אֵימָה
𐤀𐤉𐤌𐤄
ʼêymâh
H367 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A profound sense of dread, terror, or overwhelming fear, often instigated by a sudden or awe-inspiring event. The term can describe both psychological states (internal terror, horror) and the objective impression or atmosphere associated with the presence or actions of a powerful figure, typically a deity. In rare instances, the word may denote an object associated with fear, particularly a cultic figure or idol intended to inspire terror or reverence.
Semantic Range
terror, dread, fear (especially induced by divine presence), horror, overwhelming awe, an object made to inspire fear or awe (idol, in rare cases)
Root / Etymology
Root: א־י־מ (from אָיֹם, meaning 'awe-inspiring, dreadful, terrible'). The root conveys the sense of terror, awe, or that which causes fear. אֵימָה emerges as a noun form linked to experiences that are terrifying or overwhelming.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֵימָה frequently describes the terror caused by divine presence or intervention, particularly as a means of protecting or intimidating. For example, in Genesis 15:12, it describes the 'dreadful darkness' that falls upon Abram during a theophany. In later narratives (such as Exodus 15:16 and Deuteronomy 32:25), it frequently denotes the terror struck into the hearts of Israel's adversaries, often as a vehicle for deliverance or demonstration of divine power. In poetic contexts, it can refer to existential or cosmic terror at the manifestation of deity. The rare sense of אֵימָה as an 'idol' is attested only in some late passages (e.g., 2 Kings 23:13), where the word signifies objects of veneration specifically constructed to evoke awe, fear, or reverence. English translations often render אֵימָה as 'dread,' 'terror,' or 'horror,' but may obscure its nuanced use for divine-induced psychological states or its rare cultic application. The term is distinct from related words such as פַּחַד (pakhad, personal fear or trembling) or חֲתַת (khatat, dismay or shattered courage), in that אֵימָה emphasizes overwhelming, often supernatural, dread.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (shortened) אֵמָה; from the same as אָיֹם; fright; concrete, an idol (as a bugbear); dread, fear, horror, idol, terrible, terror.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אים (ʼêymâh) — to terrify, cause fear, inspire dread
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H367-05 |
אֵימָ֑ה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | terror | 5 |
H367-01 |
בְּ/אֵימָ֣ה | beeymah | HR/Ncfsa |
in terror | in dread | in dread | 1 |
H367-02 |
אֵ֭מָתִ/י | emati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my terror | my dread | my dread | 1 |
H367-03 |
אֵמֶ֣י/ךָ | emeykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
thy-terrors | your terrors | your terrors | 1 |
H367-04 |
אֵמִֽים | emim | HNcfpa |
terrors | Terrors | terrors | 1 |
H367-06 |
אֵ֣ימַת | eymat | HNcfsc |
terror | dread of | dread of | 1 |
H367-07 |
אֵימָ֨תָ/ה֙ | eymatah | HNcfsa/Sh |
terror | overwhelming dread | overwhelming dread | 1 |
H367-08 |
אֵֽימַתְ/כֶם֙ | eymatekhem | HNcfsc/Sp2mp |
terror of you | your dread | terror of you | 1 |
H367-09 |
אֵֽימָתִ/י֙ | eymati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my terror | my dread | my terror | 1 |
H367-10 |
וּ/בָ/אֵימִ֖ים | uvaeymim | HC/Rd/Ncfpa |
over things of horror | and in terrors | and in terrors | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
17 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H367-05 |
Genesis 15:12 | אֵימָ֛ה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | overwhelming dread |
H367-07 |
Exodus 15:16 | אֵימָ֨תָ/ה֙ | eymatah | HNcfsa/Sh |
terror | overwhelming dread | overwhelming dread |
H367-09 |
Exodus 23:27 | אֵֽימָתִ/י֙ | eymati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my terror | my dread | my terror |
H367-05 |
Deuteronomy 32:25 | אֵימָ֑ה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | overwhelming dread |
H367-08 |
Joshua 2:9 | אֵֽימַתְ/כֶם֙ | eymatekhem | HNcfsc/Sp2mp |
terror of you | your dread | terror of you |
H367-05 |
Isaiah 33:18 | אֵימָ֑ה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | terror |
H367-10 |
Jeremiah 50:38 | וּ/בָ/אֵימִ֖ים | uvaeymim | HC/Rd/Ncfpa |
over things of horror | and in terrors | and in terrors |
H367-13 |
Psalms 55:5 | וְ/אֵימ֥וֹת | veeymot | HC/Ncfpc |
and terrors | and terrors of | and terrors of |
H367-03 |
Psalms 88:16 | אֵמֶ֣י/ךָ | emeykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
thy-terrors | your terrors | your terrors |
H367-06 |
Proverbs 20:2 | אֵ֣ימַת | eymat | HNcfsc |
terror | dread of | dread of |
H367-12 |
Job 9:34 | וְ֝/אֵמָת֗/וֹ | veemato | HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and His terror | his terror | and his terror |
H367-11 |
Job 13:21 | וְ֝/אֵ֥מָתְ/ךָ֗ | veematekha | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and your dread | and your dread | and your dread |
H367-04 |
Job 20:25 | אֵמִֽים | emim | HNcfpa |
terrors | Terrors | terrors |
H367-02 |
Job 33:7 | אֵ֭מָתִ/י | emati | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my terror | my dread | my dread |
H367-05 |
Job 39:20 | אֵימָֽה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | terror |
H367-05 |
Job 41:6 | אֵימָֽה | eymah | HNcfsa |
terror | overwhelming dread | terror |
H367-01 |
Ezra 3:3 | בְּ/אֵימָ֣ה | beeymah | HR/Ncfsa |
in terror | in dread | in dread |