מְגוֹרַה
𐤌𐤂𐤅𐤓𐤄
mᵉgôwrah
H4034 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Terror, dread, a state or experience of fear; often denotes a profound or overwhelming sense of fright arising from external threat or danger. Used for both sudden panic and abiding fear, especially in the context of warfare, divine judgment, or existential threat. The feminine form can convey intensity or abstraction of the concept.
Semantic Range
terror, dread, affright, overwhelming fear (especially in anticipation of disaster or divine action), abstraction of fear as a state or phenomenon
Root / Etymology
From the root גור (ג-ו-ר), which carries the core sense of 'to sojourn, to lodge, to dwell as a stranger' and, in derived forms, 'to be fearful, to dread.' The noun מְגוֹרַה is a feminine abstract formation from this root, signifying the quality or state of fear.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְגוֹרַה occurs sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, primarily in poetic or prophetic contexts (e.g., Isaiah 66:4), where it underscores a sense of deep terror or existential dread, often associated with divine threats or calamitous situations. This term is distinct from other Hebrew words for fear such as יִרְאָה (yir’ah), which can denote reverence or awe, and פַּחַד (pachad), which can refer to more concrete or personal fear, often sudden or physical. The form מְגוֹרַה, as an abstract noun in the feminine, typically encapsulates the state of being terrified or the phenomenon of fright itself, rather than an object causing fear or an emotion in the moment. While some translations render it as 'terror' or 'dread,' the nuance of an inner, consuming fear can be missed in more generalized 'fear.' The word does not refer to the religious reverence aspect often associated with יִרְאָה. In later periods, its usage declines and is absorbed into more general terms for fear.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of מָגוֹר; affright; fear.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גור (g-w-r) — to sojourn, to dwell as a stranger, to fear, to dread
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1481 | גּוּר | I will sojourn |
| H1482 | גּוּר | Sojourn! |
| H1483 | גּוּר | Gur |
| H1484 | גּוֹר | his den-dwelling cubs |
| H1616 | גֵּר | in the resident-foreigner |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4034-02 |
מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗/י | megurotay | HNcfpc/Sp1cs |
my-fears | my terrors | 1 |
H4034-01 |
מְגוֹרַ֣ת | megorat | HNcfsc |
fear | terror of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4034-02 |
Psalms 34:5 | מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗/י | megurotay | HNcfpc/Sp1cs |
my-fears | my terrors |
H4034-01 |
Proverbs 10:24 | מְגוֹרַ֣ת | megorat | HNcfsc |
fear | terror of |