What does φοβέω · σφόδρα mean in the Bible?
e. e.
Greek · G5399, G4970
ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα
To fear · very
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
φοβέω G5399 to fear
Pronunciation phobéō
Reverential fear of God distinct from mere terror; conveys both awe and obedient respect.
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σφόδρα G4970 very
Pronunciation sphódra
Intensifies with force or violence; conveys extreme degree beyond mere "very
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What does ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα (ephobethesan sphodra) mean in the Bible?
φοβέω · σφόδρα is a Greek phrase meaning "to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere".
Full entry for ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα (G5399, G4970) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere
Strong's G5399, G4970
Lexical occurrences 0 verses Source Gloss
to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 94 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 48 aorist 33 imperfect 12 future 1
Voice
middle 60 passive 34
Mood
indicative 38 imperative 28 participle 19 subjunctive 8 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:20 φοβηθῇς aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 2:22 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 9:8 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 10:26 φοβηθῆτε aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 10:31 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 14:27 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 14:30 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 14:5 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 17:6 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 17:7 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 21:26 φοβούμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 21:46 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 25:25 φοβηθεὶς aorist passive participle participle Matthew 27:54 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 28:10 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 28:5 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Mark 4:41 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 5:15 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 5:36 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Mark 6:20 ἐφοβεῖτο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 6:50 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Mark 9:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 10:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 11:18 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 11:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 12:12 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 16:8 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Luke 1:13 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 1:30 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 1:50 φοβουμένοις present middle participle participle Luke 2:10 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Luke 2:9 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 5:10 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 8:25 φοβηθέντες aorist passive participle participle Luke 8:35 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 8:50 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 9:34 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 9:45 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background
+54 more occurrences
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)
Word Origins
ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain