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יָרֵא

𐤉𐤓𐤀

yârêʼ

H3373 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

To fear, to be afraid, or to feel awe; encompasses a spectrum of emotional and attitudinal responses, ranging from terror or dread in the face of danger or divine judgment, to reverential awe, respect, and piety toward God or honored persons. The term frequently appears in contexts of fear, caution, or overwhelming respect and is also used with the nuance of 'reverence' in a religious or moral sense.

Semantic Range

to be afraid, to feel terror, to stand in awe, to revere (especially of deity), to act with religious reverence, to show moral caution, to respect (a person or authority), to be apprehensive or careful

Root / Etymology

From the root ירא (y-r-ʼ), conveying the basic sense of 'to fear' or 'to be afraid.' The root occurs throughout Northwest Semitic languages with meanings of fear or awe. The verb יָרֵא is the qal imperfect or participle/adjective form and originally denotes experiencing fear or awe, but can extend to piety and reverent behavior depending on context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָרֵא commonly expresses fear in response to threat or danger, whether from humans, nature, or the divine (Genesis 3:10; Exodus 14:10). However, when God is the object ('fear of YHWH'), it frequently conveys a positive reverential awe or piety (Psalm 112:1; Proverbs 1:7). This reverence marks appropriate moral or cultic comportment before the deity. Over time, 'fear of YHWH' becomes almost synonymous with devotion or obedience. While later English translations sometimes render יָרֵא as 'afraid' or 'fearful' in negative contexts, or as 'reverence' or 'devotion' in pious contexts, the Hebrew term always maintains a sense of profound respect, ranging from trembling terror to awe-filled loyalty. In prophetic and wisdom literature, the distinction between terror and reverence is context-dependent. The participial/adjectival form (יָרֵא) can describe a person as fearful (Judges 7:3), or as reverent/devout toward God (Psalm 128:1). Related roots such as פחד (to be terrified) emphasize more intense dread, while יָרֵא can carry deeply positive connotations of devotion.

Translation Consistency

primary "fear" 9 occurrences

“Fear” is the most natural, common English verb that covers the full semantic range of יָרֵא — to be afraid, to stand in awe, and to revere. It matches the frequent English renderings (fearers, fearful, fearing) and allows consistent inflection for all grammatical forms while still allowing context to convey either dread or reverent awe.

Alternatives (41 occurrences):
"fearers" (14x) "fearers of" (10x) "fearful one of" (6x) "afraid" (4x) "fearful awe" (2x) "awe-fearing" (2x) "fearful one" (1x) "fearful" (1x) "awe of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָרֵא; fearing; morally, reverent; afraid, fear (-ful).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ירא (Yireon) — to fear, to be in awe, to revere

Root ירא to fear, to revere, to stand in awe
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3372 יָרֵא the fear-inspiring one
H3374 יִרְאָה in awe
H3375 יִרְאוֹן Yir'on
H3376 יִרְאִיָּיה Yah is awe-inspiring
H4172 מוֹרָא the dread

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3373-05 יָרֵ֛א yare HAamsa fear he feared he feared 11
H3373-13 יִרְאֵ֧י yireey HAampc those who fear fearers of fearers of 10
H3373-06 יְרֵ֥א yere HAamsc fears fearful one of fearful one of 9
H3373-07 יְרֵאָֽי/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those who fear him his fearers his fearers 7
H3373-02 לִ/ירֵאָ֑י/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms for those who fear him to his fearers to his fearers 5
H3373-03 לִּֽ/ירֵ֫אֶ֥י/ךָ lireeykha HR/Aampc/Sp2ms for those who fear you to your fearers to your fearers 2
H3373-04 וִ/ירֵ֥א vire HC/Aamsc and-fearing and awe-fearing and awe-fearing 2
H3373-08 יְ֭רֵאֶי/ךָ yereeykha HAampc/Sp2ms those who fear you your fearers those who fear you 2
H3373-10 יִרְאָ֣ה yireah HNcfsa fear fearful awe fearful awe 2
H3373-01 הַ/יָּרֵא֙ hayare HTd/Aamsa that is fearful the fearing one the fearful one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

54 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3373-06 Genesis 22:12 יְרֵ֤א yere HAamsc you fear fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-05 Genesis 32:12 יָרֵ֤א yare HVqrmsa I am afraid he feared I am afraid
H3373-13 Exodus 18:21 יִרְאֵ֧י yireey HAampc who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-05 Deuteronomy 7:19 יָרֵ֖א yare HAamsa are-afraid he feared you were afraid
H3373-01 Deuteronomy 20:8 הַ/יָּרֵא֙ hayare HTd/Aamsa that is fearful the fearing one the fearful one
H3373-05 Deuteronomy 25:18 יָרֵ֖א yare HVqp3ms feared he feared he feared
H3373-05 Judges 7:3 יָרֵ֣א yare HAamsa is fearful he feared is fearful
H3373-05 Judges 7:10 יָרֵ֥א yare HVqrmsa you are afraid he feared you are afraid
H3373-05 1 Kings 18:3 יָרֵ֛א yare HAamsa fearing he feared he feared
H3373-12 Isaiah 29:13 יִרְאָתָ/ם֙ yireatam HVqc/Sp3mp their fear their fearing their fear
H3373-06 Isaiah 50:10 יְרֵ֣א yere HAamsc fears fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-05 Jeremiah 26:19 יָרֵ֣א yare HAamsa fear he feared he feared
H3373-09 Jeremiah 42:11 יְרֵאִ֖ים yereim HAampa are afraid fearing ones are afraid
H3373-05 Jonah 1:9 יָרֵ֔א yare HVqp3ms fear he feared am one fearing
H3373-10 Jonah 1:10 יִרְאָ֣ה yireah HNcfsa fear fearful awe fearful awe
H3373-10 Jonah 1:16 יִרְאָ֥ה yireah HNcfsa fear fearful awe fearful awe
H3373-13 Malachi 3:20 יִרְאֵ֤י yireey HAampc who-revere fearers of fearers of
H3373-13 Psalms 15:4 יִרְאֵ֣י yireey HAampc those who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-13 Psalms 22:24 יִרְאֵ֤י yireey HAampc you who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-07 Psalms 22:26 יְרֵאָֽי/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those-who-fear-him his fearers his fearers
H3373-06 Psalms 25:12 יְרֵ֣א yere HAamsc fears fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-02 Psalms 25:14 לִ/ירֵאָ֑י/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms for those who fear him to his fearers to his fearers
H3373-03 Psalms 31:20 לִּֽ/ירֵ֫אֶ֥י/ךָ lireeykha HR/Aampc/Sp2ms for those who fear you to your fearers to your fearers
H3373-07 Psalms 33:18 יְרֵאָ֑י/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those who fear him his fearers his fearers
H3373-02 Psalms 34:8 לִֽ/ירֵאָ֗י/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms those who fear him to his fearers to his fearers
H3373-02 Psalms 34:10 לִ/ירֵאָֽי/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms to those who fear him to his fearers to his fearers
H3373-03 Psalms 60:6 לִּ/ירֵאֶ֣י/ךָ lireeykha HR/Aampc/Sp2ms to those who fear you to your fearers to your fearers
H3373-13 Psalms 61:6 יִרְאֵ֥י yireey HAampc those who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-13 Psalms 66:16 יִרְאֵ֣י yireey HAampc who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-02 Psalms 85:10 לִ/ירֵאָ֣י/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms to those who fear Him to his fearers to his fearers
H3373-07 Psalms 103:11 יְרֵאָֽי/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those who fear Him his fearers his fearers
H3373-07 Psalms 103:13 יְרֵאָֽי/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those-who-fear-him his fearers his fearers
H3373-07 Psalms 103:17 יְרֵאָ֑י/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those who fear him his fearers his fearers
H3373-02 Psalms 111:5 לִֽ/ירֵאָ֑י/ו lireayv HR/Aampc/Sp3ms to-those-who-fear-him to his fearers to his fearers
H3373-13 Psalms 115:11 יִרְאֵ֣י yireey HAampc you who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-13 Psalms 115:13 יִרְאֵ֣י yireey HAampc fearers-of fearers of fearers of
H3373-13 Psalms 118:4 יִרְאֵ֣י yireey HAampc those who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-08 Psalms 119:74 יְ֭רֵאֶי/ךָ yereeykha HAampc/Sp2ms those who fear You your fearers those who fear you
H3373-08 Psalms 119:79 יְרֵאֶ֑י/ךָ yereeykha HAampc/Sp2ms those who fear you your fearers those who fear you
H3373-06 Psalms 128:1 יְרֵ֣א yere HAamsc who fears fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-06 Psalms 128:4 יְרֵ֣א yere HAamsc who fears fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-13 Psalms 135:20 יִֽרְאֵ֥י yireey HAampc you who fear fearers of fearers of
H3373-07 Psalms 145:19 יְרֵאָ֥י/ו yereayv HAampc/Sp3ms those who fear him his fearers his fearers
H3373-07 Psalms 147:11 יְרֵאָ֑י/ו yereayv HVqrmpc/Sp3cs those-who-fear-him his fearers his fearers
H3373-04 Proverbs 13:13 וִ/ירֵ֥א vire HC/Aamsc and fears and awe-fearing and awe-fearing
H3373-06 Proverbs 14:2 יְרֵ֣א yere HAamsc fears fearful one of fearful one of
H3373-05 Proverbs 14:16 יָ֭רֵא yare HVqrmsa fears he feared fears
H3373-11 Proverbs 31:30 יִרְאַת yireat HAafsc who fears awe of awe of
H3373-04 Job 1:1 וִ/ירֵ֥א vire HC/Aamsc and-fearing and awe-fearing and awe-fearing
H3373-06 Job 1:8 יְרֵ֥א yere HAamsc fearing fearful one of fearing
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