word Definition to terrify NASB Word Usage startled (1), terrified (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4422.htm - 7k8429. tevah -- to be startled or alarmed
... 8428, 8429. tevah. 8430 . to be startled or alarmed. Transliteration: tevah
Phonetic Spelling: (tev-ah') Short Definition: astounded. ...
/hebrew/8429.htm - 6k

5425a. nathar -- to spring or start up
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to spring or start up NASB Word Usage jump
(1), leaps (1), startled (1). 5425, 5425a. nathar. 5425b . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5425a.htm - 5k

6342. pachad -- to dread, be in dread or in awe
... A primitive root; to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general --
be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear, make to shake. 6341b, 6342. ...
/hebrew/6342.htm - 6k

2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... trembling (2), disturb (2), frighten (3), frighten them away (1), make him afraid
(1), make them afraid (3), quaked (1), routed (1), startled (1), terrified (2 ...
/hebrew/2729.htm - 6k

Herod --A Startled Conscience
... HEROD"A STARTLED CONSCIENCE. ... I. You have here the voice of a startled conscience.
Herod killed John without much sense of doing wrong. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/heroda startled conscience.htm

A Few Days Later the Fashionable World of Europe was Startled by ...
... XXXVII. A few days later the fashionable world of Europe was startled
by the announcement of? A few days later the fashionable ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/corelli/the master-christian/xxxvii a few days later.htm

Giving God a Clear Road for Action.
... Fact is more fascinating than fiction. If one could know what is going on around
him, how surprised and startled he would be. ... He was greatly startled. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/giving god a clear road.htm

Toleration
... free thought, and to silence novel opinions, forgetful that Christ must have been
right after all, and that in silencing opinions which startled them, they ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxii toleration.htm

How the Appointment was Kept.
... They are further startled to see a glorious looking person who assures
them that Jesus is living, having risen up out of death. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/how the appointment was kept.htm

A New Morning.
... Peter, too, is startled. ... As they approach they are startled and awed to find a man
there, with the glorious appearance of an angel, sitting upon the stone. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/a new morning.htm

A New Pretender
... "I am nothing; I have no name; I am nobody!" she cried. He was startled. "What is
this? ... She flung up her head and gazed at him with startled eyes. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xiii a new pretender.htm

Who Can Tell?
... How suddenly were they however startled from their security and convinced
of their sin? ... I have been startled at it often myself. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/who can tell.htm

"For Hereunto were Ye Called; Because Christ Also Suffered for You ...
... He was startled by it. ... All my being's ransomed powers,... when the entire
congregation was startled by the sound of a man's voice. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter one for hereunto were.htm

Miracles no Remedy for Unbelief.
... pass away? could you be startled for ever? And what ... and disturbance? Are you
not continually startled by the accidents of life? You see ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vi miracles no remedy.htm

Startled (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Startled (4 Occurrences). ... Luke 24:37 Startled, and in the
utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; (WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/startled.htm - 7k

Utmost (21 Occurrences)
... gnashing of teeth. (WEY). Luke 24:37 Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they
thought they were looking at a spirit; (WEY). 2 Corinthians 8 ...
/u/utmost.htm - 13k

Discovered (46 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ruth 3:8 It happened at midnight, that the man was startled and turned
himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet. (See NIV). ...
/d/discovered.htm - 21k

Midnight (14 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). Ruth 3:8 It happened at midnight, that the man
was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet. ...
/m/midnight.htm - 12k

Astonied (12 Occurrences)
... shock; existemi, "to amaze," "to throw into wonderment"; thambeomai, "to astonish"
to the point of fright): The state of being surprised, startled, stunned by ...
/a/astonied.htm - 12k

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)
... 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 ...
/a/astonishment.htm - 24k

Alarm (26 Occurrences)
... WW Davies. Multi-Version Concordance Alarm (26 Occurrences). Luke 24:37 Startled,
and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; (WEY). ...
/a/alarm.htm - 16k

Astonished (92 Occurrences)
... shock; existemi, "to amaze," "to throw into wonderment"; thambeomai, "to astonish"
to the point of fright): The state of being surprised, startled, stunned by ...
/a/astonished.htm - 34k

Amazed (75 Occurrences)
... a-mazd': A term which illustrates the difficulty of expressing in one English word
the wide range of startled emotion, wonder, astonishment, awe, covered, in ...
/a/amazed.htm - 27k

Startle (2 Occurrences)

/s/startle.htm - 7k

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