Original Word: בָּהל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: bahal
Pronunciation: bah-hal
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-hal')
Definition: To be dismayed, terrified, disturbed, or alarmed
Meaning: to tremble inwardly, be, alarmed, agitated, to hasten anxiously

be make affrighted afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash, thrust out,

A primitive root; to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously -- be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to disturb, terrify
NASB Translation
dismayed (12), disturb (1), disturbed (2), eager (1), hastened (1), hastens (1), hastily (1), hasty (1), hurried (1), hurriedly (1), hurry (2), quickly (1), terrified (7), terrifies (1), terrify (3), terrifying (1), tremble (1).

[בָּהַל] verb (Late Hebrew id. Passive participle בהול disquieted; Pi`el disquiet; ᵑ7 Pa`el בַּהֵיל hasten, be precipitate, also dismay: but is be quiet) —

Niph`al Perfect נִבְהַל 1 Samuel 28:21; נִבְהֲלָה Psalm 6:4; נִבְהַלְתִּי Isaiah 21:3; וְנִבְהָ֑לְתִּי consecutive Job 21:6; נִבְהֲלוּ Genesis 45:3 +, etc.; Imperfect וַיִּבָּהֵל Judges 20:41; 2masculine singular תִּבָּהֵל Ecclesiastes 8:3; יִבָּהֵלוּ֑ן Psalm 104:29, etc.; Participle נִבְהָל Psalm 30:8; נִָֽבֳהָל Proverbs 28:22; feminine נִבְהָלָה Zephaniah 1:18; —

1 be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, Genesis 45:3 (E) Judges 20:41; 1 Samuel 28:21; 2 Samuel 4:1 ("" וַיִּרְמּוּ יָדָיו, compare Ezekiel 7:27 above); of bones of sufferer Psalm 6:3 ("" compare below Psalm 6:4); of hands of dismayed people Ezekiel 7:27; especially at chastisements & judgments of ׳י Exodus 15:15 (song, in E) Psalm 6:4 (subject נֶפֶשׁ, "" compare above Psalm 6:3) Psalm 6:11 ("" בושׁ) Psalm 30:8; compare Psalm 104:29; Psalm 83:18 ("" בושׁ) Psalm 90:7; Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 21:3 (followed by מִן of occasion of fear) Job 23:15 (id.) Jeremiah 51:32; Ezekiel 26:18 (strike out ᵐ5 Co); Job 4:5 ("" לאה), compare also Job 21:6 as adjective terrible Zephaniah 1:18 כָּלָה אַךְנִֿבְהָלָה.

2 be in haste, hasty (late, compare Aramaic above): Ecclesiastes 8:3 מִמָּנָיו תֵּלֵךְ ׳אַלתִּֿבּ be not hasty (to) go from him; Proverbs 28:22 נִבֳהָל לַהוֺן hastening after riches.

Pi`el Imperfect וַיְבַהֵל Esther 2:9; suffix יְבַהֲלֻהוּ Daniel 11:44; וִיבַהֶלְךָ Job 22:10; יְבַהֲלֵמוֺ Psalm 2:5; 2masculine singular תְּבַהֲלֵם Psalm 83:16; אַלתְּֿבַהֵל Exodus 5:1; Exodus 7:9; Infinitive suffix לְבַהֲלֵנִי2Chronicles 35:21; םָ֯2Chronicles 32:18; Particle מבלהים Kt, מְבַהֲלִים Qr Ezra 4:4 (BeRy prefix Kt, see בלהּ); —

1 dismay, terrify, followed by suffix 2 Chronicles 32:18 ("" ירא), Daniel 11:44; Job 22:10 (subject מַּחַד), Psalm 2:5 (subject ׳י) Psalm 83:16 ("" רדף; subject ׳י); compare also Ezra 4:4 (see below בלהּ).

2 hasten, make haste, act hastily (late), 2 Chronicles 35:21 וֵאלֹהִים אָמַר לְבַהֲלֵנִי God hath given command to speed me (RVm); followed by infinitive make haste Esther 2:9; of hasty speech Ecclesiastes 5:1 ׳אַלתְּֿב עַלמִּֿיךָ ("" וְלִבְּךָ אַליְֿמַהֵר לְהוֺצִיא דָבָר); of anger Ecclesiastes 7:9 בְּרוּחֲךָ לִכְעוֺס ׳אַלתְּֿב.

Pu`al Participle plural מְבֹהָלִים Esther 8:14, compare מְבֹהֶלֶת Qr Proverbs 20:21 (so read with Vrss Now Str; AV RV); Kt מבחלת see בחל; — hastened Esther 8:14 of royal posts ("" דְּחוּפִים); hastily gained ׳נַחֲלָה מְב Proverbs 20:21.

Hiph`il Perfect suffix הִבְהִילָ֑נִי Job 23:16; Imperfect suffix וַיַּבְהִלוּהוּ2Chronicles 26:20; 3 masculine plural וַיַּבְהִלוּ Esther 6:14; —

1 dismay, terrify, followed by suffix Job 23:16 (subject שַׁדַּי; "" הֵרַךְ לִבִּי).

2 (late) hasten, hurry (transitive), 2 Chronicles 26:20 וַיַּבְהִלוּהוּ מִשָּׁם and they hurried him thence ("" נִדְחַף); make haste, followed by infinitive Esther 6:14 לְהָבִיא ׳וַיַּב and they make haste to bring Haman.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1831 (ἐξέρχομαι, exerchomai): To go out, come out
• G3886 (παραλύω, paraluō): To loosen, weaken, paralyze
• G3935 (παραπλησιάζω, paraplēsiazo): To approach, draw near
• G4692 (σπείρω, speirō): To sow, scatter seed
• G4704 (σπουδάζω, spoudazō): To hasten, be diligent
• G4710 (σπουδή, spoudē): Diligence, eagerness
• G5015 (ταράσσω, tarassō): To disturb, trouble

These Greek terms reflect various aspects of the emotional and physical responses associated with the Hebrew בָּהַל (bahal), such as urgency, disturbance, and agitation.

Usage: The verb בָּהַל (bahal) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of inner trembling or agitation, often in response to fear or anxiety. It can also imply a sense of urgency or hasty action driven by such emotions.

Context: The Hebrew root בָּהַל (bahal) appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, often conveying a sense of emotional disturbance or hurried action. This term is used to describe both physical trembling and a more metaphorical inner turmoil. It can be found in narratives where individuals or groups experience sudden fear or anxiety, prompting them to act quickly or with agitation.

For example, in 1 Samuel 28:21, the woman at Endor sees Saul's distress and is described as being "alarmed" (bahal). Similarly, in Daniel 11:44, reports from the east and north alarm a king, causing him to act with great fury. The term is also used in contexts of divine intervention, where God's actions cause nations or individuals to tremble or be dismayed.

The verb can also imply a sense of urgency, as seen in Ecclesiastes 5:2, where the Preacher advises against being hasty (bahal) in speech before God. This usage underscores the importance of measured and thoughtful action, contrasting with the impulsive behavior often associated with fear or anxiety.

אֶבָּהֵ֑ל אבהל הִבְהִילָֽנִי׃ הבהילני׃ וְֽנִבְהָ֓לוּ ׀ וְיִבָּהֲל֣וּ וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ וְנִבְהֲל֛וּ וְנִבְהָ֑לְתִּי וִֽ֝יבַהֶלְךָ וַ֠יְבַהֵל וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל וַיַּבְהִ֙לוּ֙ וַיַּבְהִל֖וּהוּ וַתִּבָּהֵֽל׃ וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑ם ויבהל ויבהלו ויבהלוהו ויבהלך ולבהלם ונבהלו ונבהלתי ותבהל׃ יְבַהֲלֵֽמוֹ׃ יְבַהֲלֻ֔הוּ יִֽבָּהֵ֫ל֥וּן יבהלהו יבהלון יבהלמו׃ לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִי לבהלני מְבֹהָלִ֥ים מבהלים נִֽבֳהָ֥ל נִבְהֲל֖וּ נִבְהֲל֣וּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נִבְהֲלָ֣ה נִבְהֲלוּ֙ נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי נִבְהַ֣ל נִבְהָֽלְנוּ׃ נִבְהָֽל׃ נִבְהָֽלוּ׃ נִבְהָלָה֙ נבהל נבהל׃ נבהלה נבהלו נבהלו׃ נבהלנו׃ נבהלתי תְּבַהֵ֥ל תְּבַהֵ֨ל תְבַהֲלֵֽם׃ תִּבָּהֵ֤ל תִּבָּהַ֑לְנָה תבהל תבהלם׃ תבהלנה ’eb·bā·hêl ’ebbāhêl ebbaHel hiḇ·hî·lā·nî hiḇhîlānî hivhiLani lə·ḇa·hă·lê·nî ləḇahălênî levahaLeni mə·ḇō·hā·lîm məḇōhālîm mevohaLim ni·ḇo·hāl niḇ·hă·lāh niḇ·hā·lāh niḇ·hā·lə·nū niḇ·hă·lū niḇ·hā·lū niḇ·hal niḇ·hāl niḇ·hal·tî niḇhal niḇhāl niḇhălāh niḇhālāh niḇhālənū niḇhaltî niḇhălū niḇhālū niḇohāl nivHal nivhaLah nivHalnu nivHalti nivhaLu nivoHal ṯə·ḇa·hă·lêm tə·ḇa·hêl ṯəḇahălêm təḇahêl tevahaLem tevaHel tib·bā·hal·nāh tib·bā·hêl tibbaHalnah tibbāhalnāh tibbaHel tibbāhêl ū·lə·ḇa·hă·lām ūləḇahălām ulevahaLam vaiyavHilu vaiyavhiLuhu vaiyibbaHel vattibbaHel Vayvahel venivHalti venivHalu veyibbahaLu Vivahelcha wat·tib·bā·hêl wattibbāhêl way·ḇa·hêl way·yaḇ·hi·lū way·yaḇ·hi·lū·hū way·yib·bā·hêl wayḇahêl wayyaḇhilū wayyaḇhilūhū wayyibbāhêl wə·niḇ·hā·lə·tî wə·niḇ·hă·lū wə·niḇ·hā·lū wə·yib·bā·hă·lū wəniḇhālətî wəniḇhălū wəniḇhālū wəyibbāhălū wî·ḇa·hel·ḵā wîḇahelḵā yə·ḇa·hă·lê·mōw yə·ḇa·hă·lu·hū yəḇahălêmōw yəḇahăluhū yevahaLemov yevahaLuhu yib·bā·hê·lūn yibbaHeLun yibbāhêlūnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts