θαυμάζω which meaning of “wonder” in John 3:7?

Question

θαυμάζω apparently means “wonder”, but which kind? In Plato’s talk about philosophy, it’s suggested by many to mean “puzzlement”. But in John 3:7, it’s suggested Jesus meant Nicodemus was struck with “awe” or “surprise”. I think the words awe and wonder are difficult concepts, so I’m looking for a more modern word and hoping that either puzzlement or surprise fits well enough. Can anyone offer help, please? I’m a bit lost on this.

John 3:7 ABP

You should not wonder that I said to you, ‘It is necessary for you to be born from above.’

Answer 1

In this context, it means “Don’t be puzzled!”

Exaplanation

When Jesus told Nicodemus that a man must be born again”, Nicodemus was puzzled, that is, he wondered how a man could be born again, hence his questions (John 3:4): “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

In response, Jesus tells him, “Don’t be puzzled! [What I have described should not be foreign to you!”] Jesus asks Nicodemus, “You’re the teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?!”

In short, Nicodemus was puzzled, confused, how a man could be born again. Jesus tells him not to be puzzled, confused at the idea. Jesus describes Nicodemus as “the teacher of Israel”. Therefore, he should have been well acquainted with the concept from his knowledge of the Tanakh.

The meaning is indeed being born again. However, the confusion on Nicodemus’ part is that he misunderstood the second birth as being physical (cf. John 3:4), but it is spiritual (cf. John 3:6).

Answer 2

The operative verb in John 3:7 is θαυμάζω (thaumazo) which means (BDAG):

1. to be extraordinarily impressed or disturbed by something

• (a) (intransitive) wonder, marvel, be astonished (the context determines whether in a good or bad sense), eg, Matt 8:10, 27, 9:33, 15:31, 22:22, 27:14, Mark 5:20, 15:5, Luke 1:63, 8:25, 11:14, 24:41, John 5:20, 7:21, Acts 4:13, 13:12, 41, Rev 17:7, etc
• (b) (transitive) admire, wonder at, respect (persons), eg, Luke 7:9, 24:12, John 5:28, Acts 7:31

2. wonder, be amazed, eg, Rev 17:8, 2 Thess 1:10 (?)

In all these shades of meaning, the very act of being amazed, marveling at something often involves an element of surprise and sometimes puzzlement, especially when one is astonished, because he says, "How can this be??" This, despite Jesus instruction (V7) for him NOT to be amazed.

Such wonder and puzzlement is certainly implied in the verb's use in John 3:7 - Nicodemus was puzzled about such things could be true.