עָרוּץ
𐤏𐤓𐤅𐤑
ʻârûwts
H6178 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Passive participle meaning 'terrifying' or 'dread-inspiring'; in concrete usage, refers to a place that evokes terror, often a perilous or precipitous feature such as a steep gorge, chasm, or cliff. The term highlights the awe or fear provoked by the location rather than solely its physical form.
Semantic Range
terrifying (inspiring dread), a place of fear; steep gorge; chasm; precipitous cliff; dread-inspiring site
Root / Etymology
From the root ערץ (ʿ-r-ts), meaning 'to be in dread, to terrify, to make afraid.' עָרוּץ is the passive participle form, signifying something that causes terror or is terrifying, by extension applied to physical locations marked by daunting or fearsome qualities.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Primarily found in poetic passages, especially in the Psalms and Job, where it describes imposing, perilous landscapes such as steep cliffs or ravines that evoke fear and awe. The sense is not merely geological but emphasizes the psychological and emotional impact of the terrain. English translations often select 'cliff,' 'chasm,' or 'steep place,' but may not convey the nuance of dread or terror. Distinct from גֶּיא (geʾ, 'valley') or צוּר (ṣur, 'rock'), as עָרוּץ focuses on the formidable, intimidating nature of the place rather than its topographical characteristics alone. In later periods, the term loses some of its concrete geographical specificity and can take on broader connotations of terror or frightful circumstance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
passive participle of עָרַץ; feared, i.e. (concretely) a horrible place or chasm; cliffs.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ערץ (ʿ-r-ts) — to fear, to terrify, to cause dread
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4637 | מַעֲרָצָה | in a slaughter-place |
| H6184 | עָרִיץ | terror-wielding one |
| H6206 | עָרַץ | I will terrify |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6178-01 |
בַּ/עֲר֣וּץ | baaruts | HR/Ncmsc |
in the clefts | in the dread-chasm of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6178-01 |
Job 30:6 | בַּ/עֲר֣וּץ | baaruts | HR/Ncmsc |
in the clefts | in the dread-chasm of |