θαυμάσιος (thaumasios)
thaumasios
marvelous
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective thaumasios describes something as wonderful or marvelous, carrying the sense of inspiring awe. It is derived from the noun thauma, meaning "wonder," which explains its focus on objects or events that provoke amazement rather than simple admiration. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Matthew 21:15.
Contextually, it modifies "works" performed by Jesus. The children in the temple cry out praises for these marvelous deeds, highlighting their extraordinary nature. This usage aligns with its Old Testament background, where similar terms often describe God’s wondrous acts. The word points to a quality that is beyond the ordinary, evoking a response of wonder.
Translators typically render thaumasios as "marvelous" or "wonderful." Its rarity in Scripture makes this single occurrence significant, anchoring the concept of divine wonder in the specific event of Jesus’ ministry. The term emphasizes the impact of the action on the observer, marking it as something that demands attention and reverence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thaumasios describes something so extraordinary that it naturally inspires awe. In Matthew 21:15, this term highlights the marvelous works Jesus performed, which moved children to cry out praises in the temple. Unlike simple admiration, this sense of wonder points to a divine quality that transcends the ordinary and demands reverence.
When you encounter situations that seem beyond human understanding or power, remember that God often works in ways that elicit this same response. His actions are not meant to be merely observed but to draw us into a deeper relationship with Him. This rare word reminds us that faith is rooted in witnessing the incredible things He does.
May you find moments in your life where you pause to recognize the marvelous nature of God's work around you. Let your heart respond with the same simple trust and praise as those children, acknowledging His power and goodness in all things.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wonders1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θαυμάσια1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:15
But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant,
This verse uniquely uses thaumasios to describe Jesus' works, showing how they provoked awe in observers like the children while causing indignation in religious leaders.