English · KJV
G1839

ἐξίστημι

exístēmi /ex-is'-tay-mee/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom ἐκ and ἵστημι
Meaningto put (stand) out of wits, i.e. astound, or (reflexively) become astounded, insane
KJV usageamaze, be (make) astonished, be beside self (selves), bewitch, wonder.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of exístēmi — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word exístēmi, represented by G1839, describes a state of being put out of one's normal state of mind. It appears 21 times across 17 unique verses in the Bible. Its base definition includes to astound, become astounded, or even insane, and is translated in various ways, such as to amaze, be astonished, be beside self, and to bewitch.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, G1839 often captures the human reaction to supernatural events. Following a miraculous healing, the people were all amazed and glorified God Mark 2:12. Similarly, when Jesus calmed the wind, his disciples were sore amazed Mark 6:51. The word is also used to describe astonishment at unexpected human behavior, such as when those in Jerusalem heard Saul preaching the name he once destroyed Acts 9:21. In another context, it describes a state of being mentally displaced; Jesus's friends believed He was beside himself Mark 3:21, and Paul used the same term to describe his intense focus on God 2 Corinthians 5:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the meaning of G1839:

  • G1611 ékstasis (a displacement of the mind, i.e. bewilderment, "ecstasy"): Derived from G1839, this noun form intensifies the meaning. After a girl was raised from the dead, those who saw it were astonished with a great astonishment Mark 5:42.
  • G2296 thaumázō (to wonder; by implication, to admire): This word often appears alongside G1839 to describe a response of awe. On the day of Pentecost, the crowd was amazed and marvelled at the disciples speaking Acts 2:7.
  • G3096 mageúō (to practice magic): This term provides a contrast, describing the source of false wonder. Simon used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, a counterfeit of the true astonishment caused by God's power Acts 8:9.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G1839 is demonstrated in its varied applications.

  • Response to Divine Revelation: The word frequently marks a moment when individuals encounter the power or truth of God in a way that overwhelms their normal senses. The believers of the circumcision were astonished that the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles Acts 10:45.
  • Distinguishing True and False Power: In Samaria, Simon bewitched the people with sorceries Acts 8:11. However, Simon himself later wondered when beholding the authentic miracles and signs performed by Philip, highlighting the superior nature of God's power over magical arts Acts 8:13.
  • A State of Divine Focus: The expression "to be beside oneself" is used to describe both perceived madness Mark 3:21 and radical devotion. Paul reclaims the term, stating that if he is beside himself, it is for God, suggesting a state of mind wholly dedicated to a divine purpose 2 Corinthians 5:13.

Summary

In summary, G1839 exístēmi is a powerful term that conveys more than mere surprise. It describes a profound displacement of the mind, whether through amazement at God's miracles, bewilderment at unexpected events, or being captivated by either divine truth or deceptive sorcery. From the crowds being amazed at Jesus's power to Paul being beside himself for God, the word captures a spectrum of intense human reactions to the extraordinary.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 17 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

  • ἐξίσταντο
  • ἐξέστησαν
  • ἐξέστημεν
  • ἐξέστη
  • ἐξίστατο
  • ἐξεστακέναι
  • ἐξιστάνων
  • ἐξίστασθαι

Related Words

Related

Words formed from this one

1 entry in Strong’s name this word as its origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

G1611 ἔκστασις a displacement of the mind, i.e. bewilderment, "ecstasy"

Also mentioned in the study

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G2296 θαυμάζω to wonder G3096 μαγεύω to practice magic

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (8 verses); never once in the other 22.

1
Matthew
4
Mark
3
Luke
8
Acts
1
2 Corinthians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.