יָרֵא (H3373) — Hebrew Lexicon

יָרֵא

𐤉𐤓𐤀

yârêʼ

H3373 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ירא to fear, to revere, to stand in awe

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.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

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

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ירא (y-r-ʾ) — 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
H7200	רָאָה	may you fear
H7462	רָעָה	you (masculine plural) will fear
H8493	תִּירְיָא	Tiria

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H3373-05`	יָרֵ֤א	yare	`HVqrmsa`	fear	he feared	11
`H3373-13`	יִרְאֵ֧י	yireey	`HAampc`	those who fear	fearers of	10
`H3373-06`	יְרֵ֤א	yere	`HAamsc`	fears	fearful one of	9
`H3373-07`	יְרֵאָֽי/ו	yereayv	`HAampc/Sp3ms`	those who fear him	his fearers	7
`H3373-02`	לִ/ירֵאָ֑י/ו	lireayv	`HR/Aampc/Sp3ms`	for those who fear him	to his fearers	5
`H3373-04`	וִ/ירֵ֥א	vire	`HC/Aamsc`	and-fearing	and awe-fearing	2
`H3373-03`	לִּֽ/ירֵ֫אֶ֥י/ךָ	lireeykha	`HR/Aampc/Sp2ms`	for those who fear you	to your fearers	2
`H3373-08`	יְ֭רֵאֶי/ךָ	yereeykha	`HAampc/Sp2ms`	those who fear you	your fearers	2
`H3373-10`	יִרְאָ֣ה	yireah	`HNcfsa`	fear	fearful awe	2
`H3373-09`	יְרֵאִ֖ים	yereim	`HAampa`	are afraid	fearing ones	1
`H3373-11`	יִרְאַת	yireat	`HAafsc`	who fears	awe of	1
`H3373-12`	יִרְאָתָ/ם֙	yireatam	`HVqc/Sp3mp`	their fear	their fearing	1
`H3373-01`	הַ/יָּרֵא֙	hayare	`HTd/Aamsa`	that is fearful	the fearing one	1

Occurrences in Scripture

54 total occurrences

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

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