בִּעוּתִים
𐤁𐤏𐤅𐤕𐤉𐤌
biʻûwthîym
H1161 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A plural noun referring to sudden and intense causes of fear; terrors, alarms, moments of dread, or frightening occurrences. Used in poetic or wisdom contexts to signify objects or events that induce panic, usually in reference to existential, often psychological threats (such as nightmares, premonitions, or overwhelming dread).
Semantic Range
terrors, alarms, causes of panic, objects or moments of dread, frightening occurrences, sudden fears or phantasms
Root / Etymology
From the root בעת (b-'-t), meaning 'to startle, terrify, cause to tremble with fear.' The term בעותים (biʻûthîym) is the masculine plural form derived from this root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בעותים occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Psalm 91:5 ('the terrors of the night'), where it describes night fears, possibly nightmares, phantasms, or real nocturnal dangers that inspire acute fear. The term is distinct from other Hebrew terms for fear (e.g., פחד, יראה) in that it emphasizes a sense of sudden, overwhelming terror or panic, often unpredictable, and is found primarily in poetic contexts. The word is conceptually close to the Greek word 'πτόησις' (ptoēsis) used in the Septuagint to translate such terror-inducing phenomena. While some later English translations render the word as 'terror' or 'alarm,' these often fail to express the notion of unpredictable, overwhelming dread that the term connotes in its native context. The lexical sense does not carry sociopolitical or religious overtones; its focus is on intense psychological or existential fright, often associated with supernatural or imagined dangers as well as real ones. The semantic weight is episodic and situational, rather than describing an abiding state of fear.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
masculine plural from בָּעַת; alarms; terrors.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
בעת (biʻûwthîym) — to startle, terrify, cause to tremble with fear
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1161-01 |
בִּעוּתֵ֖י | biutey | HNcmpc |
terrors | terrors of | terrors of | 1 |
H1161-02 |
בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗י/ךָ | biuteykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your terrors | your terrors | your terrors | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1161-02 |
Psalms 88:17 | בִּ֝עוּתֶ֗י/ךָ | biuteykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your terrors | your terrors | your terrors |
H1161-01 |
Job 6:4 | בִּעוּתֵ֖י | biutey | HNcmpc |
terrors | terrors of | terrors of |