Greek · G1839 · unreviewed

ἐξίστημι

To amaze

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ἐξίστημι G1839
Pronunciation exístēmi

What does ἐξίστημι (exístēmi) mean in the Bible?

ἐξίστημι (exístēmi) is a Greek word meaning "to amaze". ἐξ-ίστημι (also in Hellenistic -ιστάνω, Act 8:9), [in LXX for H2730, etc. Frames familial misunderstanding as questioning sanity.

Full entry for ἐξίστημι (G1839) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to amaze
Extended definition

To be driven out of one's senses; amazement that displaces normal mental composure and rational thought.

,

1causal in Pres., impf., fut., 1 aor., to put out of its place; metaphorically, ἐ. τινά φρενῶν (Eur.), to drive one out of his senses, hence, absol., to confound, amaze: with accusative of person(s), Luk.24:22, Act.8:9, 11.
2Intr. in pass. and mid., also in 2 aor., pf., plpf. act., before ἐκ or with genitive, to stand aside from, retire from; esp. τ. φρενῶν, to lose one's senses (Eur.), hence, absol.;
ato be beside oneself, be mad: Mrk.3:21, 2Co.5:13 (opposite to σωφρονεῖν);
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Frames familial misunderstanding as questioning sanity. Mark 3:20–21
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Imperfect Aorist Present Perfect
Voices
Middle Active
Indicative states a fact or reality 14×
Imperfect Middle Matt 12:23 · Mark 6:51 · Luke 2:47 · Acts 2:7 · Acts 2:12 · Acts 9:21 · Acts 8:13
Aorist Active Mark 5:42 · Luke 8:56 · Luke 24:22 · Acts 10:45 · Acts 12:16 · Mark 3:21 · 2 Cor 5:13
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Present Middle Mark 2:12
Perfect Active Acts 8:11
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Present Active Acts 8:9
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 17 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 7 background 7 infinitive 2 participle 1
Tense
aorist 7 imperfect 7 present 2 perfect 1
Voice
active 9 middle 8
Mood
indicative 14 infinitive 2 participle 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources