ἔκθαμβος (ekthambos)
ekthambos
astonished
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective ekthambos describes a state of being thoroughly astonished or amazed. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 3:11, where it captures the reaction of the crowd as they witness a man healed at the temple gate. The term conveys a sense of overwhelming wonder that leaves observers speechless and unable to comprehend what has just occurred.
Its structure combines the prefix ek-, meaning "out of," with thambos, which relates to trembling or fear. This etymology suggests an astonishment so intense it borders on awe or even dread. While often translated simply as "amazed," the word carries a heavier emotional weight than common terms for surprise, pointing to a visceral reaction to divine power.
Translators typically render this rare word as "astonished" to preserve its intensity without implying terror. In Acts 3:11, it highlights how the miracle disrupted the ordinary expectations of the bystanders, leaving them gripped by a profound sense of wonder at the work of God through Peter and John.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekthambos describes a shock so deep it leaves you standing still. In Acts 3:11, the crowd saw a man who had been lame his whole life suddenly holding onto Peter and John. Their reaction was not just mild surprise; it was a total disruption of what they thought possible.
When God acts in ways that break our normal expectations, we often feel exactly this way. It is okay to be stunned by grace. This word reminds us that divine power can interrupt our daily routines and leave us with no explanation other than wonder.
You do not need to have all the answers when you encounter something new from God. Let yourself be amazed. His work often exceeds our ability to predict or understand it, and that is a good thing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- greatly amazed.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔκθαμβοι.1×
Key Verses
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Acts 3:11
As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
This verse captures the visceral shock of the crowd as they witness a lifelong disability reversed, showing how divine power can shatter ordinary expectations.