Lexical Summary
baath: To terrify, to startle, to dismay
Original Word:בָּעַת
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:ba`ath
Pronunciation:bah-ath
Phonetic Spelling:(baw-ath')
KJV: affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, trouble
NASB:terrify, terrified, frighten, frightened, overwhelmed, overwhelms, terrorized
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to fear
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
affright, be make afraid, terrify, trouble
A primitive root; to fear -- affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, trouble.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto fall upon, startle, terrify
NASB Translationfrighten (1), frightened (1), overwhelmed (1), overwhelms (1), terrified (3), terrify (7), terrorized (1), terrorizing (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] (Arabic
come or
happen suddenly, Late Hebrew Hiph`il
startle; so Aramaic Pa`el
Aph`el) —
(late prose)Perfect1 Chronicles 21:30,Esther 7:6;Daniel 8:17; —be terrified, absoluteDaniel 8:17; with1 Chronicles 21:30;Esther 7:6.
(mostly in poetry)Perfect3feminine singular suffixIsaiah 21:4,1 Samuel 16:14; 3plural suffixJob 18:11;Imperfect3feminine singularJob 13:11; suffixJob 9:34;Job 13:21,Job 33:7; 2masculine singular suffixJob 7:14; 3masculine plural suffixPsalm 18:5 =2 Samuel 22:5,Job 3:5;Job 15:24; —
fall upon1 Samuel 16:14,15 (only here in prose);overwhelmJob 3:5 (compareJob 3:6)Job 9:34;Job 13:11 ("" )Job 13:21 (compare "")Job 15:24 ("" )Job 18:11 ("" )Job 33:7 ("" )Isaiah 21:4;assailPsalm 18:5 =2 Samuel 22:5.
terrifyJob 7:14 ("" ).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and ScopeThe verb בָּעַת portrays a sudden and overwhelming dread that seizes a person or object. It is never a mild uneasiness; it is a jolt of fear that immobilizes, unnerves, or drives one to desperate action. The concept is closely linked with the felt reality of divine judgment or the crushing weight of impending calamity.
Biblical Distribution
Sixteen occurrences span historical, poetic, and prophetic literature:
• Historical:1 Samuel 16:14-15;2 Samuel 22:5;1 Chronicles 21:30;Esther 7:6
• Poetic/Wisdom:Job 3:5; 7:14; 9:34; 13:11, 21; 15:24; 18:11; 33:7;Psalm 18:4
• Prophetic/Apocalyptic:Isaiah 21:4;Daniel 8:17
This spread reveals that the language of terror is not confined to one genre; it arises whenever the living God confronts human rebellion, frailty, or destiny.
Divine Agency in Terror
1 Samuel 16:14-15 is paradigmatic: “The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrified him.” God’s sovereignty extends even to the psychological arena; terror is a tool of righteous discipline when a king persists in disobedience. Similarly, Job repeatedly attributes his dread not to random forces but to God’s sovereign dealings (Job 7:14; 9:34; 13:21; 33:7). Daniel collapses before Gabriel: “I was terrified and fell facedown” (Daniel 8:17). In each scene the holiness of God crashes into human sinfulness, and terror is the instinctive response.
Terror as a Catalyst for Salvation
David’s song (2 Samuel 22:5 =Psalm 18:4) sets “the torrents of chaos” that “terrified me” against the ensuing deliverance: “He reached down from on high and took hold of me” (Psalm 18:16). Terror prepares the heart for rescue; it exposes helplessness, driving the sufferer to the only Deliverer. Even Haman’s terror before Esther and Xerxes (Esther 7:6) highlights divine reversal: the one who inspired fear in others is himself paralyzed when God turns the tables.
Psychological and Experiential Shades
Job supplies a lexicon of felt terror—nightmares (7:14), suffocating authority (9:34), the dread of God’s majesty (13:11), encircling anguish (15:24), ambush by unseen forces (18:11).Isaiah 21:4 captures the visceral toll: “My heart falters, fear terrifies me; the twilight I longed for has become dread to me.” Terror is thus portrayed as both an external assault and an internal unraveling.
Holy Fear versus Crippling Dread
While בָּעַת defines paralyzing dread, Scripture simultaneously commands believers to cultivate a reverent fear of the LORD that yields wisdom and obedience (Proverbs 1:7). The contrast is instructive: unhealthy terror drives one away from God; holy fear draws one near in worship. Saul flees to madness; David flees to mercy. The way out of dread is not denial but trust in the covenant God who “has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Pastoral and Ministry Significance
1. Diagnosis of Judgment: Persistent dread may signal areas where a believer resists God’s rule. The biblical pattern invites confession and yieldedness.
2. Assurance in Christ: At Calvary the ultimate terror—divine wrath—was borne by Jesus Christ. Union with Him replaces dread with peace.
3. Spiritual Warfare: Just as Saul’s terror was spirit-induced, demonic oppression can manifest through crippling fear. The believer overcomes “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11).
4. Comforting the Afflicted: Job’s laments give voice to sufferers. Pastors can validate the experience of terror while directing hearts to the God who ultimately “will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4).
5. Eschatological Sobriety: The prophetic scenes (Isaiah 21;Daniel 8) foreshadow the Day of the LORD, when unrepentant humanity will cry out in terror. Proclaiming the gospel is therefore urgent.
Practical Applications for Believers
• Memorize deliverance texts such asPsalm 18 to counter sudden waves of fear.
• Engage in corporate worship; Saul’s torment subsided when David’s harp lifted his soul (1 Samuel 16:23).
• Practice transparent prayer like Job—naming the terror before God rather than suppressing it.
• Anchor hope in the finished work of Christ, who “delivers all who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:15).
Conclusion
בָּעַת confronts readers with the reality of crippling dread—sometimes a direct act of divine judgment, sometimes the human response to overwhelming circumstances. Yet Scripture never leaves terror as the final word. The same God who rightly inspires fear also provides refuge. In the gospel the storm of terror meets the calm command, “Take courage; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
Forms and Transliterations
בִּֽעֲתָ֑תְנִי בִּֽעֲתֻ֣הוּ בעתהו בעתתני וּבִֽעֲתַ֥תּוּ ובעתתו יְ֝בַעֲתֻ֗הוּ יְֽ֭בַעֲתֻהוּ יְבַֽעֲתֽוּנִי׃ יְבַעֲתֻֽנִי׃ יבעתהו יבעתוני׃ יבעתני׃ מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃ מבעתך׃ נִבְעַ֔ת נִבְעַ֔תִּי נבעת נבעתי תְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי׃ תְּבַעֵ֣ת תְבַעֲתֶ֑ךָּ תבעת תבעתך תבעתני׃ bi‘ăṯāṯənî bi‘ăṯuhū bi·‘ă·ṯā·ṯə·nî bi·‘ă·ṯu·hū biaTateni biaTuhu mə·ḇa·‘it·te·ḵā məḇa‘itteḵā mevaitTecha niḇ‘aṯ niḇ‘attî niḇ·‘aṯ niḇ·‘at·tî nivAt nivAtti tə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯan·nî ṯə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯe·kā tə·ḇa·‘êṯ təḇa‘ăṯannî ṯəḇa‘ăṯekā təḇa‘êṯ tevaaTanni tevaaTeka tevaEt ū·ḇi·‘ă·ṯat·tū ūḇi‘ăṯattū uviaTattu yə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯu·hū yə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯu·nî yə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯū·nî yəḇa‘ăṯuhū yəḇa‘ăṯunî yəḇa‘ăṯūnî yevaaTuhu yevaaTuni
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