Greek word · G1605

ἐκπλήσσω

ekplēssō

be astonished

Literally 'to strike out'. In the passive, to be struck out of one's senses: stunned, overwhelmed, thunderstruck. It can describe fear, joy, admiration or plain bewilderment. It is a stronger word than thaumazō ('to wonder, marvel').

Appears 13 times in 13 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-πλήσσω

(Attic -ττω, Acts 13:12), [in LXX: (pass.) Ecclesiastes 7:16, (שָׁמֵם hithp.), Wisdom of Solomon 13:4, 2Ma.7:12, 4Ma.8:4 4Mac 17:16 * ;]

1. prop., to strike out, drive away.

2. to strike with panic or shock, to amaze, astonish: pass., Matthew 13:54 19:25, Mark 6:2 7:37 10:26, Luke 2:48; before ἐπί, with dative of thing(s), Matthew 7:28 22:33, Mark 1:22 11:18, Luke 4:32 9:43, Acts 13:12.†

SYN.: " πτωεῖν G?, to terrify, agitate with fear;

τρεμεῖν, to tremble, predominantly physical;

φοβεῖν, to fear, "the general term," Thayer;

cf. also φρίσσω, to shudder, and see: δειλία

δειλία, -ας, ἡ

(δειλός), [in LXX for אֵימָה, מְחִתָּה, etc. ;]

cowardice, timidity (never in good sense): 2 Timothy 1:7.†

SYN.: φόβος, fear, in general, good or bad; εὐλάβεια (which see), apprehension generally, but chiefly pious fear, "that careful and watchful reverence which pays regard to every circumstance in that with which it has to deal" (cf. Tr., Syn., § x).† (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 7:28

Range of meaning

Literally 'to strike out'. In the passive, to be struck out of one's senses: stunned, overwhelmed, thunderstruck. It can describe fear, joy, admiration or plain bewilderment. It is a stronger word than thaumazō ('to wonder, marvel').

Against the English

KJV, ESV, BSB, WEB and YLT have 'astonished'. NIV, NASB and NLT have 'amazed'. Both are fair. 'Astonished' (from the same root as 'stun') keeps the physical sense of being hit a little better. Neither English word shows the imperfect tense: the astonishment kept going through the crowd.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Greek it is used for people panic-struck or overwhelmed (Plato, Xenophon). In the Greek Old Testament it appears in Ecclesiastes 7:16 and in 2 Maccabees 7:12, where the king and his men are 'astonished' at a martyr's courage. In the New Testament: Matthew 13:54; 19:25; 22:33; Mark 1:22 (in almost exactly the same words as this verse); Luke 4:32; Acts 13:12.

From the study of Mark 7:37

Range of meaning

To strike out, and so in the passive to be struck out of one's senses: astounded, overwhelmed, thrown off balance by something beyond the ordinary. It can carry a hint of alarm, but in the Gospels it is usually amazement at Jesus' authority.

Against the English

'Astonished' is accurate, but in modern English it has gone soft. The Greek picture is of being knocked out of one's normal composure.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark uses it of the synagogue crowd's reaction to Jesus' teaching with authority (1:22; 6:2), of the crowd at his teaching (11:18), and of the disciples (10:26). The Greek Old Testament uses it in Ecclesiastes 7:16 and Wisdom 13:4. Classical writers use it of panic or awe.

From the study of Mark 1:22

Range of meaning

Literally 'to strike out', and in the passive 'to be struck out of one's senses'. It means to be overwhelmed, astounded or thunderstruck, a strong emotional shock. The shock can be positive (wonder), negative (dismay) or simply bewildered.

Against the English

'Astonished' (BSB, KJV, ESV) is good. 'Amazed' (NIV, NLT) is a little weaker. Neither says whether the reaction is admiring or hostile, and the Greek doesn't either.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for being stunned by fear, beauty or a surprise. In Mark: 6:2 (the Nazareth synagogue is astonished at his teaching, and then 'took offense at him', 6:3); 7:37; 10:26; 11:18 (the crowd is astonished at his teaching while the chief priests and scribes look for a way to destroy him).

Where it appears

Matthew · 4

  1. Matthew 7:28 ἐξεπλήσσοντο were astonished

    When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's normal composure: stunned or thunderstruck. The imperfect tense shows the astonishment as ongoing, spreading through the crowd, not a single gasp. It records shock. It does not say they believed or obeyed.

  2. Matthew 13:54 ἐκπλήσσεσθαι to be astonished

    Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

    Here: Literally to be “struck out” of one’s composure: overwhelmed, stunned. The word itself does not say whether the reaction is good or bad. Here it turns into offence (v. 57).

  3. Matthew 19:25 ἐξεπλήσσοντο were astonished

    When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

    Here: Literally “to be struck out” of one's normal composure: shock, bewilderment. The ongoing past tense pictures a state they were in, not a passing flicker: they were reeling.

  4. Matthew 22:33 ἐξεπλήσσοντο were astonished

    When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's normal composure: overwhelmed, thunderstruck. The imperfect tense pictures the amazement as ongoing, rippling through the crowd, not a single moment.

Mark · 5

  1. Mark 1:22 ἐξεπλήσσοντο they were astonished

    The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's normal composure: overwhelmed, thunderstruck. The imperfect tense shows the astonishment going on and spreading through the room. It does not yet mean faith or approval.

  2. Mark 6:2 ἐξεπλήσσοντο were astonished

    When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

    Here: Literally 'struck out' of their composure. The tense pictures an ongoing state: they kept on being stunned. The word itself is neither praise nor hostility, and here it soon turns into offence (v. 3).

  3. Mark 7:37 ἐξεπλήσσοντο they were astonished

    The people were utterly astonished and said, “He has done all things well! He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's normal state of mind. The imperfect tense shows a continuing or repeated reaction: they kept being overwhelmed.

  4. Mark 10:26 ἐξεπλήσσοντο they were astonished

    They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

  5. Mark 11:18 ἐξεπλήσσετο was astonished

    When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's composure: overwhelmed, thunderstruck. It is imperfect, so the crowd kept on being amazed. It signals strong impact, not necessarily agreement or faith.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 2:48 ἐξεπλάγησαν, they were astonished,

    When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

  2. Luke 4:32 ἐξεπλήσσοντο they were astonished

    They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

    Here: Literally 'struck out' of their usual composure: a strong, almost physical shock. The tense pictures a reaction that kept going while he taught, not a single gasp.

  3. Luke 9:43 ἐξεπλήσσοντο Were astonished

    And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

    Here: Literally 'to be struck out' of one's composure. The imperfect tense describes a lingering state: the crowd stood there stunned. Putting the verb first in the sentence stresses the reaction.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 13:12 ἐκπλησσόμενος being astonished

    When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.