Bible Word Study
רַעַד
raʻad · a shudder
רַעַד
a shudder
Definition
The Hebrew noun רַעַד (raʻad) refers to a physical shaking or shudder, often caused by intense fear, awe, or terror. It describes a visceral, involuntary trembling in response to a powerful external threat or the overwhelming presence of God. In some contexts, like Psalm 2:11, it denotes the reverent fear and trembling one should have before the Lord. In others, such as Exodus 15:15 and Psalm 48:6, it depicts the paralyzing dread experienced by nations facing God's judgment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used five times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books (Psalms, Isaiah). It consistently appears in contexts of divine confrontation, describing the reaction of people—whether enemies of God or the righteous—to His mighty acts. For example, in Exodus 15:15, the leaders of Edom and Moab tremble at the news of Israel's deliverance. In Psalm 55:5, the psalmist personally experiences 'trembling' from overwhelming distress.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb רָעַד (rāʻad, H7460), meaning 'to tremble,' 'quake,' or 'shake.' The noun form retains this core sense of physical agitation. Related words include the feminine form רְעָדָה (rᵉʻâdâh), also meaning 'trembling.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the dual human response to God's holiness and power: the terror of His enemies and the reverent awe of His people. It underscores that encountering the living God is not a casual experience but one that provokes a profound physical and emotional reaction, highlighting His majesty and the seriousness of standing before Him, as seen in Isaiah 33:14. In the ancient Near East, trembling or shuddering was a recognized physical manifestation of encountering a divine or royal power. This reaction signified the recognition of a superior, overwhelming force that could decide one's fate, making it a powerful metaphor for divine judgment and sovereignty. פַּחַד (pachad, H6343) — a more general term for fear or dread. חִיל (chîyl, H2428) — often 'writhing' or 'anguish,' sometimes with a sense of trembling from pain or fear. בֶּהָלָה (behālâh, H928) — sudden terror or alarm that causes haste or panic.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]