בְּעָתָה
fear
Definition
The Hebrew noun בְּעָתָה refers to a state of sudden, overwhelming fear or terror that causes dismay and paralyzing dread. It describes more than simple anxiety; it is a profound emotional disturbance that shatters one's sense of peace and security. In its two biblical occurrences, it is used to depict the psychological and spiritual devastation experienced by God's people when divine judgment removes their hope of safety and prosperity, leaving them in a state of horrified expectation (Jeremiah 8:15, 14:19).
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Jeremiah, appearing twice in the context of prophetic lament over coming judgment. In Jeremiah 8:15, the people express their shattered hope, saying, 'We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror (בְּעָתָה).' In Jeremiah 14:19, the prophet pleads with God, asking if He has utterly rejected Judah, if His soul loathes Zion, asking 'Why have you struck us so that there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror (בְּעָתָה).' In both cases, the word captures the specific terror that arises when expected deliverance or healing is replaced by the certainty of calamity.
Etymology
בְּעָתָה is a noun derived from the root verb בָּעַת (bāʻat, H1204), which means 'to fall upon,' 'to terrify,' or 'to be alarmed.' The root conveys the sense of a sudden, startling event that induces fear. The noun form emphasizes the resulting state or feeling of being terrified and dismayed. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic, carry similar meanings of fright and alarm.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it describes the specific terror that accompanies a breach in the covenant relationship with God. It is not a generic fear but the dread that comes when God's protective presence is withdrawn in judgment, and His promised blessings are replaced by the reality of His wrath. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Jeremiah by highlighting the profound emotional and spiritual catastrophe of exile—it was not just a political defeat but an event that induced soul-shaking terror by removing the foundation of their national and religious identity.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, security was deeply tied to the perceived favor of the national deity. A sudden, overwhelming terror (בְּעָתָה) signaled not just a military threat but a cosmic and theological crisis—the failure of the divine protector. This differs from a modern, more psychological understanding of fear, as it was seen as a direct consequence of divine action or abandonment, deeply intertwined with communal identity and survival.
פַּחַד (pachaḏ, H6343) — a more general term for fear or dread, often of a tangible threat. יִרְאָה (yirʼâh, H3374) — often 'fear' in the sense of reverence or awe toward God, but can also mean terror. אֵימָה (ʼêmâh, H367) — terror, dread, often associated with the awesome and frightening presence of God.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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