מְגוֹרַה
affright
Definition
The Hebrew noun מְגוֹרַה (mᵉgôwrah) denotes a state of intense fear or terror, specifically a sudden, overwhelming dread or affright. It describes the emotional response to a perceived threat or calamity, often carrying a sense of alarm or panic. In its sole biblical occurrence in Proverbs 10:24, it is contrasted with the desire of the righteous, implying the dread that the wicked will ultimately face.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the wisdom literature of Proverbs. In Proverbs 10:24, it appears in a parallelism: 'The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.' Here, מְגוֹרַה is the object that 'comes upon' the wicked, personifying the terrifying consequence of their way of life. Its usage is therefore highly specific, encapsulating the inevitable, dreadful retribution in wisdom theology.
Etymology
מְגוֹרַה is the feminine form of the masculine noun מָגוֹר (mâgôwr, H4032), which also means 'fear' or 'terror.' Both derive from the root גּוּר (gûr), meaning 'to sojourn' or 'to dwell,' but in certain stems, it develops the sense 'to be afraid' or 'to dread,' likely from the vulnerability of a temporary resident or stranger. Thus, מְגוֹרַה carries the connotation of a fear associated with being in a precarious or threatened state.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theme of the contrasting destinies of the righteous and the wicked. It underscores that the wicked's path leads not merely to misfortune but to an active, terrifying confrontation with the consequences of their actions, which can be understood as an aspect of divine justice. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Proverbs by highlighting the visceral, inescapable nature of the dread awaiting those who reject wisdom, contrasting it with the positive 'desire' of the righteous.
In the ancient Near Eastern wisdom tradition, proverbs often contrasted two ways of life to guide behavior. The concept of a looming 'dread' for the wicked would resonate in a culture where community stability and covenant faithfulness were paramount. This terror was not merely a psychological state but was seen as the tangible, inevitable outcome of foolish and unjust living, breaking the harmony of a wise and righteous life.
פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a more general term for fear or dread, often of a sudden nature. יִרְאָה (yir'âh, H3374) — often 'fear' in the sense of reverence or awe, especially toward God, but can also mean terror. אֵימָה ('êmâh, H367) — terror, dread, often associated with the awesome 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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