← H2846 H2848 →

חִתָּה

𐤇𐤕𐤄

chittâh

H2847 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חתת to be shattered, to be terrified, to be dismayed

Definition

A state or experience of intense fear or terror; anxiety, panic, or terror often accompanied by dismay or faintness. Used to describe either an overwhelming emotional reaction to threatening circumstances or the resulting state (e.g., panic-stricken, in terror).

Semantic Range

terror, panic, overwhelming fear, state of dismay, paralyzing dread

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חָתַת (ḥatat), which means 'to be shattered, dismayed, broken, filled with fear.' The formation חִתָּה appears as a feminine noun built from this root, expressing the result or condition of being profoundly terrified or dismayed.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חִתָּה (ḥittâh) appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, notably in poetic or prophetic contexts (e.g., Job 41:17 [English 41:25]; Isaiah 7:16), describing overwhelming terror or panic often as a result of encountering something awesome or fearsome, whether divine or human in origin. Its usage generally signals a more intense emotional response than more common Hebrew terms for fear (such as יִרְאָה, 'reverence, fear'), carrying the sense of 'paralyzing terror.' In some later biblical usage, it stands in parallel with terms for dread or trembling. English translations typically render it as 'terror' or 'dismay,' which captures much of its nuance, but 'chittâh' often suggests crippling panic rather than mere anxious fear. It is distinct from related nouns like מגור (magor, 'dread, terror') or פחד (pachad, 'fear, panic'). The nuance can reflect both psychological and social states, e.g., communal panic in the face of military threats.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָתַת; fear; terror.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חתת (ḥ-t-t) — to be shattered, to be terrified, to be dismayed

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2844 חַת he was shattered
H2845 חֵת Heth
H2849 חַתְחַת shattering terrors
H2850 חִתִּי and the Hittite
H2851 חִתִּית in their shattering-terror

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2847-01 חִתַּ֣ת chitat HNcfsc terror shattering-terror of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2847-01 Genesis 35:5 חִתַּ֣ת chitat HNcfsc terror shattering-terror of
← H2846 Hebrew Lexicon H2848 →