θαυμαστός (thaumastos)
thaumastos
marvellous
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective thaumastos describes something that provokes wonder or amazement, carrying the sense of being "wonderful" or "marvellous." Derived from the verb for marveling, it points to things that are extraordinary enough to cause astonishment. In the New Testament, this word is relatively rare, appearing only six times across the Gospels, Revelation, and Peter’s first letter.
Its usage often highlights divine actions or attributes that surpass ordinary human understanding. For instance, Jesus quotes Psalm 118 to describe a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone as a "marvellous" work of God (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:11). Similarly, it characterizes the great signs in Revelation and the chosen people’s calling in 1 Peter, emphasizing their striking and awe-inspiring nature.
The word connects directly to the Old Testament Greek translation, where it renders Hebrew terms like palah (wonderful) and yare (awesome). This link shows that early Christians viewed these New Testament events as fulfilling the ancient pattern of God doing things that are worthy of pious admiration and deep reverence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thaumastos describes what stops us in our tracks. It is not just pretty or nice; it is extraordinary enough to provoke genuine wonder. When we encounter God’s work, it often defies our expectations. We might look for logic and find mystery instead. This word reminds us that the divine nature exceeds human calculation.
Consider how Jesus used this term regarding a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone. The builders dismissed it, yet God elevated it to the most important position. Such reversals happen in our lives too. Circumstances that seem hopeless can become channels of grace when we view them through faith.
This perspective invites us to look closer at our own journey. We may not see the full picture immediately. Yet, trusting that God is at work allows us to find hope even in confusion. His light shines into darkness, revealing purposes we could never devise on our own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- marvelous3×
- wonderful,1×
- wonderful [are]1×
- an amazing thing1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θαυμαστὴ2×
- θαυμαστόν,1×
- θαυμαστόν1×
- θαυμαστὸν1×
- θαυμαστὰ1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’?
Jesus applies this term to the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, highlighting God's power to reverse human judgment.
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I Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Peter uses it to describe the light into which believers are called, emphasizing the transformative nature of God's call.
-
Revelation of John 15:3
They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
The heavenly chorus declares God's works marvelous, linking divine power with righteousness and truth in worship.