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ASTONISHMENT, ASTONISHED.—These terms occur with some frequency in Authorized and Revised Versions of OT, but in NT only in the historical books (except John), and in the Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 only in the Synoptic Gospels (except Act_3:12). They are always used in NT as an expression of one of the emotions aroused by supernatural manifestations. The noun occurs once only in either version (but in different passages: Authorized Version Mar_5:42; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 Mar_16:8): the verb more frequently. In Authorized Version the term translates sometimes ἐêðëÞóóïìáé (Mat_7:28; Mat_13:54; Mat_22:33, Mar_6:2; Mar_7:37; Mar_10:26; Mar_11:18, Luk_4:32, Act_13:12); sometimes ἐîßóôáìáé or ἔêóôáóéò (Mar_5:42, Luk_2:47; Luk_8:56; Luk_24:22, Act_10:45; Act_12:16); and sometimes èáìâÝïìáé or èÜìâïò (Mar_10:24, Luk_5:9, Act_9:6). In Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 it is reserved for ἐêðëÞóóïìáé (except Mar_16:8, where ‘astonishment’ represents ἔêóôáóéò ), of which it is the uniform rendering. In its etymological implication it very fairly represents ἐêðëÞóóïìáé , which is literally ‘to be struck out (of the senses) by a blow,’ and hence, to be ‘stunned,’‘shocked,’ ‘astonished.’ For its relation to words implying ‘fear,’ see Schmidt, Synonymik d. gr. Sprache, No. 139. For its place among the terms descriptive of the effect of our Lord’s ministry on its witnesses, see art. Amazement.
Benjamin B. Warfield.