ἔκστασις
ékstasis
G1611 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state of being beside oneself, marked primarily by amazement, overwhelming astonishment, or entrancement; in extended contexts, a trance-like or altered state of consciousness that suspends ordinary perception or awareness. The term is used both for extraordinary emotional states (such as shock, overwhelming wonder, or awe) and for altered states of consciousness (such as visions or prophetic trances).
Semantic Range
astonishment, amazement, being beside oneself, trance, altered state of consciousness, bewilderment, ecstatic vision
Root / Etymology
From ἐξίστημι (to displace, to drive out of one’s normal state), itself from ἐκ (out of) + ἵστημι (to set, to stand). The noun form ἔκστασις denotes the state or result of being ‘set out of’ or displaced from one’s usual state.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἔκστασις refers to displacement, a standing outside oneself, often in medical, psychological, or philosophical contexts. Hellenistic literature extends use to religious or visionary experience, involving a trance-like state or prophetic vision. In the Septuagint, it can describe states of fear, terror, or intense astonishment (e.g., Dan 8:18, 10:9 LXX). In the New Testament (e.g., Mark 5:42; Acts 10:10, 11:5, 22:17), ἔκστασις describes both overwhelming amazement (often in response to a miracle or divine act) and explicit trance-states, especially those associated with revelatory or visionary experiences. English translations often render ἔκστασις as 'amazement,' 'astonishment,' or 'trance,' but none fully captures the range, which includes profound emotional upheaval as well as altered mental states. Modern interpretations must distinguish between ordinary psychological astonishment and culturally-specific religious or visionary experience implied by the term in ancient sources. Related terms include θάμβος (amazement, astonishment with fear) and ἔκπληξις (shock, terror), but ἔκστασις often carries a stronger or more sustained alteration of mental state than these.
Translation Consistency
Trance best captures the primary semantic range here — an altered, entranced state that includes prophetic visions and being 'beside oneself' from overwhelming astonishment. It is the most natural, modern English choice that covers both ecstatic vision and suspended ordinary awareness, and it avoids the more technical or ambiguous connotations of 'ecstasy' while remaining idiomatic for the SILEX senses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐξίστημι; a displacement of the mind, i.e. bewilderment, "ecstasy":--+ be amazed, amazement, astonishment, trance.
Root Family
ἔκστασις (ekstasis) — being set out of place, displacement, astonishment, trance
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1611-01 |
ἐκστάσει | ekstasei | N DAT F SG |
astonishment | in a state of astonishment | in a trance | 3 |
G1611-03 |
ἔκστασις | ekstasis | N NOM F SG |
astonishment | state of astonishment | astonishment | 3 |
G1611-02 |
ἐκστάσεως | ekstaseos | N GEN F SG |
amazement | of overwhelming astonishment | with overwhelming astonishment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1611-01 |
Mark 5:42 | ἐκστάσει | ekstasei | N DAT F SG |
astonishment | in a state of astonishment | in a state of astonishment |
G1611-03 |
Mark 16:8 | ἔκστασις | ekstasis | N NOM F SG |
astonishment | state of astonishment | state of astonishment |
G1611-03 |
Luke 5:26 | ἔκστασις | ekstasis | N NOM F SG |
astonishment | state of astonishment | astonishment |
G1611-02 |
Acts 3:10 | ἐκστάσεως | ekstaseos | N GEN F SG |
amazement | of overwhelming astonishment | with overwhelming astonishment |
G1611-03 |
Acts 10:10 | ἔκστασις | ekstasis | N NOM F SG |
a trance | state of astonishment | a trance |
G1611-01 |
Acts 11:5 | ἐκστάσει | ekstasei | N DAT F SG |
trance | in a state of astonishment | in a trance |
G1611-01 |
Acts 22:17 | ἐκστάσει | ekstasei | N DAT F SG |
a trance | in a state of astonishment | in a trance |