חֲתַת
𐤇𐤕𐤕
chăthath
H2866 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or feeling of terror, fear, or dread; sometimes the cause or agent of being thrown into fear. Indicates a psychological condition of being shattered or demoralized, often due to the overwhelming might or sudden appearance of a threat. In poetic or prophetic texts, refers to the sense of being crushed in spirit or deeply afraid in the face of divine judgment or enemy attack.
Semantic Range
state of terror, dread, fear; cause of being terror-stricken; shattering of emotional state; panic in the face of threat; emotional or spiritual collapse
Root / Etymology
From the root חָתַת (ḥātat), meaning 'to be shattered, dismayed, broken, terrified.' The noun חֲתַת develops from the verbal idea of breaking or shattering and takes on a more abstract sense—no longer physical breaking, but inner psychological collapse or terror.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲתַת is rare and primarily poetic or prophetic in usage, occurring in contexts describing overwhelming fear in the face of divine power (e.g., Jeremiah 48:39). The word underscores not mere fear, but a sense of being emotionally or spiritually crushed—the terror experienced by individuals or groups threatened with destruction or divine judgment. Unlike other Hebrew words for fear (such as יִרְאָה, which often denotes reverential or religious awe), חֲתַת emphasizes emotional collapse, panic, or the breakdown of courage. In post-biblical Hebrew, the root continues to suggest breaking or smashing, both literally and figuratively. English translations vary (dismay, terror, downfall), but rarely convey the word's intensity; 'dismay' may understate the original sense of collapse or existential fear.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָתַת; dismay; casting down.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חטא (ḥ-ṭ-ʾ) — to miss the mark, to sin, to err
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2398 | חָטָא | I will purge her of offense |
| H2399 | חֵטְא | in his transgression |
| H2400 | חַטָּא | offenders |
| H2401 | חֲטָאָה | a guilt-incurring misdeed |
| H2402 | חַטָּאָה | for wrongdoing |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2866-01 |
חֲ֝תַ֗ת | chatat | HNcmsa |
terror | mark-missing offense | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2866-01 |
Job 6:21 | חֲ֝תַ֗ת | chatat | HNcmsa |
terror | mark-missing offense |