H3372 H3372
To fear, be afraid; to revere or stand in awe of God; (Nifal ptc.) awesome, terrible; (Piel) to frighten, terrify
A primary verb of the Hebrew emotional vocabulary, spanning the full spectrum from raw terror to deepest reverence. In its Qal stem it describes the dread a person feels before danger (Gen 15:1, 'Do not fear') and the holy awe owed to God (Deut 6:13). Its Nifal participle became virtually a divine epithet — 'the awesome God' (Deut 7:21) — while its Piel stem intensifies the action into deliberate intimidation, as when Sanballat's agents tried to frighten Nehemiah (Neh 6:9). Cross-linguistically, Arabic splits what Hebrew unifies: khafa for terror, ittaqa or khashiya for piety, and mahib for awesomeness.
Senses
1. fear, be afraid (Qal) — The dominant sense (239x): visceral fear or dread triggered by danger, enemies, or divine theophanies. Arabic khafa and Swahili -ogopa consistently render this emotional terror. The repeated divine assurance 'al tira' ('do not fear,' Gen 15:1; 21:17; 46:3) presupposes precisely this involuntary alarm, making it the single most frequent usage across the Hebrew Bible. 239×
AR["تَخافي","تَخافِي","تَخَافِي","تَخَف","تَخَفْ"]·ben["তুমি-ভয়-পেও","ভয়-কর","ভয়-করো","ভয়-পাও"]·DE["Furcht","du-soll-Furcht","fuerchtete","fürchte-dich"]·EN["fear","you-shall-fear"]·FR["craindre","crains","crainte","tu-devra-craindre","tu-devra-crainte"]·heb["ירא","תירא","תיראי"]·HI["डर","डरना","डरो","दर"]·ID["takut"]·IT["temere","timore","tu-dovere-temere","tu-dovra-temere"]·jav["ajrih","panjenengan-ajrih","sami-ajrih"]·KO["두려워","두려워하다","두려워하라","두려워하여라","두려워하지","두려워하지-마라","두려워하지-말라"]·PT["temas"]·RU["бойся"]·ES["les-temas","temas"]·SW["kukataa","kuogopa","kuwa-na-hofu","kwa-sababu","ogope","usiogope","utaogopa","waogope"]·TR["-me","kork","korkacaksın","korkma","ve-dedi"]·urd["ڈر","ڈر-اُن-سے"]
2. awesome, terrible (Nifal Ptc) — Nifal participle functioning adjectivally (44x): describing God, his name, deeds, or sacred places as awe-inspiring and terrible. Arabic deploys mahib/rahib where the Qal uses khafa, marking a clear semantic shift. Jacob's 'How awesome is this place!' (Gen 28:17) and the Song of the Sea's 'awesome in praises' (Exod 15:11) are paradigmatic. 44×
AR["أرْهَبَ","رَهيبٌ","مَرْهُوبٌ","مَهيبٌ","مَهِيبٌ","مُرْهِبٌ","وَ-ال-مَهِيبُ","وَ-الْمَرْهُوبَ","وَ-الْمَهِيبَ","وَ-الْمَهِيبُ","وَ-مَهيب","وَالمَهِيبِ","وَالْمَرْهُوبُ","وَالْمَهِيبِ","وَرَهِيبٌ","وَمَرْهُوبٌ"]·ben["আর-ভয়াবহ","এবং-ভয়ংকর","এবং-ভয়ঙ্কর","এবং-ভয়াবহ","ভয়ংকর","ভয়ঙ্কর"]·DE["awesome","fürchtete","und-awesome","und-der-Feuer","und-der-awesome","und-fuerchtete","und-fürchtete","zu-fürchtete"]·EN["and-awesome","and-the-awesome","and-the-fearful","awesome","is-awesome","to-be-feared"]·FR["craindre","et-awesome","et-craindre","et-le-awesome","et-le-le-feu","redoutable"]·heb["ו-ה-ירא","ו-ה-נורא","ו-נורא","נורא"]·HI["और-भयानक","और-भयावना","और-भयावने","और-भयावह","और-भयावह-को","नोरा","भयानक","भयावना","भयावह","भयावह-है","भयावह-हैं"]·ID["Dahsyat","dahsyat","dan-dahsyat","dan-yang-dahsyat"]·IT["awesome","e-awesome","e-il-awesome","e-il-fuoco","e-temere","e-temette","temette"]·jav["Nggumunaken","asta","lan-ingkang-nggegirisi","lan-kaajrihan","lan-kang-nggegirisi","lan-nggegirisi","ngeram-erami","nggegirisi","nggumunaken"]·KO["그리고-그-두려우신","그리고-그-두려운","그리고-두려우시도다","그리고-두려우신","그리고-두려우신-분을","그리고-두려운","두려우시도다","두려우신이여","두려운-것이다","두려운-분-이시라","두렵도다"]·PT["Terrível","e-o-temido","e-o-temível","e-o-terrível","e-temível","e-terrível","temido","terríveis","terrível","é-temido"]·RU["грозное","и-грозный","и-страшно","и-страшного","и-страшное","и-страшный","страшен","страшны","страшный"]·ES["Temible","asombrosas","asombroso","temible","temible-en-","y-el-temible","y-temible"]·SW["Wa-kuogofya","na-la-kuogofya","na-la-kutisha","na-wa-kuogofya","na-wa-kutisha","na-ya-kuogofya","wa-kuogofya","wa-kutisha","ya-kuogofya","yanavyoogofya","yenye-kuogofya"]·TR["korkulan","korkunç","korkuç","ve-hayrın","ve-korku-verici","ve-korkunç"]·urd["اور-رعبدار","اور-مہیب","اور-مہیب-ہے","اور-ڈراؤنا","اور-ہیبت-ناک","اور-ہیبت-والے","مہیب-ہے","ہیبت-ناک"]
Gen 28:17, Exod 15:11, Exod 34:10, Deut 1:19, Deut 7:21, Deut 8:15, Deut 10:17, Deut 10:21, Deut 28:58, Judg 13:6, 2 Sam 7:23, 1 Chr 16:25 (+32 more)
3. revere, fear God (Qal) — Reverential awe directed toward God or sovereign authority (25x): the pious, sustained posture of worship and obedience rather than momentary fright. Arabic ittaqa and khashiya capture this devotional register. Commands like 'You shall fear the LORD your God' (Deut 6:13) and 'fear your mother and father' (Lev 19:3) illustrate ethical reverence, not panic. 25×
AR["اتَّقُوا","اِتَّقُوا","تَتَّقُوا","تَتَّقُونَ","تَتَّقِي","تَخَافُ","تَخَفْ","تَهَابُونَ","خَائِفٌ","يَتَّقي","يَتَّقُونَ","يَرِيء","يَرْؤُوا","يِرْأُو"]·ben["তুমি-ভয়-করবে","ভয়","ভয়-কর","ভয়-করবে","ভয়-করবে;","ভয়-করে","ভয়-পেয়েছে"]·DE["Furcht","du-soll-Furcht","fuerchtet","fuerchtete","sie-fuerchten"]·EN["does-fear","fear","fears","they-are-afraid","you-shall-fear"]·FR["craindre","crains","craint","crainte","tu-craindras","tu-devra-crains","tu-devra-crainte"]·heb["ייראו","ירא","יראו","תירא","תיראו"]·HI["डर","डरता","डरता-है","डरते-हैं","डरना","डरेंगे","डरेगा","डरो","डरोगे","डरोगे-तुम","तुम डरोगे"]·ID["harus-kamu-takuti","kamu-akan-menghormati","kamu-takut","kamu-takuti","mereka-takut","takut","takutilah","takutlah","takutlah-akan"]·IT["teme","temere","timore","tu-dovra-temere","tu-dovrà-timore"]·jav["ajrih","ajriha","kedah-panjenengan-ajrihi","panjenengan-ajrih","sami-ajrih","sami-ajrihi;"]·KO["경외하라","경외하리라-너희는","너희는-경외할지니라","너희는-두려워하라","두려워하고-있다","두려워하느냐","두려워하는-자","두려워하라","두려워한다","두려워할-것이다-너희는"]·PT["teme","temei","temem","temereis","temerás"]·RU["боится","бойся","бойтесь","боятся","боящемуся.","убоялся","убоятся,","чтите"]·ES["teme","temed","temen","temerán","temerás","temeréis"]·SW["anachocha","anamcha","anaogopa","mche","mcheni","mtaheshimu","mtamcha","mtaogopa","mwogope","mwogopeni","ogopa","usiwaogope","wamcha","wanaogopa","waogope"]·TR["korkacaksın","korkacaksınız","korkan","korkarlar","korkun","korkuyor","sayacaksınız","saygı-duyacaksınız"]·urd["تُو-ڈرے","ڈر","ڈرتا-ہے","ڈرتے-ہیں","ڈرو","ڈرو-سے","ڈرو-گے","ڈریں"]
Lev 19:3, Lev 19:30, Lev 26:2, Deut 6:13, Deut 7:18, Deut 8:6, Deut 10:20, Deut 13:4, Deut 20:1, Josh 22:25, Josh 24:14, 1 Sam 12:24 (+13 more)
4. God-fearer, one who fears (Adj/Ptc) — Adjectival or participial substantive (14x) designating a person characterized by God-fearing piety — 'one who fears the LORD.' Arabic muttaqi and Swahili -mcha Mungu reflect this as a character trait. Key portraits include Joseph's self-identification (Gen 42:18) and Obadiah's reputation (1 Kgs 18:12). 14×
AR["أَخَافُ","الخَائِفُونَ","خَائِفُونَ","لِلخَائِفِينَ","لِمُتَّقِي","مَنْ-يَخَافُ","يَتَّقُونَ","يَتَّقِي","يَخاف","يَخافُ"]·ben["ভয়-কর","ভয়-করছিল","ভয়-করছে","ভয়-করি","ভয়কারী","ভীত","যারা-ভয়-করে","যারা-ভয়-করে-তাদের-জন্য","যে-ভয়-করে","যে-ভয়-করেছিল"]·DE["der-fearing","fuerchten","fuerchtend","fuerchtete","fürchte","fürchtete"]·EN["are-fearing","fear","fearers-of","fearing","for-fearers-of","the-fearing"]·FR["ceux-qui-craignent","craignant","craindre","le-fearing","pour-ceux-qui-craignent","à-craindre"]·heb["ה-ירא","ירא","יראי","יראים","ל-יראי"]·HI["के-लिए-डरनेवालों","जो-डरता-था","डरता-हूँ","डरता-है","डरते-हैं","डरते-हो","डरने-वाले","डरनेवाला","डरनेवाले","डरनेवालों-के-लिए"]·ID["Yang-takut","bagi-orang-orang-yang-takut-akan","bagi-yang-takut","orang-orang-yang-takut-akan","takut","takut-akan","takuti","yang-takut"]·IT["il-fearing","per-temere","temendo","temere","temette","timore"]·jav["Ingkang-ajrih","ajrih","ingkang-wedi-asih","kagem-kang-ajrih-dhumateng","kang-ajrih-dhumateng","kanggé-ingkang-ajrih","sami-ajrih"]·KO["경외하는","두려워하는","두려워하는-자는","두려워하는-자들-에게","두려워하는-자들로","두려워하는-자들이","두려워한다","에게-두려워하는-자들"]·PT["o-que-teme","os-que-temem","para-os-que-temem","que-teme","temeis","temendo","temente","temerosos","temo"]·RU["Боящийся","боимся","боитесь","боится","боюсь","боящиеся","боящийся","боящимся","боящихся","для-боящихся"]·ES["El-que-temía","a-los-que-temen","los-que-temen","para-los-que-temen","que-teme","teme","temen","temeroso-de","temerosos","temiendo","temo","teméis"]·SW["akimcha","aliyeogopa","amemcha","anayemcha","jua","kumcha","kwa-wamchao","kwa-wanaomwogopa","mnauogopa","wakimcha","wanaogopa","wanaomwogopa"]·TR["-korkanlar-için","Korkan","kork-uyor-uz","korkan","korkanlar","korkanlara","korkarım","korkuyorsunuz"]·urd["جو-ڈرتا-ہے","ڈر-رہے-ہیں","ڈرتا-ہوں","ڈرتا-ہے","ڈرتیں","ڈرتے","ڈرتے-ہو","ڈرنے-والا","ڈرنے-والوں-نے","ڈرنے-والوں-کے-لیے","کے-لیے-ڈرنے-والوں"]
Gen 42:18, Exod 9:20, 1 Sam 23:3, 1 Kgs 18:12, 2 Kgs 4:1, 2 Kgs 17:32, 2 Kgs 17:33, 2 Kgs 17:34, 2 Kgs 17:41, Ps 112:1, Eccl 8:12, Jer 42:16 (+2 more)
5. frighten, terrify (Piel) — Piel intensive-causative (5x): to deliberately frighten, intimidate, or terrorize someone. Arabic akhafa and Swahili -ogopesha capture the causative force. All five occurrences cluster in late narrative contexts of political intimidation: Sanballat's campaign against Nehemiah (Neh 6:9, 14, 19) and the woman of Tekoa's plea (2 Sam 14:15). 5×
AR["أَخافَني-","لِ-يُخيفَني","لِيُخِيفُوهُمْ","مُخيفونَ","مُخيفينَ"]·ben["ভয়-করিয়েছে-আমাকে","ভয়-দেখাচ্ছিল","ভয়-দেখাতে-আমাকে","ভয়-দেখাতে-তাদের"]·DE["fuerchten","fuerchtete","sie-frightened-mich"]·EN["frightening","they-frightened-me","to-frighten-me","to-frighten-them","were-frightening"]·FR["craindre","ils-frightened-moi"]·heb["ירא","יראו-ני","ל-ירא-י","ל-ירא-ם"]·HI["डराने-उन्हें","डराने-की-कोशिश-कर-रहे-थे","डराया-मुझे","भयभीत","मुझे-डराने-के-लिए"]·ID["menakut-nakuti","menakutimu","untuk-menakut-nakuti-mereka","untuk-menakut-nakutiku"]·IT["essi-frightened-me","temere"]·jav["kangge-medosi-kula","kanggé-nyedihaken-piyambakipun","medosi","piyambakipun-sedaya-ajrih-kula"]·KO["나를-두렵게-하려고","두렵게-하고-있는","두렵게-하고-있었다","두렵게-했습니다-나를","을-두렵게-하려고-그들을"]·PT["amedrontando","me-amedrontou","para-atemorizarem-nos","para-me-amedrontar"]·RU["устрашали","устрашающие","устрашил-меня","устрашить-их","чтобы-устрашить-меня"]·ES["atemorizando","me-amedrentaron","nos-atemorizaban","para-atemorizarlos","para-atemorizarme"]·SW["kuniogopesha","lyaram","wakiniogopesha","walikuwa-wakituogopesha","wameniogofya"]·TR["korkutanlar","korkutmak-için-beni","korkutmak-için-onları","korkuttular-beni","korkutuyorlardı"]·urd["مجھے-ڈرانے-کو","ڈرا-رہے-تھے","ڈرانے-والے","ڈرانے-کو-اُنہیں","ڈرایا-مجھے"]
6. sense 6 — A single occurrence at Mic 6:9 where textual and versional evidence is ambiguous — some traditions read yir'eh ('will see') rather than yira' ('will fear'). The multilingual glosses split between 'will see' (English, French, German) and 'will fear' (Spanish), reflecting an ancient crux in the consonantal text. 1×
AR["تَرَى"]·ben["দেখবে"]·DE["er-sieht"]·EN["will-see"]·FR["il-verra"]·heb["יראה"]·HI["देखेगी"]·ID["melihat"]·IT["timoroso"]·jav["mirsani"]·KO["보리라"]·PT["verá"]·RU["увидит"]·ES["temerá"]·SW["itaona"]·TR["görecek"]·urd["دیکھے-گی"]
7. sense 7 — A unique Nifal usage at Ps 130:4, 'that you may be feared,' where forgiveness is the ground of reverence. Spanish seas temido and French craindre preserve the passive-reverential nuance. This theological paradox — pardon producing awe rather than presumption — stands as the psalm's central insight. 1×
AR["تُخْشَى"]·ben["ভয়-করা-হয়।"]·DE["fürchtete"]·EN["you-may-be-feared"]·FR["craindre"]·heb["תיוורא"]·HI["डर-माना-जाए"]·ID["Engkau-ditakuti"]·IT["temette"]·jav["Panjenengan-dipunajrihi"]·KO["경외-받으시리이다"]·PT["sejas-temido"]·RU["благоговели-пред-Тобой"]·ES["seas-temido"]·SW["uogopwe"]·TR["korkulasın"]·urd["خوف-مانا-جائے"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† יָרֵא vb. fear (NH id.; Assyrian îrû, id.; Hpt KAT2 Gloss i., COTGloss)— Qal328 Pf. יר׳ Gn 19:30 + 14 times; 3 f. יָֽרְאָה Je 3:8 ψ 76:9; יָרֵ֑אָה Gn 18:15; pl. 2 m. יְרֵאתֶם Nu 12:8 + 2 times; + 23 times Pf.; Impf. יִירָא Am 3:8 + 3 times; וַיִּירָא Gn 28:17 + 5 times; וַיִּרָא Je 26:21 + 5 times; pl. יִירְאוּ (יִֽרְאוּ) 23:4 +; יִרָאוּן Dt 13:12, +, etc.; 136 times Impf.; Imv. יְרָא Pr 3:7 +…