ἔντρομος (entromos)
entromos
trembling
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective entromos describes a state of being trembling or terrified, capturing a physical reaction to profound fear. Its construction combines a prefix indicating position or intensity with a root meaning "to tremble," creating a vivid image of someone shaking in their presence.
In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, each instance marking a moment of divine encounter that overwhelms human composure. Stephen recounts Moses standing before the burning bush as entromos (Acts 7:32), highlighting the awe-inspiring holiness of God. Later, a Philippian jailer falls down trembling before Paul and Silas after an earthquake shakes his prison (Acts 16:29). The term also describes the terrifying scene at Mount Sinai in Hebrews 12:21, where the visible manifestation of God’s glory was so intense that Moses himself said he was trembling.
Unlike general anxiety, entromos suggests a specific reaction to the supernatural or the majestic. It is not merely nervousness but a visceral response to something greater than oneself. This usage underscores the weight of divine presence in Scripture, where meeting God often results in a physical shaking that reflects the soul’s recognition of its smallness before the Almighty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word entromos captures a physical shaking born from standing before something vastly greater than ourselves. It is not mere nervousness but a visceral reaction to divine majesty or overwhelming power. When we encounter the holy, our natural composure often fails, leaving us trembling in awe.
This reaction reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent. He is present and powerful, capable of shaking our foundations just as the earthquake shook the Philippian jailer’s prison. Such moments strip away our pride and self-sufficiency, forcing us to acknowledge who He truly is.
Even in fear, there is grace. The trembling man fell down before Paul and Silas seeking help, and Moses stood before God at the burning bush despite his fear. Your own tremors before the Lord are not signs of failure but of recognition. Come as you are, shaken and small, for He meets us in our weakness with steadfast love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- trembling;1×
- terrified1×
- Terrified1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔντρομος2×
- ἔντρομος·1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 7:32
‘I am the God of your fathers: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Moses trembled and dared not look.
This verse links the trembling directly to the revelation of God's identity as the God of the patriarchs, showing that awe arises from knowing who He is.
-
Acts 16:29
He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas,
Here the physical shaking leads immediately to an act of humility and a request for salvation, demonstrating how fear can open the heart to grace.
-
Hebrews 12:21
So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”
The author uses this term to contrast the terrifying visible glory of Sinai with the accessible grace found in Christ, highlighting the shift from fear to fellowship.