eRhema Explore
Word

יָרֵא

yârêʼ · H3372 · Hebrew · 318 occurrences

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Meanings

  1. to be afraid, to fear, to be in awe of, to revere

    State in which humans experience fear

    Examples

    Genesis 3:10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

    2 Samuel 14:15 “Now then, the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your servant said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the request of his slave.

    2 Chronicles 32:18 They called this out with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, so that they might take the city.

  2. fearful, awesome

    State in which humans, deities, places and activities have qualities that inspire fear in others

    Examples

    Genesis 28:17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

    Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You among the gods, LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?

    Exodus 34:10 Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.

How it’s used In 14 roles

Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.

the word studied the word it goes with

Who or what does itSubject

284 occurrences in 38 groups

What it acts on, or what is saidObject

95 occurrences in 24 groups

With prepositionsPrepositional phrases

81 occurrences in 50 groups

With adverbsAdverbs

141 occurrences in 10 groups

Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive

4 occurrences in 4 groups

Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles

1 occurrences in 2 groups

Named alongside itApposition

1 occurrences in 1 groups

What it doesIt is the subject

1 occurrences in 1 groups

What is done to itIt is the object

7 occurrences in 4 groups

Second object ofSecond object

2 occurrences in 1 groups

What it is said to bePredicate

1 occurrences in 1 groups

What is said to be itIt is the predicate

5 occurrences in 5 groups

After prepositionsPrepositional phrases

13 occurrences in 3 groups

In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive

1 occurrences in 1 groups

When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.

MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

In the other Testament 2 words
φοβέω phobéō · G5399 · to fear, to be afraid, to show great reverence for
Greek φοβέω renders the full semantic range of Hebrew יָרֵא, encompassing both 'fear/be afraid' (terror-fear) and 'reverence/be in awe of' (reverential fear), making it the standard LXX translation equivalent across both senses.
φοβερός phoberós · G5398 · fearful, causing fear
Greek φοβερός (phoberos) specifically denotes the quality of being frightful or formidable (the objective capacity to induce fear), whereas Hebrew יָרֵא (yare') encompasses the full semantic range of fearing, being afraid, showing reverence, and experiencing dread — φοβερός represents the adjectival subset describing what is fear-inducing rather than the verbal act or state of fearing itself.
Semantic domains 1 entry
Afraid002001002001
The verb is the common word for fear or dread, as when the man was afraid because he was naked in Genesis 3:10, or Sarah was afraid after denying her laughter in Genesis 18:15.
Word family 4 words

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

יָרֵאyârêʼ · H3372יָרֵא yârêʼ · H3373 · to be afraid, to fear, to be in awe of · 63×יִרְאָה yirʼâh · H3374 · fear · 44×מוֹרָא môwrâʼ · H4172 · fear, awe, terror · 12×
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H3372. yare ' יָרֵא verb fear (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian îrû, id.; Hpt KAT2, Gloss i.,…
H3372. yare
' יָרֵא verb fear (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian îrû, id.; Hpt KAT2, Gloss i., COTGloss) —
Qal328 Perfect ׳יר Gen 19:30 Gen 19:14t.; 3 feminine יָרְאָה Jer 3:8; Psa 76:9; יָרֵ֑אָה Gen 18:15; plural 2masculine יְרֵאתֶם Num 12:8 Num 12:2t.; + 23 t. Perfect; Imperfect יִירָא Amo 3:8 Amo 3:3t.; וַיִּירָא Gen 28:17 Gen 28:5t.; וַיִּרָא Jer 26:21 Jer 26:5t.; plural יִירְאוּ (יִָֽרְאוּ) Jer 23:4 +; יִרָאוּן Deu 13:12, +, etc.; 136t. Imperfect; Imperative יְרָא Pro 3:7 Pro 3:3t.; יְראוּ Jos 24:14 Jos 24:2t.; Infinitive construct יְרֹא Jos 22:25; לֵרֹא 1Sa 18:29 (Ges§ 69, R. i.); לְיִרְאָה Deu 4:10 Deu 4:13t.; suffix יִרְאָתוֺ 2Sa 3:11; יִרְאָתָם Isa 29:13; יְרָאתֶם Jos 4:24 (read יִרְאָתָם Bö§ 1081 a Ew337b Di etc.); Participle יָרֵא Gen 32:12 Gen 32:15t.; construct יְרֵא Gen 22:12 Gen 22:10t.; plural יְרֵאִים Jer 42:11 Jer 42:6t.; construct יִרְאֵי Exo 18:21 Exo 18:12t.; feminine construct יִרְאַת Pro 31:30; —
1 fear, be afraid (not in P):
a. absolute Gen 3:10; Gen 18:15; Gen 32:8; Gen 43:18; Exo 14:10 (J), Gen 20:8; Gen 28:17; Gen 42:35; Exo 2:14; Jos 10:2 (E), Deu 20:8; Deu 31:8; Jdg 7:3; Jdg 8:20; 1Sa 4:7; 1Sa 17:11, 1Sa 17:24; 1Sa 23:3; 1Sa 28:5; 1Sa 31:4 = 1Ch 10:4; 2Ki 10:4; 2Ch 20:3; Neh 2:2; Neh 6:13; Isa 54:14; Jer 3:8; Jer 23:4; Jer 26:21; Amo 3:8; Jon 1:5, Jon 1:10; Psa 27:3; Psa 46:3; Psa 49:6 (but Bae reads ראה) Psa 56:4; Psa 56:5; Psa 56:12; Psa 64:5; Psa 65:10; Psa 76:9; Psa 112:8; Psa 118:6; Pro 14:16; Job 6:21; Job 11:15; אַלתִּֿירָא(יו׳ּׅ fear not Gen 15:1; Gen 21:17; Gen 35:17; Gen 50:19, Gen 50:21; Exo 20:20; Jos 10:25 (E), Gen 26:24; Gen 43:23; Exo 14:13; Jos 8:1 (J), Deu 1:21; Deu 20:3; Deu 31:6; Jdg 4:18; Jdg 6:23; 1Sa 4:20; 1Sa 12:20; 1Sa 22:23; 1Sa 23:17; 1Sa 28:13; 2Sa 9:7; 2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 17:13; 2Ki 6:16; 1Ch 22:13; 1Ch 28:20; 2Ch 20:17; Isa 7:4; Isa 35:4; Isa 40:9; Isa 41:10, Isa 41:13, Isa 41:14; Isa 43:1, Isa 43:5; Isa 44:2; Isa 54:4; Jer 30:10; Jer 46:27-28, Joe 2:21-22, Zep 3:16; Hag 2:5; Zec 8:13, Zec 8:15; Psa 49:17; Lam 3:57; Dan 10:12, Dan 10:19; Rth 3:11; וי ׳יִשְׁמְעוּ hear and fear Deu 13:12; Deu 17:13; Deu 19:20; Deu 21:21; וי ׳(י)ראו see and fear Psa 40:4; Psa 52:8; Isa 41:5; Zec 9:5.
b. with accusative of thing or person Num 14:9 (twice in verse) (J), Num 21:34 (E), Deu 3:2, Deu 3:22; Jdg 6:27; 1Sa 15:24; 2Sa 3:11; 1Ki 1:51; Isa 8:12; Isa 51:7; Isa 57:11; Eze 3:9; Eze 11:8; Hab 3:2 (accusative פעלךָ in corrected rhythm), Psa 23:4; Dan 1:10; accusative of God (׳י) 1Sa 12:18; 2Sa 6:9 = 1Ch 13:12; Isa 57:11; Jer 5:22; Jon 1:16; Job 9:35; Job 37:24.
c. with מִן be afraid of, Deu 1:29; Deu 2:4; Deu 7:18; Deu 20:1; Deu 28:10; Jos 10:8 (D) 1Sa 28:20; 2Ki 25:24; Isa 10:24; Isa 51:12; Jer 10:5; Jer 42:11, Jer 42:16; Eze 2:6 (3 t. in verse); Mic 7:17; Psa 3:7; Psa 27:1; Psa 65:9; Psa 91:5; Psa 112:7; Psa 119:120; Pro 3:25; Pro 31:21; Job 5:21-22, Ecc 12:5; with מִמְּנֵי Deu 5:5; Deu 7:19; Jos 9:24; Jos 11:6 (D), 1Sa 7:7; 1Sa 18:29; 1 Samuel 21:23; 1Ki 1:50; 2Ki 1:15; 2Ki 19:6 (= Isa 37:6) 2Ki 25:26; 2Ch 20:15; 2Ch 32:7; Neh 4:8; Jer 1:8; Jer 41:18; Jer 42:11 (twice in verse); מִלִּפְנֵי 1Sa 18:12, with בְּ because of, for Jer 51:46.
d. with infinitive and לְ fear to do a thing Gen 19:30; Gen 26:7 (J), Num 12:8 (E), Jdg 7:10; 2Sa 1:14; 2Sa 10:19; 2Sa 12:18; with infin. and מִן, afraid of doing Gen 46:3; Exo 3:6 (E), 1Sa 3:15; Jer 40:9; Job 32:6.
e. with מֶּן fear lest Gen 31:31 (E) Gen 32:12 (J).
2 stand in awe of, with מן and infinitive אֵלָיו מִגֶּשֶׁת וַיִּירְאוּ Exo 34:30 (P) and they stood in awe of drawing nigh unto him; ׳וגו מֵיהוה יִירְאוּ Psa 33:8 let all the earth stand in awe of Yahweh; מֵאֱלהֶיךָ וְיָרֵאתָ and thou shalt stand in awe of thy God Lev 19:14, Lev 19:32; Lev 25:17, Lev 25:36, Lev 25:43 (all H); with מִמְּנֵי, of the king Solomon 1Ki 3:28; אלהים י ׳מִמְּנֵי Exo 9:30 (J?); י ׳מפני Hag 1:12; ׳י (אלהיםׅ מלפני stand in awe before (God) Ecc 3:14; Ecc 8:12-13,.
3 fear, reverence, honour, e.g. parents Lev 19:3 (H), Moses and Joshua Jos 4:14 (twice in verse), the oath 1Sa 14:26; Ecc 9:2, commandment Pro 13:13, the sanctuary Lev 19:30; Lev 26:2 (H), other gods Jdg 6:10; 2Ki 17:7, 2Ki 17:35, 2Ki 17:37, 2Ki 17:38; elsewhere of God:
a. absolute Jer 44:10.
b. with accusative (ה)אלהים Gen 22:12; Gen 42:18; Exo 1:17, Exo 1:21; Exo 18:21 (E), Deu 25:18; Psa 55:20; Psa 66:16; Job 1:1, Job 1:8, Job 1:9; Job 2:3; Ecc 5:6; Ecc 7:18; Ecc 8:12; Ecc 12:13; Neh 7:2; ׳יר יהוה Exo 14:31 (J), Jos 22:25 (P), Jos 24:14 (E), 1Sa 12:14, 1Sa 12:24; 1Ki 18:3, 1Ki 18:12; 2Ki 4:1; 2Ki 17:25, 2Ki 17:28, 2Ki 17:32, 2Ki 17:33, 2Ki 17:34, 2Ki 17:41; Isa 50:10; Jer 5:24; Jer 26:19; Hos 10:3; Jon 1:9; Mal 3:16 (twice in verse); Psa 15:4; Psa 22:24; Psa 25:12; Psa 34:10; Psa 112:1; Psa 115:11; Psa 115:13; Psa 118:4; Psa 128:1; Psa 128:4; Psa 135:20; Pro 3:7; Pro 14:2; Pro 24:21; Pro 31:30; ׳יר ׳י אֱלֹהֶיךָ (and other suffixes) Deu 6:2, Deu 6:13, Deu 6:24; Deu 10:12, Deu 10:20; Deu 14:23; Deu 17:19; Deu 31:12-13, Jos 4:24 (D), 2Ki 17:39; with suffixes referring to Yahweh or Elohim Deu 4:10; Deu 5:26; Deu 8:6; Deu 13:5; 1Ki 8:40, 1Ki 8:43 2Ch 6:31, 2Ch 6:33; 2Ki 17:36; Isa 25:3; Isa 29:13; Jer 10:7; Jer 32:39; Mal 2:5; Mal 3:5; Zep 3:7; Psa 22:26; Psa 25:14; Psa 31:20; Psa 33:18; Psa 34:8; Psa 34:10; Psa 60:6; Psalm 67:8; Psa 72:5; Psa 85:10; Psa 103:11; Psa 103:13; Psa 103:17; Psa 111:5; Psa 119:63; Psa 119:74; Psa 119:79; Psa 145:19; Psa 147:11; י אֶתדְּֿבַר ׳הַיָּרֵא Exo 9:20 he that feared the word of Yahweh (J); the name (of Yahweh) Deu 28:58; Isa 59:19; Malachi 3:20; Psa 61:6; Psa 86:11; Psa 102:16; Neh 1:11.
Niph`al45 Imperfect2masculine תִּוָּרֵא Psa 130:4; Participle נוֺרָא Gen 28:17 33t.; feminine נוֺרָאָה Isa 21:1; plural נוֺרָאוֺת Isa 64:2 Isa 64:5t.; נוֺרָאֹת Deu 10:21; נֹרָאוֺת 2Sa 7:23; suffix נוֺרְאוֺתֶיךָ Psa 145:6; —
1 be fearful, dreadful, e.g. wilderness Deu 1:19; Deu 8:15, land Isa 21:1, people Isa 18:2, Isa 18:7; Hab 1:7, ice (in simile) הנ הַקֶּרַח ׳כְּעֵין Eze 1:22 (strike out ᵐ5 Co).
2 cause astonishment and awe: of Yahweh himself Psa 47:3; Psalm 68:36; Psa 76:8; תְהִלֹּת נוֺרָא awe-inspiring in praises Exo 15:11 (song); הוֺד נוֺרָא עַלאֿלוהּ awe-inspiring majesty (is) upon Eloah Job 37:22; with לְ, to kings of the earth Psalm 76:13; with על of hostile nations Zep 2:11; of ׳יs doings Exo 34:10 (J) Psa 66:3; Psa 66:5; (ה)נוראות wonderful, glorious things, of Messianic king Psa 45:5; of Yahweh himself Deu 10:21; 2Sa 7:23 = 1Ch 17:21; Isa 64:2; Psa 106:22; Psa 145:6; ׳נו adverbially in Psa 65:6; Psa 139:14 Ges§ 118. 5. b DaSynt. § 70(b); י ׳יוֺם והנורא הגדול the great and awful day of Yahweh Joe 3:4; Malachi 3:23 compare Joe 2:11.
3 inspire reverence, godly fear, and awe:
a. as attribute of God, תִּוָּרֵא לְמַעַן that thou mightest be revered Psa 130:4; ו(ה)נוֺרָא (ה)גָּדוֺל (the) great and awful (God) Deu 7:21; Deu 10:17; Neh 1:5; Neh 4:8; Neh 9:32; Dan 9:4; with עַל, above all gods Psa 96:4 = 1Ch 16:25; above the angels round about him Psa 89:8.
b. of the name of Yahweh Deu 28:58; Psa 99:3; Psa 111:9; Mal 1:14.
c. of sacred things: האלהים מלאךְ Jdg 13:6; place of theophany Gen 28:17 (E).
Piel.5 Perfect3masculine suffix יֵָֽרְאֻנִי 2Sa 14:15; Infinitive suffix לְיָָֽרְאֵנִי Neh 6:19; לְיָֽרְאָם2Ch 32:18; Participle plural מְיָָֽרְאִים Neh 6:9, Neh 6:14 make afraid, terrify, with accusative

Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain

Topical studies with this word 1 entry
Afraid315 occurrences

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Sources

eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0

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