Original Word: מְגוֹרַה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: mgowrah
Pronunciation: meh-go-RAH
Phonetic Spelling: (meg-o-raw')
KJV: fear
NASB: fears, what fears, what they dread
Word Origin: [feminine of H4032 (מָגוֹר מָגוּר - terror)]

1. affright

fear

Feminine of magowr; affright -- fear.

see HEBREW magowr

Word Origin
fem. of magor
Definition
fear, terror
NASB Translation
fears (1), what fears (1), what they dread (1).

[מְגוֺרָה] noun feminine fear, terror — construct מְגוֺרַת Proverbs 10:24; plural suffix מְגוּרוֺתַי Psalm 34:5, מְגוּרֹתָם Isaiah 66:4 (on these forms with וּ compare Ges^{§ 27}. 3. R.1, & 85. 48); — terror (= thing dreaded) Psalm 34:5; Proverbs 10:24; Isaiah 66:4.

Term and Semantic Range

מְגוֹרַה (megōrah) conveys the notion of dread that grips the heart because one’s conscience anticipates just retribution. While Scripture has several words for fear, this term concentrates on the inward terror reserved for the unrepentant.

Occurrence in the Canon

Its single appearance is in Proverbs 10:24: “What the wicked dreads will overtake him; the desire of the righteous will be granted.” The rarity of the term heightens its rhetorical force, underscoring a timeless moral principle—evil is self-destructive, whereas righteousness is ultimately rewarded.

Wisdom Literature Context

Proverbs contrasts two life-paths: righteousness rooted in reverence for the LORD and wickedness rooted in self-trust. By choosing a unique word for the wicked person’s fear, the writer accentuates how sin cultivates a foreboding expectation that calamity is inevitable. This dread is not irrational but profoundly logical within divine moral order; the wicked intuitively sense that sowing corruption will reap corruption (compare Galatians 6:7).

Theological Themes of Fear and Dread

1. Retributive Justice: megōrah embodies the certainty of divine recompense. The fear of the LORD drives worshipers toward wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), but the fear of judgment haunts the wicked (Hebrews 10:27 refers to a “terrifying expectation of judgment”).
2. Desire versus Dread: Proverbs 10:24 juxtaposes dread with desire. Human longings find fulfillment or frustration depending on moral alignment with God’s will.
3. God’s Sovereignty: The inevitability encoded in megōrah testifies to a universe governed by righteous decree, not random fate.

Contrasting Righteous Desire and Wicked Dread

The righteous are free to nurture hope, trusting God’s covenant faithfulness (Psalm 37:4). The wicked foster dread because their deeds contradict that same covenant. This antithesis echoes throughout Scripture: the Passover night where Egyptians experienced terror while Israel enjoyed protection (Exodus 12), and the eschatological picture where cowards outside the New Jerusalem contrast with the secure saints within (Revelation 21:8, 27).

Pastoral and Discipleship Implications

• Evangelism: Megōrah warns unbelievers that their internal dread signals the Holy Spirit’s conviction (John 16:8).
• Counseling: Believers wrestling with anxiety can be assured that legitimate fear rooted in sin can be resolved through confession and alignment with God’s purposes (1 John 1:9).
• Preaching: Proverbs 10:24 offers a concise text to contrast worldly fear with godly hope, emphasizing repentance and faith.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient Near Eastern thought associated dread with looming divine or royal punishment. Israel’s wisdom literature adopts this motif but locates ultimate accountability in the LORD alone. The setting of Proverbs—likely the united monarchy’s court culture—calls leaders to cultivate righteousness, for even royal power cannot escape megōrah if misused.

New Testament Resonance

While the specific Hebrew term does not reappear, its concept surfaces:
• Luke 12:4–5 warns of God who “has authority to cast into hell,” addressing dread of ultimate judgment.
• 1 John 4:18 teaches that perfect love casts out fear, clarifying that redeemed people transition from megōrah-like dread to filial confidence.

Key Points for Teaching and Preaching

• Dread is not merely psychological; it is theological, rooted in moral reality.
• God’s moral order ensures that wicked actions generate self-destructive fear.
• The gospel transforms dread into hope by satisfying divine justice through Christ’s atonement (Romans 3:25–26).
• Proverbs 10:24 invites every hearer to examine whether their dominant inner posture is dread or desire—and to run to the LORD accordingly.

מְגוֹרַ֣ת מגורת mə·ḡō·w·raṯ megoRat məḡōwraṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts