Lexical Summary emphobos: Afraid, terrified, in fear Original Word: ἔμφοβος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance terrified, afraidFrom 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 Originfrom 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: ἔμφοβοςἔμφοβος (see ἐν, III. 3), ἐμφοβον,(φόβος), thrown into fear, terrified, affrighted: Luke 24:5,(37); Acts 10:4; (Acts 22:9 Rec.); 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. 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. 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. Practical Ministry Insights • Evangelism: Expect conviction to unsettle before it comforts. Present both the holiness of God and the grace available in Christ. 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 émphobosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 24:5 Adj-GMPGRK: 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 Acts 10:4 Adj-NMS Acts 24:25 Adj-NMS Revelation 11:13 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 1719 |