θαμβ-έω G2284
To be amazed, astounded, or alarmed; an overwhelming reaction of wonder or fear at something unexpected.
A vivid verb for the kind of astonishment that stops you in your tracks. In Mark's Gospel, this word captures the crowd's stunned reaction to Jesus' authoritative teaching and exorcisms (Mark 1:27), the disciples' alarm at his hard sayings about wealth (Mark 10:24), and their growing fear as he resolutely set out toward Jerusalem (Mark 10:32). The multilingual evidence is remarkably consistent: English 'amazed,' Spanish 'asombrado,' French 'stupéfait' all converge on a reaction beyond ordinary surprise, one that mingles awe with a tinge of dread.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To be struck with amazement or alarm, often carrying overtones of both wonder and fear. Mark uses this verb to depict visceral, almost involuntary reactions to Jesus' authority. At Mark 1:27 the crowd is θαμβέω at his power over unclean spirits; at Mark 10:32 the disciples are θαμβέω as he walks ahead toward the cross. Spanish 'asombrado' and French 'stupéfait' both capture the sense of being overwhelmed beyond the capacity for immediate response. In Acts 9:5 (variant reading), even Saul on the Damascus road is gripped by this stunned bewilderment. 4×
AR["تَحَيَّرُوا", "تَعَجَّبُوا", "كَانُوا-مُنْدَهِشِينَ", "مُنْدَهِشًا"]·ben["অবাক-হচ্ছিল", "অবাক-হচ্ছিলেন", "বিস্মিত-হয়ে", "বিস্মিত-হল"]·DE["θαμβῶν", "ἐθαμβήθησαν", "ἐθαμβοῦντο"]·EN["amazed", "they-were-amazed", "were-amazed"]·FR["être-stupéfait", "être-étonné"]·heb["הִשְׁתּוֹמְמוּ", "נִדְהֲמוּ", "נִדְהָם"]·HI["चकित-थे", "चकित-हो-गए", "चकित-हो-गये", "चकित-होकर"]·ID["mereka-takjub", "mereka-tercengang", "tercengang"]·IT["ethambethesan", "ethambounto", "stupire"]·jav["nggumun", "padha-gumun", "sami-gumun"]·KO["놀람다", "놀랐다", "놓라며"]·PT["admiravam-se", "atônito", "espantaram-se"]·RU["изумлялись", "изумлённый", "ужаснулись"]·ES["asombrado", "estaban-asombrados", "se-asombraban", "se-asombraron"]·SW["akistaajabu", "walishangazwa"]·TR["hayret-ettiler", "şaşkın", "şaşkındılar"]·urd["حیران-تھے", "حیران-ہو-کر", "حیران-ہو-گئے"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
θαμβ-έω, to be astounded, οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες θάμβησαν Refs 8th c.BC+ __2 with accusative, to be astonished at, θάμβησαν δ᾽ ὄρνιθας Refs 8th c.BC+ __II later also causal, alarm, LXX:—passive, to be astounded, NT astounded, Refs 1st c.AD+