תִּמָּהוֹן

From the study of Deuteronomy 28:28

Range of meaning

Being stunned, stupefied, dumbfounded or paralysed by shock. It comes from the verb tamah, 'to be astounded, to stare in shock'. The shock is usually unpleasant and freezes the person who feels it.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT say 'astonishment'. In 1611 that meant being stunned or struck senseless. Today it mostly means pleasant or neutral surprise. BSB, NIV and ESV say 'confusion', and NASB says 'bewilderment'. Those are closer, but they lose the sense of paralysis.

How it drifted

English 'astonish' comes through Old French from a word meaning 'to stun', like a thunderclap. In Early Modern English, 'astonied' and 'astonishment' meant stupefied or dazed. Over the following centuries the word softened to 'great surprise'. The KJV wording has stayed the same while the English word under it changed.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Genesis 43:33 Joseph's brothers stare at one another in shock (tamah) when they are seated by birth order. In Psalm 48:5 enemy kings see Zion, 'are astounded, terrified, and flee'. In Jeremiah 4:9 'the priests will be appalled and the prophets astounded (tamah)' when judgment falls. The noun occurs only here and in Zechariah 12:4, where the horses are struck with timmahon, panic.

From the study of Zechariah 12:4

Range of meaning

Stunned bewilderment, confused panic, being dumbfounded. It comes from the root תָּמַהּ (tamah), "to be astounded, stunned, dismayed" (BDB, HALOT). The root is used of people struck with terror or shock (Ps 48:5, of kings who "were astounded" at the sight of Zion; Jer 4:9, priests "appalled").

Against the English

KJV "astonishment"; BSB, ESV and NIV "panic"; NASB "bewilderment"; WEB "terror." In 1611, "astonishment" still carried its older sense of being stunned or stupefied, as if struck by thunder. Modern readers hear mild surprise.

How it drifted

English "astonish" (from Old French estoner, related to "stun") weakened over the centuries from "stupefy, paralyse" to "surprise greatly." The KJV word is not wrong. The English underneath it has moved.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun occurs only twice in the Hebrew Bible: here and in Deuteronomy 28:28 ("the LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart," timmahon levav). The Septuagint has ekstasis here, "being put out of one's senses."