φρίσσω
phríssō
G5425 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To bristle; to have the hair stand on end, often as a physical reaction to intense emotion such as fear, terror, or awe. In extended or figurative sense, to shudder or tremble, especially as a visceral sign of fright or dread. The term emphasizes a physical, involuntary response rather than an abstract or intellectual sensation.
Semantic Range
to (cause to) bristle, to have hair stand on end, to shudder, to tremble with fear or awe, to have a chill (from strong emotion or terror)
Root / Etymology
Rooted in the Greek stem φρισσ-, likely of imitative or expressive origin, conveying the sense of hair standing on end. Not derived from another Greek word; considered a primary (simplex) verb in the language.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, φρίσσω appears in poetry and prose from the 5th century BCE onward, often describing the visible physical reaction (goosebumps, hair bristling) that accompanies extreme fear, awe, or horror (e.g., Homer, Sophocles, Euripides). It denotes an involuntary, bodily sign of intense feeling rather than a generalized trembling. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the word retained this vividness, and when used in the New Testament (e.g., James 2:19), it describes a chilling, hair-raising terror in response to spiritual realities, distinct from other verbs for fear such as φοβέομαι ('to be afraid') or τρέμω ('to tremble'). Standard English translations often obscure the specific physicality of φρίσσω by using more general terms like 'tremble' or 'shudder.' The term's use is rare in the Greek Bible, and later Christian writers used it primarily in descriptions of supernatural dread or numinous awe. Related noun: φρίκη (frikē), 'shuddering, horror.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently a primary verb; to "bristle" or chill, i.e. shudder (fear):--tremble.
Root Family
φρίσσω (phrissō) — to bristle, to have hair stand on end, to shudder
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5425-01 |
φρίσσουσιν | phrissousin | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
shudder | they are shuddering | they are shuddering | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5425-01 |
James 2:19 | φρίσσουσιν | phrissousin | V PRS ACT IND 3P PL |
shudder | they are shuddering | they are shuddering |