ASTONISHMENT. (תִּמָּהﯴן, H9451, meaning confusion of mind, bewilderment, panic; שָׁמֵמ֒, H9037, meaning to be appalled, desolate; שַׁמָּה֒, H9014, meaning horror, waste, or an object of horror; ἔκ-στασις, meaning displacement, confusion of mind; any casting down of a thing from its proper place or state; a throwing of the mind out of its normal state; alienation of the mind). Amazement, meaning mental stupefaction, bewilderment, consternation (Mark 5:42b). General use of the term indicates “to strike with sudden fear or wonder; amaze,” or “an object causing such an emotion.” Emotional properties attend this condition in varying combination of excitation (impression, an over-whelming sense, stimulation), fear (awe-inspiring, perturbation), and surprise (marvel, sensation, unexpected, wonder).

1. Psychological definition and description. Astonishment depicts and describes a state characterized by bewilderment, emotional disturbance, lack of clear thinking and (sometimes) perceptual disorientation. In mild form, it is experienced by everyone. In an extreme form it may indicate conditions of lunacy (Deut 28:28) or signify a trance condition. (See Trance.) Expressions, ideas, figures of speech, situations, shades of meaning and applications or inclusions which may be explicit and implicit within the concept are manifold. These variations may indicate that the term is not a simple concept, but one which is arresting, emotionally charged, and pregnant with possibilities of expression. Choices of words and phrases as used in the RSV reveal the complex dimensions and comprehensive inclusions present and possible in the concept. The term is linguistically and psychologically varied and expressive.

2. As used in the OT. Various treatments and expressions of meaning have been indicated for the word in the RSV, which the AV (or KJV) simply renders “astonishment.’ There are certain Scriptures, however, in which the term remains unchanged in the RSV as compared to KJV, and is given as “astonishment” (2 Chron 7:21; 29:8). The RSV has used other expressions to convey more precisely certain emphases within the possibilities of the term, viz.: “an appalling and horrible thing” (Jer 5:30); “a terror” (Jer 29:18); “confusion of mind” (Deut 28:28); “desolation and waste” (Jer 25:11; 44:22); “dismay” (Jer 8:21; Ezek 4:16); “horror” (Deut 28:37; Jer 25:9; 42:18; 44:22; 51:37); “panic” (Zech 12:4); and “wine that makes us reel” (Ps 60:3). The verb form (astonished) is in certain instances unchanged in the RSV as compared to the KJV (Lev 26:32; 1 Kings 9:8; Job 26:11; Isa 52:14). It is variously rendered in other portions, viz.: “appalled” (Jer 2:12; Ezek 26:16; 28:19; Dan 8:27); “appalled” coupled with “astounded” (Jer 4:9); “confused” (Jer 14:9); and finally “overwhelmed” (Ezek 3:15). There is also the older Eng. form of the word which appears in adjective form (astonied). The RSV trs. it as “appalled” (Ezra 9:3; Job 17:8; 8:20); “astonished” (Dan 3:24); and “look to one another in dismay” (4:19); and “perplexed” (5:9).

3. As used in the NT. Astonishment receives a much more limited and consistent treatment in the NT. It is used to express the state of one who, either owing to the importance or the novelty of an event, is thrown into a state of blended fear and wonder. When the RSV differs from the KJV, it chooses to use the word “amazement.” The KJV limits itself to “astonishment.” The most illustrative passage which compares the two trs. is Mark 5:42b; KJV “And they were astonished with a great astonishment”; RSV, “and immediately they were overcome with amazement.” (Note both the use of noun and verb forms, and the resultant redundancy in the KJV.) The word as a noun appears only once in the NT (Mark 5:42). The verb (astonished) is unchanged in the RSV as compared to the KJV (Matt 7:28; 22:33; Mark 1:22; 6:2; 7:37; 11:18; Luke 4:32; 5:9; Acts 13:12). It is otherwise rendered “amazed” in the RSV (Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 8:56; 24:22; Acts 10:45; 12:16).

The scriptural uses of the term in noun and verb forms seem to be consistent and developmental of the basic properties intended in the original languages—confusion of mind, bewilderment; displacement, blended fear and wonder. Emotional factors pervade any and all uses. Elements of excitation, fear, surprise and wonder are evident. Cognate and/or helpful terms may include: ecstasy, cognitive dissonance, awe, perturbation, and wonder.