קְפָדָה
shrinking, i.e., terror
Definition
קְפָדָה (qᵉphâdâh) refers to a state of intense fear or terror that causes a person to shrink back or recoil. It describes the paralyzing dread that accompanies impending judgment or disaster. In its sole biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 7:25, the word conveys the horror and despair that seizes people when they face divine wrath and the collapse of their society. The term emphasizes the psychological and physical reaction to overwhelming calamity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 7:25. It appears in a context of prophetic judgment, describing the emotional state ('destruction' in KJV, often rendered 'terror' or 'anguish' in modern translations) that will overwhelm the people as God's punishment arrives. The usage is specific to a prophetic oracle of doom, highlighting the visceral human response to national catastrophe.
Etymology
The noun קְפָדָה (qᵉphâdâh) is derived from the root verb קָפַד (qāphad, H7088), which means 'to draw together,' 'to contract,' or 'to shrink.' This root conveys the idea of physical or emotional constriction. The noun form thus carries the sense of a 'shrinking' in fear. Cognates in other Semitic languages support meanings related to binding, gathering, or fear.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the human experience of encountering God's judgment. It moves beyond abstract concepts of punishment to describe the tangible, paralyzing terror it produces. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Ezekiel 7 by emphasizing that God's wrath is not merely an external event but one that provokes a profound internal crisis—a shrinking away in dread—which serves as a sobering warning about the consequences of rebellion against God.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, prophecies of national destruction were common. The terror described by קְפָדָה would have been understood as the ultimate societal fear: the complete breakdown of order and security, leading to panic and despair. This resonates with the catastrophic events like invasion and exile that Ezekiel prophesied.
פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a more general term for fear or dread. אֵימָה (ʾêmâh, H367) — terror or horror, often used for the dread inspired by God or great events. חֲרָדָה (ḥărâdâh, H2731) — trembling or quaking from fear.
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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