Lexical Summary thaumazó: To marvel, to wonder, to be amazed Original Word: θαυμάζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance admire, marvel, wonder. From thauma; to wonder; by implication, to admire -- admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder. see GREEK thauma HELPS Word-studies 2296 thaumázō (from 2295 /thaúma, "a wonder, marvel") – properly, wonder at, be amazed (marvel), i.e. astonished out of one's senses; awestruck, "wondering very greatly" (Souter); to cause "wonder; . . . to regard with amazement, and with a suggestion of beginning to speculate on the matter" (WS, 225). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom thauma Definition to marvel, wonder NASB Translation am amazed (1), amazed (15), amazement (1), astonished (3), being amazed (1), flattering (1), marvel (4), marveled (5), marveling (2), surprised (2), wonder (2), wondered (4), wondering (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2296: θαυμάζωθαυμάζω; imperfect ἐθαύμαζον; future θαυμάσομαι (Revelation 17:8 R G T Tr, a form far more common in the best Greek writings also than θαυμάσω; cf. Krüger, § 40, under the word; Kühner, § 343, under the word; (Veitch, under the word)); 1 aorist ἐθαύμασα; 1 aorist passive ἐθαυμασθην in a middle sense (Revelation 13:3 Rst L Tr text); also 1 future passive, in the sense of the middle, θαυμασθήσομαι (Revelation 17:8 L WH; but the very few examples of the middle use in secular authors are doubtful; cf. Stephanus, Thesaurus iv., p. 259f; (yet see Veitch, under the word)); to wonder, wonder at, marvel: absolutely, Matthew 8:10, 27; Matthew 9:8 Rec., Topical Lexicon Overview of Biblical WonderThe verb translated “marvel,” “amaze,” or “wonder” appears forty-four times in the New Testament and consistently marks moments when human perception encounters divine or extraordinary realities. Whether springing from faith, disbelief, or curiosity, the response underscores the gap between the natural and the supernatural. Occurrences in the Gospel Narratives 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John use the term to frame pivotal scenes in Jesus’ ministry. Crowds marvel at His authority over storms (Matthew 8:27), demons (Luke 11:14), sickness (Matthew 9:33), and death (Luke 7:15-16). Marveling at Divine Authority over Creation The calming of the sea (Matthew 8:27; Luke 8:25) exemplifies wonder evoked by raw, divine authority. In each account the observers’ awe opens the door to deeper Christological confession: only the Creator commands creation. Marveling at His Power over Disease and Demons After a mute demon is expelled, “the crowds marveled” (Matthew 9:33). Such marveling is evangelistic; news spreads, leading others to seek Jesus. Luke 8:26-39 reports the healed demoniac proclaiming “how much Jesus had done for him,” and “all the people marveled” (Mark 5:20). Marveling at His Teaching and Wisdom John 7:15 records, “The Jews were astonished and asked, ‘How did this man attain such learning without having studied?’” The wonder here exposes both the limitation of human tradition and the heavenly origin of Jesus’ doctrine. Marveling at Faith and Unbelief Jesus’ own amazement at faith (Matthew 8:10) and unbelief (Mark 6:6) sets a measure for discipleship. Faith that trusts His word, even from a Gentile centurion, is praised; hardened hearts in His hometown evoke His lament. Post-Resurrection Wonder Luke 24:12 depicts Peter departing the empty tomb “wondering to himself what had happened,” while Luke 24:41 shows the gathered disciples “still disbelieving for joy and marveling” as the risen Lord eats before them. Wonder here bridges confusion and conviction, leading to worship and witness. Evangelistic Impact of Astonishment Acts records crowds marveling at Pentecost tongues (Acts 2:7) and at the healed lame man (Acts 3:12). Peter redirects their wonder from the apostles to the risen Christ, turning astonishment into repentance and faith. Eschatological Marveling: The Beast and the Lamb Revelation shifts the focus. The world “marveled and followed the beast” (Revelation 13:3), and John himself “marveled greatly” at Babylon’s mystery (Revelation 17:6). An angel rebukes the misplaced wonder (Revelation 17:7), contrasting it with the day when Christ “is to be marveled at among all who have believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Scripture thus distinguishes holy awe from idolatrous fascination. Apostolic Warnings Against Misplaced Wonder Paul writes, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him” (Galatians 1:6), and John cautions, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you” (1 John 3:13). Marveling can signify spiritual danger when directed toward false teaching, worldly acclaim, or persecution’s mystery. Devotional and Ministry Applications • Cultivate holy awe: regular reflection on Christ’s works renews worship. Historical Theology Early patristic writers employed these passages to defend Christ’s deity, stressing that the crowds marveled because divine power was visibly present. Reformers highlighted the contrast between marveling at gospel grace and at ecclesiastical pomp, urging believers to be captivated by Scripture alone. Summary Throughout the New Testament, marveling serves as a theological barometer. When centered on God’s revelation in Christ, it blossoms into faith, worship, and mission. When fixed on human power or counterfeit signs, it accelerates apostasy. Believers are therefore called to sustain a sanctified wonder that magnifies the Lord and resists the lure of deceptive amazement. Forms and Transliterations εθαύμαζε ἐθαύμαζεν εθαυμαζον εθαύμαζον ἐθαύμαζον εθαυμασα εθαύμασα εθαύμασά ἐθαύμασα εθαυμασαν εθαύμασαν ἐθαύμασαν εθαυμασας εθαύμασας ἐθαύμασας εθαύμασε εθαυμασεν εθαύμασεν ἐθαύμασεν εθαυμασθη ἐθαυμάσθη εξεθαυμαζον ἐξεθαύμαζον θαυμάζει θαυμαζειν θαυμάζειν θαυμαζετε θαυμάζετε θαυμαζητε θαυμάζητε θαυμάζοντας θαυμαζοντες θαυμάζοντες θαυμαζοντων θαυμαζόντων Θαυμαζω Θαυμάζω θαυμαζων θαυμάζων θαυμασαι θαυμάσαι θαυμασαντες θαυμάσαντες θαυμασατε θαυμάσατε θαυμάσει θαυμάσετε θαύμασετε θαυμασης θαυμάσης θαυμάσῃς θαυμασθηναι θαυμασθήναι θαυμασθῆναι θαυμασθήσεσθε θαυμασθησονται θαυμασθήσονται θαυμασόμεθα θαυμάσονται θαυμάσουσιν τεθαύμακας τεθαυμασμένος ethaumasa ethaúmasa ethaumasan ethaúmasan ethaumasas ethaúmasas ethaumasen ethaúmasen ethaumasthe ethaumasthē ethaumásthe ethaumásthē ethaumazen ethaúmazen ethaumazon ethaúmazon exethaumazon exethaúmazon thaumasai thaumásai thaumasantes thaumásantes thaumasate thaumásate thaumáseis thaumásēis thaumases thaumasēs thaumasthenai thaumasthênai thaumasthēnai thaumasthē̂nai thaumasthesontai thaumasthēsontai thaumasthḗsontai thaumazein thaumázein thaumazete thaumazēte thaumázete thaumázēte Thaumazo Thaumazō Thaumázo Thaumázō thaumazon thaumazōn thaumázon thaumázōn thaumazontes thaumázontes thaumazonton thaumazontōn thaumazónton thaumazóntōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 8:10 V-AIA-3SGRK: ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐθαύμασεν καὶ εἶπεν NAS: heard [this], He marveled and said KJV: heard [it], he marvelled, and INT: Jesus marveled and said Matthew 8:27 V-AIA-3P Matthew 9:33 V-AIA-3P Matthew 15:31 V-ANA Matthew 21:20 V-AIA-3P Matthew 22:22 V-AIA-3P Matthew 27:14 V-PNA Mark 5:20 V-IIA-3P Mark 6:6 V-AIA-3S Mark 12:17 V-IIA-3P Mark 15:5 V-PNA Mark 15:44 V-AIA-3S Luke 1:21 V-IIA-3P Luke 1:63 V-AIA-3P Luke 2:18 V-AIA-3P Luke 2:33 V-PPA-NMP Luke 4:22 V-IIA-3P Luke 7:9 V-AIA-3S Luke 8:25 V-AIA-3P Luke 9:43 V-PPA-GMP Luke 11:14 V-AIA-3P Luke 11:38 V-AIA-3S Luke 20:26 V-APA-NMP Luke 24:12 V-PPA-NMS Luke 24:41 V-PPA-GMP Strong's Greek 2296 |
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