בְּהַל
to terrify, hasten
Definition
The Aramaic verb בְּהַל (bᵉhal) primarily means 'to terrify' or 'to be alarmed,' often describing a sudden, intense emotional disturbance. In several passages, it denotes the physical and psychological effects of fear, such as when King Belshazzar's 'thoughts alarmed him' (Daniel 5:6) or when Daniel himself was 'alarmed' by a vision (Daniel 4:19). A secondary, related meaning is 'to hasten' or 'to act in haste,' which emerges from the urgency caused by alarm, as seen when Arioch 'brought Daniel in haste' to the king (Daniel 2:25). Thus, the word bridges internal terror and its external, hurried response.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, occurring 10 times. It consistently describes reactions to divine revelations, royal decrees, or supernatural events. The context is usually a court setting where a king or official experiences alarm. For example, it describes King Nebuchadnezzar being 'alarmed' by a dream (Daniel 4:5) and the officials 'hurrying' to bring Daniel before the king (Daniel 6:19). The pattern shows it is a term for the disruptive impact of God's sovereign actions on human authority.
Etymology
בְּהַל is an Aramaic verb corresponding to the Hebrew verb בָּהַל (bāhal, H926), which also means 'to be alarmed' or 'to hasten.' This cognate relationship shows the shared semantic field across these Northwest Semitic languages. The root conveys a sense of sudden, agitated disturbance, whether emotional (terror) or physical (haste). Its meaning development likely connects the internal experience of panic with the hurried actions it provokes.
Semantic Range
בְּהַל is theologically significant as it highlights human vulnerability before divine revelation. In Daniel, it repeatedly describes the reaction of powerful kings (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar) to God's messages, underscoring that even the mightiest rulers are subject to alarm and haste when confronted with God's sovereignty. Understanding this enriches reading by emphasizing the disruptive, awe-inspiring nature of God's intervention in human affairs, contrasting human frailty with divine majesty.
In the ancient Near Eastern court culture depicted in Daniel, maintaining royal composure was essential. For a king to be publicly 'alarmed' (בְּהַל) was a serious breach of decorum, signaling a profound crisis. This cultural expectation amplifies the word's impact—when Belshazzar is alarmed (Daniel 5:6), it signifies not just personal fear but a state crisis threatening the kingdom's stability, directly tied to the divine judgment announced in the writing on the wall.
דְּחַל (dᵉḥal, H1763) — Aramaic for 'to fear,' often with a sense of reverential awe, whereas בְּהַל emphasizes alarmed disturbance. יְרֵא (yᵉrē, H3373) — Aramaic for 'to fear' or 'be afraid,' a more general term for fear, not necessarily implying the hurried response of בְּהַל.
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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