1719. emphobos

Lexical Summary

emphobos: Afraid, terrified, in fear

Original Word: ἔμφοβος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: emphobos
Pronunciation: em'-fo-bos
Phonetic Spelling: (em'-fob-os)
KJV: affrighted, afraid, tremble
NASB: frightened, terrified, much alarmed
Word Origin: [from G1722 (ἔν - among) and G5401 (φόβος - fear)]

1. in fear, i.e. alarmed

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

terrified, afraid

From en and phobos; in fear, i.e. Alarmed -- affrighted, afraid, tremble.

see GREEK en

see GREEK phobos

HELPS Word-studies

1719 émphobos (from 1722, "in" and 5401 /phóbos, "fear") – properly, locked in a state of fear, i.e. in the grip of a fearful state of mind.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from en and phobos
Definition
terrible, in fear (used of godly fear)
NASB Translation
frightened (2), much alarmed (1), terrified (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1719: ἔμφοβος

ἔμφοβος (see ἐν, III. 3), ἐμφοβον,(φόβος), thrown into fear, terrified, affrighted: Luke 24:5,(37); Acts 10:4; (Acts 22:9 Rec.); ; Revelation 11:13. Theophrastus, char. 25 (24), 1; (1 Macc. 13:2; in a good sense, Sir. 19:24 (21)). (Actively, inspiring fear, terrible, Sophocles O. C. 39.)

Topical Lexicon

Overview of New Testament Usage

Strong’s Greek 1719 appears five times in the New Testament, consistently describing a sudden, overwhelming fear that grips people when confronted with divine reality or searching truth. Whether before angels, the risen Christ, prophetic judgment, or apostolic preaching, the word portrays a fear that both humbles and prepares the heart for revelation.

Narrative Settings

1. Luke 24:5 – At the empty tomb, “the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground”. The angelic announcement of the resurrection first produced holy dread, underscoring the gravity of the moment before joy and proclamation followed.
2. Luke 24:37 – When the risen Jesus stood among the gathered disciples, “they were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a spirit”. Resurrection appearances rupture natural expectations, and fear underscores the reality of the miracle.
3. Acts 10:4 – Cornelius, though devout and generous, “stared at him in fear and asked, ‘What is it, Lord?’ ”. The vision initiates the Gentile inclusion; fear marks the doorway to greater light.
4. Acts 24:25 – Governor Felix, hearing Paul “speak about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, was afraid”. Here the fear arises not from visible glory but from convicting truth, revealing the moral weight of apostolic doctrine.
5. Revelation 11:13 – After the great earthquake, “the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven”. Eschatological judgment provokes fear that leads to acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty.

Fear in Encounter with the Holy

Throughout Scripture, true encounters with God or His messengers often evoke fear (Genesis 28:17; Isaiah 6:5; Luke 2:9). The occurrences of 1719 fit this pattern, reminding readers that holiness is neither casual nor tame. Fear functions here as a right response to transcendence; it drives worshipers to humility and dependence.

Fear as a Catalyst for Revelation

Each text moves quickly from fear to instruction or transformation. The angel at the tomb moves the women from terror to testimony. Jesus dispels the disciples’ fright with proof of His bodily resurrection (Luke 24:38-43). Cornelius’s fear leads to the gospel message that unites Jew and Gentile. Felix’s tremor exposes the accountability of rulers before divine justice. In Revelation, fear ushers in doxology amid judgment. Thus, the emotion is not an end in itself but a threshold to deeper truth.

Theological Reflections

• Holiness and Sinfulness: Fear detects the moral gulf between God’s purity and human frailty, pressing for repentance and faith.
• Resurrection and Authority: The resurrected Christ evokes fear because He overturns death and claims universal Lordship.
• Judgment and Mercy: Fear of coming judgment (Acts 24:25; Revelation 11:13) underscores both God’s wrath and His willingness to receive glory from repentant hearts.
• Mission and Inclusion: Cornelius illustrates that even the most upright Gentile needs divine revelation, and fear becomes the gateway to salvation history’s widening horizon.

Historical and Cultural Considerations

First-century Mediterranean culture associated divine epiphanies with fear and prostration, a posture evident when the women “bowed their faces to the ground.” Roman officials like Felix were typically hardened, yet Luke records that biblical truth pierced that stoic veneer. Such details show the early Christian message confronting every social stratum with equal gravity.

Pastoral and Homiletical Applications

1. Healthy Fear vs. Paralyzing Fear – Believers are called to reverent fear that leads to obedience (Philippians 2:12), not crippling dread.
2. Gospel Witness – Proclaiming Christ’s resurrection, righteousness, and judgment will still evoke fear in hearers; faithful ministers must guide that emotion toward repentance and trust.
3. Worship – Public reading of passages such as Revelation 11 reminds congregations that awe and glory belong together; doxology often rises from trembling hearts.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Evangelism: Expect conviction to unsettle before it comforts. Present both the holiness of God and the grace available in Christ.
• Counseling: Distinguish between sinful anxiety and the Spirit-born fear that leads to transformation.
• Discipleship: Teach new believers that encounters with God may initially overwhelm, yet Scripture consistently moves from fear to assurance.

Conclusion

Strong’s 1719 sketches the moment when human self-confidence collapses before divine reality. In every occurrence, that collapse is constructive: it readies hearts for resurrection joy, gospel inclusion, moral repentance, and eschatological worship. The church today, mindful of this pattern, treats holy fear not as an embarrassment but as a gift that ushers sinners—and saints—into deeper communion with the living God.

Forms and Transliterations

εμπεφραγμένοι εμφοβοι έμφοβοι ἔμφοβοι εμφοβος έμφοβος ἔμφοβος εμφοβων εμφόβων ἐμφόβων εμφραγμώ εμφράξαι εμφράξει εμφράξετε έμφραξον εμφράξουσι εμφραχθείη εμφραχθήσεται ενεφράγη ενέφραξαν ενέφραξε emphoboi émphoboi emphobon emphobōn emphóbon emphóbōn emphobos émphobos

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 24:5 Adj-GMP
GRK: ἐμφόβων δὲ γενομένων
NAS: and as [the women] were terrified and bowed
KJV: they were afraid, and bowed down
INT: terrified moreover having become

Luke 24:37 Adj-NMP
GRK: δὲ καὶ ἔμφοβοι γενόμενοι ἐδόκουν
NAS: But they were startled and frightened and thought
KJV: and affrighted, and supposed
INT: however and filled with fear having been they thought

Acts 10:4 Adj-NMS
GRK: αὐτῷ καὶ ἔμφοβος γενόμενος εἶπεν
NAS: on him and being much alarmed, he said,
KJV: on him, he was afraid, and said,
INT: on him and afraid having become said

Acts 24:25 Adj-NMS
GRK: τοῦ μέλλοντος ἔμφοβος γενόμενος ὁ
NAS: became frightened and said,
INT: is about to be frightened having become

Revelation 11:13 Adj-NMP
GRK: οἱ λοιποὶ ἔμφοβοι ἐγένοντο καὶ
NAS: and the rest were terrified and gave
KJV: the remnant were affrighted, and gave
INT: the rest afraid became and

Strong's Greek 1719
5 Occurrences

ἐμφόβων — 1 Occ.
ἔμφοβοι — 2 Occ.
ἔμφοβος — 2 Occ.