Original Word: פַחַד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: pachad
Pronunciation: pah-khad'
Phonetic Spelling: (pakh'-ad)
KJV: dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great (fear, -ly feared), terror
NASB: dread, terror, fear, awe, disaster, great, great fear
Word Origin: [from H6342 (פָּחַד - dread)]

1. a (sudden) alarm
2. (properly) the object feared
3. (by implication) the feeling of alarm

dreadful, fear, thing great fear terror

From pachad; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling) -- dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great (fear, -ly feared), terror.

see HEBREW pachad

Word Origin
from pachad
Definition
dread
NASB Translation
awe (1), disaster (1), dread (20), fear (9), great (1), great fear (1), great fear where fear (1), object of dread (1), panic (1), terror (10), terrors (1), unconcerned* (1), what (1).

I. מַּ֫חַד₄₉ noun masculine^{1Samuel 11:7} dread; — ׳פ absolute Genesis 31:42 +, construct 1 Samuel 11:7 +, suffix מַּחְדְּךָ Deuteronomy 2:25; Psalm 119:120, מַּחְדּוֺ Job 13:11; 1 Chronicles 14:17, etc.; plural מְּחָדִים Job 15:21: —

1 dread, ׳י׳פ, i.e. before ׳י, often (not always) terrifying, unfitting for action, Isaiah 2:10,19,21; 1 Samuel 11:7; 2Chron 14:13; 2 Chronicles 17:10, so אֱהִֹים ׳פ2Chronicles 20:29, with suffix Job 13:11; Psalm 119:120 trembleth for dread of thee; with Genitive object Israel, Deuteronomy 2:25 ("" יִרְאָה), Deuteronomy 11:25 ("" מוֺרָא), Psalm 105:38; Esther 8:17; Esther 9:2, אוֺיֵב ׳פ Psalm 64:2, of individual 1 Chronicles 14:17; Esther 9:3; with Genitive object of thing Proverbs 1:33; absolute, in General, Exodus 15:16 (song; "" אֵימָ֫תָה), Job 4:14 ("" רְעָדָה), Jeremiah 30:5 ("" קוֺל חֲרָדָה) +; as accusative of congnate meaning with verb with מָּחַד Psalm 14:5 + (see מָּחַד); c. Genitive subject Proverbs 1:26,27 (both "" אֵיד) Deuteronomy 28:67.

2 = object of dread Psalm 31:12; Psalm 36:2, אֵלַי ׳פ Job 31:23; מַּחַד מָּחַדְתִּי Job 3:25; מִקּוֺל הַמַּחַד Isaiah 24:18 sound of the disaster, for ׳מִמְּנֵי הַמּ of original Jeremiah 48:44, but קוֺל מְּחָדִים Job 15:21 = a sound of terrors; ׳פ מִּתְאֹם Job 22:10; Proverbs 3:25.

3 as designation of deity יִצְחָק ׳פ Genesis 31:42 ("" אֱהֵֹי אַבְרָהָם), so Genesis 31:53 ("" id.; both E).

Meaning and Range of Use

The noun פַחַד denotes sudden dread, an overwhelming sense of alarm provoked either by imminent danger or by the manifest presence of God. While sometimes describing a purely human emotion, it is more often portrayed as an instrument the LORD wields—either to protect His covenant people or to judge them and the nations.

Frequency and Distribution

Approximately forty-nine occurrences appear in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zephaniah. Narrative, legal, poetic, wisdom and prophetic genres all employ the term, underscoring its theological breadth.

Terror Instilled by God upon Israel’s Enemies

From the outset of the Exodus, terror is a divine weapon against hostile nations.
• Exodus 15:16: “Terror and dread fall upon them; by the greatness of Your arm they are as still as stone.”
• Deuteronomy 2:25; 11:25 record the same strategy in anticipation of the conquest.
• Joshua 2:9 echoes the result in Jericho, while Psalm 105:38 notes that “Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of Israel had fallen on them.”

The emphasis is not Israel’s military prowess but the LORD’s reputation going before His people.

Dread as a Covenant Curse

The Torah warns that unfaithfulness will reverse the blessing, making terror the experience of Israel herself (Leviticus 26:36). Prophets later confirm the threat: Jeremiah 30:5 laments, “We have heard a cry of panic—of terror, not of peace,” evidencing covenant curses in real time.

Individual Experiences of Sudden Terror

Job personifies personal dread: “For the thing I feared has overtaken me” (Job 3:25). Psalmists confess vulnerability—“Fear and trembling grip me” (Psalm 55:5)—yet also trust: “You will not fear the terror of night” (Psalm 91:5). Proverbs offers pastoral counsel: “Do not fear sudden terror or the ruin that overtakes the wicked” (Proverbs 3:25).

“The Fear of Isaac”: A Unique Title for God

Genesis 31:42, 53 twice label the LORD “the Fear of Isaac,” underscoring patriarchal reverence. Jacob swears by this title, revealing that legitimate oaths derive authority from the One who inspires holy dread.

Wisdom Literature and the Pedagogy of Fear

Proverbs contrasts righteous confidence with wicked apprehension: “What the wicked fears will come upon him” (Proverbs 10:24), whereas “Blessed is the one who is always fearful” (Proverbs 28:14)—that is, constantly alert to sin’s peril. Here dread functions as moral tutor, steering hearts toward obedience.

Prophetic Day-of-the-LORD Oracles

Isaiah repeatedly combines terror with eschatological upheaval: “Men will flee to caves… from the terror of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:19). Similar triads—“terror, pit and snare” (Isaiah 24:17-18)—stress inescapable judgment. Zephaniah 1:15 gathers the imagery into the ultimate day of wrath. The prophets therefore frame פַחַד both as historical reality and future certainty.

Liturgical and Devotional Use

The Psalms employ the term to foster godly awe: “My flesh trembles in awe of You” (Psalm 119:120). While night terrors threaten, covenant security prevails (Psalm 91). Corporate worship thus transforms crippling dread into reverent confidence.

Theological and Ministry Implications

1. Divine Sovereignty: God alone dispenses terror; no opposing force operates autonomously.
2. Covenant Ethics: Obedience dispels dread; rebellion invites it.
3. Evangelistic Warning: Eschatological terror underscores humanity’s need for the Gospel (compare 2 Corinthians 5:11).
4. Pastoral Care: Scripture legitimizes feelings of alarm yet directs believers to the LORD as refuge, equipping ministers to acknowledge fear without conceding to it.

Christological Resonance

At the cross, the righteous Judge endures humanity’s rightful dread (Matthew 27:45-54). In resurrection, Christ proclaims, “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10), transforming terror into worship (Revelation 1:17-18). The final judgment will still evoke “terror of the LORD,” but those in Christ are perfected in love that “drives out fear” (1 John 4:18), fulfilling the trajectory of פַחַד from condemning dread to redeemed awe.

Key References for Study

Genesis 31:42; Exodus 15:16; Deuteronomy 2:25; 1 Samuel 11:7; 2 Chronicles 20:29; Job 3:25; Psalm 91:5; Proverbs 3:25; Isaiah 2:19; Jeremiah 30:5.

בְּפַ֖חַד בפחד הַפַּ֙חַד֙ הפחד וָפַ֔חַד וָפַ֣חַד וּ֝פַחְדּ֗וֹ וּפַ֤חַד וּפַ֪חַד ופחד ופחדו לְ֭פַחַד לפחד מִפַּ֖חַד מִפַּ֣חַד מִפַּ֤חַד מִפַּ֥חַד מִפַּחְדְּךָ֣ מִפָּ֑חַד מפחד מפחדך פְּחָדִ֥ים פַ֣חַד פַּ֖חַד פַּ֗חַד פַּ֣חַד פַּ֤חַד פַּ֥חַד פַּ֧חַד פַּֽחַד־ פַּחְדְּךָ֙ פַּחְדְּכֶ֗ם פַּחְדְּכֶ֨ם פַּחְדָּ֖ם פַּחְדָּ֣ם פַּחְדּ֖וֹ פַֽחַד־ פַחְדְּכֶֽם׃ פַחַד֮ פָ֑חַד פָ֥חַד פָֽחַד׃ פחד פחד־ פחד׃ פחדו פחדים פחדך פחדכם פחדכם׃ פחדם bə·p̄a·ḥaḏ beFachad bəp̄aḥaḏ fachad fachdeChem hap·pa·ḥaḏ hapPachad happaḥaḏ lə·p̄a·ḥaḏ Lefachad ləp̄aḥaḏ mip·pa·ḥaḏ mip·pā·ḥaḏ mip·paḥ·də·ḵā mipPachad mippachdeCha mippaḥaḏ mippāḥaḏ mippaḥdəḵā pa·ḥaḏ p̄a·ḥaḏ p̄ā·ḥaḏ pa·ḥaḏ- p̄a·ḥaḏ- pachad pachDam pachdeCha pachdeChem pachDo paḥ·dām paḥ·də·ḵā paḥ·də·ḵem p̄aḥ·də·ḵem paḥ·dōw paḥaḏ p̄aḥaḏ p̄āḥaḏ paḥaḏ- p̄aḥaḏ- paḥdām paḥdəḵā paḥdəḵem p̄aḥdəḵem paḥdōw pə·ḥā·ḏîm pechaDim pəḥāḏîm ū·p̄a·ḥaḏ ū·p̄aḥ·dōw uFachad ufachDo ūp̄aḥaḏ ūp̄aḥdōw vaFachad wā·p̄a·ḥaḏ wāp̄aḥaḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts