Lexical Summary
pachad: dread, terror, fear
Original Word:פַחַד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:pachad
Pronunciation:pah-khad'
Phonetic Spelling:(pakh'-ad)
KJV: dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great (fear, -ly feared), terror
NASB:dread, terror, fear, awe, disaster, great, great fear
Word Origin:[fromH6342 (פָּחַד - dread)]
1. a (sudden) alarm
2. (properly) the object feared
3. (by implication) the feeling of alarm
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
dreadful, fear, thing great fear terror
Frompachad; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) -- dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great (fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREWpachad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
pachadDefinitiondread
NASB Translationawe (1), disaster (1), dread (20), fear (9), great (1), great fear (1), great fear where fear (1), object of dread (1), panic (1), terror (10), terrors (1), unconcerned* (1), what (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I.
491Samuel 11:7 ; — absolute
Genesis 31:42 +, construct
1 Samuel 11:7 +, suffix
Deuteronomy 2:25;
Psalm 119:120,
Job 13:11;
1 Chronicles 14:17, etc.; plural
Job 15:21: —
dread, , i.e. before , often (not always) terrifying, unfitting for action,Isaiah 2:10,19,21;1 Samuel 11:7; 2Chron 14:13; 2 Chronicles 17:10, so 2Chronicles 20:29, with suffixJob 13:11;Psalm 119:120trembleth for dread of thee; with Genitive object Israel,Deuteronomy 2:25 ("" ),Deuteronomy 11:25 ("" ),Psalm 105:38;Esther 8:17;Esther 9:2,Psalm 64:2, of individual1 Chronicles 14:17;Esther 9:3; with Genitive object of thingProverbs 1:33; absolute, in General,Exodus 15:16 (song; "" ),Job 4:14 ("" ),Jeremiah 30:5 ("" ) +; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb withPsalm 14:5 + (see ); c. Genitive subjectProverbs 1:26,27 (both "" )Deuteronomy 28:67.
=object of dreadPsalm 31:12;Psalm 36:2,Job 31:23;Job 3:25;Isaiah 24:18sound of the disaster, for of originalJeremiah 48:44, butJob 15:21 = a sound of terrors;Job 22:10;Proverbs 3:25.
Genesis 31:42 ("" ), soGenesis 31:53 (""id.; both E).
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of UseThe noun פַחַד denotes sudden dread, an overwhelming sense of alarm provoked either by imminent danger or by the manifest presence of God. While sometimes describing a purely human emotion, it is more often portrayed as an instrument the LORD wields—either to protect His covenant people or to judge them and the nations.
Frequency and Distribution
Approximately forty-nine occurrences appear in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zephaniah. Narrative, legal, poetic, wisdom and prophetic genres all employ the term, underscoring its theological breadth.
Terror Instilled by God upon Israel’s Enemies
From the outset of the Exodus, terror is a divine weapon against hostile nations.
•Exodus 15:16: “Terror and dread fall upon them; by the greatness of Your arm they are as still as stone.”
•Deuteronomy 2:25; 11:25 record the same strategy in anticipation of the conquest.
•Joshua 2:9 echoes the result in Jericho, whilePsalm 105:38 notes that “Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of Israel had fallen on them.”
The emphasis is not Israel’s military prowess but the LORD’s reputation going before His people.
Dread as a Covenant Curse
The Torah warns that unfaithfulness will reverse the blessing, making terror the experience of Israel herself (Leviticus 26:36). Prophets later confirm the threat:Jeremiah 30:5 laments, “We have heard a cry of panic—of terror, not of peace,” evidencing covenant curses in real time.
Individual Experiences of Sudden Terror
Job personifies personal dread: “For the thing I feared has overtaken me” (Job 3:25). Psalmists confess vulnerability—“Fear and trembling grip me” (Psalm 55:5)—yet also trust: “You will not fear the terror of night” (Psalm 91:5). Proverbs offers pastoral counsel: “Do not fear sudden terror or the ruin that overtakes the wicked” (Proverbs 3:25).
“The Fear of Isaac”: A Unique Title for God
Genesis 31:42, 53 twice label the LORD “the Fear of Isaac,” underscoring patriarchal reverence. Jacob swears by this title, revealing that legitimate oaths derive authority from the One who inspires holy dread.
Wisdom Literature and the Pedagogy of Fear
Proverbs contrasts righteous confidence with wicked apprehension: “What the wicked fears will come upon him” (Proverbs 10:24), whereas “Blessed is the one who is always fearful” (Proverbs 28:14)—that is, constantly alert to sin’s peril. Here dread functions as moral tutor, steering hearts toward obedience.
Prophetic Day-of-the-LORD Oracles
Isaiah repeatedly combines terror with eschatological upheaval: “Men will flee to caves… from the terror of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:19). Similar triads—“terror, pit and snare” (Isaiah 24:17-18)—stress inescapable judgment.Zephaniah 1:15 gathers the imagery into the ultimate day of wrath. The prophets therefore frame פַחַד both as historical reality and future certainty.
Liturgical and Devotional Use
The Psalms employ the term to foster godly awe: “My flesh trembles in awe of You” (Psalm 119:120). While night terrors threaten, covenant security prevails (Psalm 91). Corporate worship thus transforms crippling dread into reverent confidence.
Theological and Ministry Implications
1. Divine Sovereignty: God alone dispenses terror; no opposing force operates autonomously.
2. Covenant Ethics: Obedience dispels dread; rebellion invites it.
3. Evangelistic Warning: Eschatological terror underscores humanity’s need for the Gospel (compare2 Corinthians 5:11).
4. Pastoral Care: Scripture legitimizes feelings of alarm yet directs believers to the LORD as refuge, equipping ministers to acknowledge fear without conceding to it.
Christological Resonance
At the cross, the righteous Judge endures humanity’s rightful dread (Matthew 27:45-54). In resurrection, Christ proclaims, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10), transforming terror into worship (Revelation 1:17-18). The final judgment will still evoke “terror of the LORD,” but those in Christ are perfected in love that “drives out fear” (1 John 4:18), fulfilling the trajectory of פַחַד from condemning dread to redeemed awe.
Key References for Study
Genesis 31:42;Exodus 15:16;Deuteronomy 2:25;1 Samuel 11:7;2 Chronicles 20:29;Job 3:25;Psalm 91:5;Proverbs 3:25;Isaiah 2:19;Jeremiah 30:5.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּפַ֖חַד בפחד הַפַּ֙חַד֙ הפחד וָפַ֔חַד וָפַ֣חַד וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ וּפַ֤חַד וּפַ֪חַד ופחד ופחדו לְ֭פַחַד לפחד מִפַּ֖חַד מִפַּ֣חַד מִפַּ֤חַד מִפַּ֥חַד מִפַּחְדְּךָ֣ מִפָּ֑חַד מפחד מפחדך פְּחָדִ֥ים פַ֣חַד פַּ֖חַד פַּ֗חַד פַּ֣חַד פַּ֤חַד פַּ֥חַד פַּ֧חַד פַּֽחַד־ פַּחְדְּךָ֙ פַּחְדְּכֶ֗ם פַּחְדְּכֶ֨ם פַּחְדָּ֖ם פַּחְדָּ֣ם פַּחְדּ֖וֹ פַֽחַד־ פַחְדְּכֶֽם׃ פַחַד֮ פָ֑חַד פָ֥חַד פָֽחַד׃ פחד פחד־ פחד׃ פחדו פחדים פחדך פחדכם פחדכם׃ פחדם bə·p̄a·ḥaḏ beFachad bəp̄aḥaḏ fachad fachdeChem hap·pa·ḥaḏ hapPachad happaḥaḏ lə·p̄a·ḥaḏ Lefachad ləp̄aḥaḏ mip·pa·ḥaḏ mip·pā·ḥaḏ mip·paḥ·də·ḵā mipPachad mippachdeCha mippaḥaḏ mippāḥaḏ mippaḥdəḵā pa·ḥaḏ p̄a·ḥaḏ p̄ā·ḥaḏ pa·ḥaḏ- p̄a·ḥaḏ- pachad pachDam pachdeCha pachdeChem pachDo paḥ·dām paḥ·də·ḵā paḥ·də·ḵem p̄aḥ·də·ḵem paḥ·dōw paḥaḏ p̄aḥaḏ p̄āḥaḏ paḥaḏ- p̄aḥaḏ- paḥdām paḥdəḵā paḥdəḵem p̄aḥdəḵem paḥdōw pə·ḥā·ḏîm pechaDim pəḥāḏîm ū·p̄a·ḥaḏ ū·p̄aḥ·dōw uFachad ufachDo ūp̄aḥaḏ ūp̄aḥdōw vaFachad wā·p̄a·ḥaḏ wāp̄aḥaḏ
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