Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being terrified or causing terror is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with the fear of God, the presence of enemies, or divine judgment. The term "terrify" and its variations are used to describe both the fear experienced by individuals and the fear instilled by God or His agents.
Divine Terror:God's power and majesty often evoke terror among those who witness His works or hear His voice. In
Exodus 20:18-19, the Israelites are described as being terrified by the thunder, lightning, and the sound of the trumpet at Mount Sinai: "When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain in smoke, they trembled in fear and stood at a distance. 'Speak to us yourself, and we will listen,' they said to Moses. 'But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.'" This passage illustrates the overwhelming awe and fear that God's presence can inspire.
Fear of God:The fear of the Lord is a central theme in Scripture, often associated with wisdom and reverence.
Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This fear is not merely terror but a profound respect and acknowledgment of God's holiness and authority. It serves as a guiding principle for righteous living and obedience to God's commandments.
Enemies and Warfare:The Bible also speaks of terror in the context of warfare and the fear of enemies. In
Deuteronomy 7:21, God reassures the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land: "Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God." Here, the command not to be terrified is coupled with the assurance of God's presence and power, emphasizing trust in divine protection over fear of human adversaries.
Judgment and Prophecy:Prophetic literature often uses the imagery of terror to describe the coming judgment of God upon nations and individuals. In
Isaiah 2:19, the prophet speaks of a day when people will hide in caves and rocks "from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth." Such passages highlight the seriousness of God's judgment and the fear it instills in those who oppose Him.
New Testament Perspective:In the New Testament, the concept of terror is also present, particularly in the context of the final judgment. In
2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul writes, "Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men." This fear is linked to the awareness of God's judgment and the responsibility to live in a manner pleasing to Him.
Encouragement Against Fear:Despite the presence of terror in various contexts, the Bible frequently encourages believers not to be afraid. In
John 14:27, Jesus comforts His disciples, saying, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid." This assurance of peace and the presence of the Holy Spirit provides believers with the strength to overcome fear and live confidently in faith.
In summary, the theme of terror in the Bible encompasses both the fear of God and the fear of earthly threats. It serves as a reminder of God's power and holiness, the reality of divine judgment, and the assurance of His protection and peace for those who trust in Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To make terrible.
2. (v. t.) To alarm or shock with fear; to frighten.
Greek
4422. ptoeo -- toterrify... to
terrify. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ptoeo Phonetic Spelling:
(pto-eh'-o) Short Definition: I
terrify, scare Definition: I
terrify, scare, strike
...5399. phobeo -- to put to flight, toterrify, frighten
... to put to flight, toterrify, frighten. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phobeo
Phonetic Spelling: (fob-eh'-o) Short Definition: I fear, am terrified...
1629. ekphobeo -- to frighten away
... to frighten away. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekphobeo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-fob-eh'-o) Short Definition: Iterrify exceedingly Definition: I...
4426. pturo -- to be frightened
... to be frightened. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pturo Phonetic Spelling:
(ptoo'-ro) Short Definition: I frighten,terrify Definition: I frighten,terrify...
2350. thorubeo -- to disturb
... to disturb. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thorubeo Phonetic Spelling:
(thor-oo-beh'-o) Short Definition: I disturb greatly,terrify, strike with panic...
5141. tremo -- to tremble (esp. with fear)
... be afraid, tremble. Strengthened from a primary treo (to "dread", "terrify"); to
"tremble" or fear -- be afraid, trembling. (tremousa) -- 2 Occurrences....
Strong's Hebrew
1204. baath -- to fall upon, startle,terrify... 1203, 1204. baath. 1205 . to fall upon, startle,
terrify. Transliteration:
baath Phonetic Spelling: (baw-ath') Short Definition:
terrify. Word Origin a prim
...926. bahal -- to disturb,terrify
... 925, 926. bahal. 927 . to disturb,terrify. Transliteration: bahal Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-hal') Short Definition: dismayed. Word Origin a prim....
1089. balah -- to be troubled
... trouble. A primitive root (rather by transposition for bahal); to palpitate; hence,
(causatively) toterrify -- trouble. see HEBREW bahal. 1088, 1089....
2865. chathath -- to be shattered or dismayed
... or (figuratively) by confusion and fear -- abolish, affright, be (make) afraid,
amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare,terrify....
2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... 2), frighten (3), frighten them away (1), make him afraid (1), make them afraid
(3), quaked (1), routed (1), startled (1), terrified (2),terrify (2), tremble...
5425. nathar -- to spring or start up
... A primitive root; to jump, ie Be violently agitated; causatively, toterrify, shake
off, untie -- drive asunder, leap, (let) loose, X make, move, undo....
927. behal -- to alarm, dismay
... in haste, trouble. (Aramaic) corresponding to bahal; toterrify, hasten -- in haste,
trouble. see HEBREW bahal. 926, 927. behal. 928 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Worship
... This is a very awful text; one of those whichterrify us"or at least ought toterrify
us"and set us on asking ourselves seriously and honestly"'What do I...
Acts xvii. 32-34, xviii. 1
... But therefore it is that Paul having testified to them"not teaches now, but
testifies""having shaken his garments," toterrify them not by word only but by...
Concerning Theurgy, which Promises a Delusive Purification of the...
... that that well-disposed Chald??an, who desired to purify his soul by theurgical rites,
found no superior deity who could eitherterrify the frightened gods...
Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon.
... have patience with him, so that the bitter torments and punishments inflicted on
him may be the more abundant, and that through him I mayterrify many others...
The Thesis to be Proved
... its equity, justice and holiness, and afterwards to accuse them of sin, to urge
them to obedience, to convince them of their own weakness, toterrify them by a...
John vii. 25-27
... What then saith Christ? Ver.33. "Yet a little while am I with you." Having power
to bow andterrify His hearers, He uttereth words full of humility....
Father and Child
... who profess to belong to the Church, will tell you that God's method is, first to
terrify men by the threats of the law and the sight of their sins and the...
Letter of Martin Luther to Pope Leo X.
... But those who have hitherto endeavoured toterrify me with the majesty of your name
and authority, I have begun quite to despise and triumph over....
The Birth of Saint George.
... Now, some time before the Princess was about to present her husband with a babe,
she dreamed a dream; it was enough toterrify her, for she dreamed that...
Books and Reading.
... souls whom we never saw, who lived, perhaps, thousands of miles away; and yet these,
in those little sheets of paper, speak to us, amuse us,terrify us, teach...
Thesaurus
Terrify (27 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Terrify (27 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 10:9 that
I may not seem as if I desire to
terrify you by my letters.
...Frighten (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm
or fright; to affright; toterrify. Multi-Version Concordance...
Fray (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Fight, or (v.) To become ragged at the ends. 2. (vt) To frighten; to
terrify; to alarm. 3. (vt) To bear the expense of; to defray....
Terrifying (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofTerrify. Multi-Version
Concordance Terrifying (10 Occurrences). Hebrews 10:27 But...
Dare (19 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Defiance; challenge. 6. (vi) To lurk; to lie hid. 7. (vt) Toterrify; to
daunt. 8. (n.) A small fish; the dace. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DARE....
Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... into caverns of rocks, And into caves of dust, Because of the fear of Jehovah, And
because of the honour of His excellency, In His rising toterrify the earth....
Names (133 Occurrences)
... from which also are derived 'ayil, "ram," and 'elah, "terebinth"; it is then an
expanded plural form of 'el; others trace it to 'alah, "toterrify," and the...
Visions (43 Occurrences)
... RSV). Job 7:14 then you scare me with dreams, andterrify me through visions:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah...
Vindicate (18 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Psalms 10:18 to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who
is of the earth mayterrify no more. (See NAS). Psalms 26:1 By David....
Letters (51 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire toterrify you by
my letters. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Resources
What is the significance of lions in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian view gun control? | GotQuestions.orgTerrify: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
