### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ἔκθαμβος (ékthambos, `{{G1569}}`) is an intensified compound derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning "out of" or "from," and θάμβος (thambos, `{{G2296}}`), which denotes "astonishment," "wonder," or "amazement." Thus, ἔκθαμβος signifies a state of being "utterly astounded" or "greatly wondering," conveying a profound and overwhelming sense of awe, often mixed with fear or dread. It implies a reaction that goes beyond simple surprise, suggesting a deep emotional and perhaps physical impact, as if one is "struck out of" their normal composure by the sheer magnitude of what is encountered. While the adjective ἔκθαμβος itself is exceedingly rare or not directly attested in the New Testament manuscripts (its primary manifestation being through its verbal form), its meaning provides crucial insight into the powerful human responses to divine and supernatural phenomena described in the Gospels.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
While the adjective ἔκθαμβος (`{{G1569}}`) does not appear directly in the New Testament, its verbal counterpart, ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō, `{{G1568}}`), is used four times, exclusively in the Gospel of Mark. This concentrated usage highlights Mark's distinctive portrayal of intense human reactions to the divine.
1. **[[Mark 9:15]]**: After the Transfiguration, as Jesus and the three disciples descend the mountain, "when the whole crowd saw Jesus, they were **overwhelmed with wonder** (ἐξεθαμβήθησαν) and ran to greet him." Here, the crowd's reaction is one of profound astonishment and awe, likely due to a lingering radiance or presence from the Transfiguration, which they instinctively perceive as extraordinary. This ἐκθαμβέω suggests a mixture of reverence, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of apprehension in the face of the divine.
2. **[[Mark 14:33]]**: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus "began to be **greatly distressed** and troubled (ἤρξατο ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι καὶ ἀδημονεῖν)." This is a profoundly significant usage, as it describes Jesus' own emotional state. His ἐκθαμβέω indicates an overwhelming sense of dread, shock, and extreme anguish in the face of the impending crucifixion. It underscores the depth of His humanity and the intensity of His struggle as He grapples with the weight of sin and separation from the Father. This is not mere fear, but an existential astonishment at the horror of what He must endure.
3. **[[Mark 16:5]]**: At the empty tomb, when the women enter and see "a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were **affrighted** (ἐξεθαμβήθησαν)."
4. **[[Mark 16:6]]**: The young man then reassures them, "Do not be **alarmed** (μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε)." The women's ἐκθαμβέω here conveys a sense of shock, terror, and profound awe at the unexpected sight and the stunning news of the resurrection. The angelic figure's immediate command, "Do not be alarmed," directly addresses their overwhelmed state, indicating that their ἐκθαμβέω was a natural, albeit intense, response to a supernatural encounter.
In all these instances, ἐκθαμβέω (the verbal form of the concept of ἔκθαμβος) denotes an extreme, overwhelming emotional response, often combining wonder, awe, distress, and fear, in the presence of the divine or the profoundly supernatural.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept embodied by ἔκθαμβος is closely related to several other Greek terms that describe states of wonder, fear, or astonishment:
* **θάμβος (thambos, `{{G2296}}`)**: The root word, meaning "amazement" or "wonder." ἔκθαμβος intensifies this, adding the sense of being utterly overwhelmed.
* **ἔκπληξις (ekplēxis, `{{G1611}}`)**: "Astonishment" or "amazement," often implying being "struck out" of one's senses. While similar in intensity, ἔκθαμβος often carries a stronger connotation of dread or awe.
* **φοβέω (phobeō, `{{G5399}}`)** and **φόβος (phobos, `{{G5401}}`)**: "To fear" and "fear." ἔκθαμβος frequently includes an element of fear, especially in the presence of the numinous. The fear is not necessarily of harm, but of the overwhelming power or presence of the divine.
* **θαυμάζω (thaumazō, `{{G2295}}`)** and **θαῦμα (thauma, `{{G2296}}`)**: "To wonder" or "marvel." These terms denote a more general sense of wonder or admiration, whereas ἔκθαμβος implies a more profound and unsettling astonishment.
* **ἀδημονέω (adēmoneō, `{{G85}}`)**: "To be distressed" or "troubled." This word appears alongside ἐκθαμβέω in [[Mark 14:33]], further emphasizing the depth of Jesus' internal anguish.
The relationship between these words highlights a spectrum of human reactions to the extraordinary, with ἔκθαμβος representing one of the most intense and comprehensive responses, encompassing awe, wonder, and profound disquietude.
### Theological Significance
The concept of ἔκθαμβος (as expressed through ἐκθαμβέω) carries significant theological weight, particularly within the Marcan narrative:
1. **The Overwhelming Nature of the Divine**: Mark's use of ἐκθαμβέω underscores the profound and often unsettling impact of encountering Jesus and the divine realm. The crowd's reaction to Jesus' post-Transfiguration presence ([[Mark 9:15]]) and the women's response to the empty tomb and the angelic messenger ([[Mark 16:5-6]]) illustrate that divine revelation is not merely intellectually stimulating but emotionally overwhelming, evoking a response of awe that borders on terror. It speaks to the "otherness" of God and the supernatural.
2. **Jesus' Full Humanity**: The most poignant use of ἐκθαμβέω is in Gethsemane ([[Mark 14:33]]), where Jesus Himself experiences this extreme distress. This passage powerfully affirms Jesus' full humanity, demonstrating that He truly felt the weight and horror of His impending suffering. His ἐκθαμβέω is not a sign of weakness but a testament to the real agony He endured, showing solidarity with human suffering and making His sacrificial act all the more profound. It reveals the depth of His identification with humanity's fallen state and the true cost of atonement.
3. **The Markan Emphasis on Immediate and Powerful Reactions**: Mark's Gospel is characterized by a sense of urgency and directness. The repeated use of ἐκθαμβέω fits this style, portraying characters' immediate, visceral, and often overwhelming reactions to the extraordinary events surrounding Jesus. This highlights the transformative and often disruptive power of Jesus' ministry and the inbreaking of God's Kingdom.
4. **Encounter with the Numinous**: ἔκθαμβος captures the essence of encountering the numinous – that which is sacred, mysterious, and awe-inspiring, often evoking both fascination and dread. It is a fitting descriptor for moments where the veil between the human and divine realms is thinned, demanding an immediate and total response from those who witness it.
### Summary
ἔκθαμβος (`{{G1569}}`) signifies a state of being "utterly astounded" or "greatly wondering," an intensified form of astonishment that often includes elements of fear, awe, and profound distress. While the adjective itself is not directly found in the New Testament, its verbal form, ἐκθαμβέω (`{{G1568}}`), is uniquely and powerfully employed four times in Mark's Gospel. These occurrences vividly portray the overwhelming human reaction to divine encounters: the crowd's awe at Jesus' post-Transfiguration presence ([[Mark 9:15]]), Jesus' own profound anguish in Gethsemane ([[Mark 14:33]]), and the women's shock and fear at the empty tomb ([[Mark 16:5-6]]). Theologically, ἔκθαμβος underscores the overwhelming nature of the divine, affirms Jesus' complete humanity in His suffering, and highlights Mark's characteristic emphasis on immediate and powerful human responses to the inbreaking of God's Kingdom. It describes a moment where the ordinary is shattered by the extraordinary, leaving one utterly overwhelmed and profoundly impacted.
TRV