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רָהָה

𐤓𐤄𐤄

râhâh

H7297 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רהה to tremble, to be agitated, to fear

Definition

To be afraid, to experience dread or apprehension, to fear or be terrified in the face of danger or perceived threat. The typical usage involves a psychological state of fear, anxiety, or terror, either in anticipation of harm or as a response to immediate danger.

Semantic Range

to fear, to be afraid, to tremble with fear, to become terrified, to experience anxiety or dread

Root / Etymology

Root is רהה (ר-ה-ה), meaning is related to trembling, agitation, or fear. The verb is derived from the root in the qal stem, expressing a state or inchoative sense (to become fearful). The form is probably onomatopoeic, imitating a gasping or trembling response.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָהָה is rare in Biblical Hebrew, attested as a verb referring chiefly to the experience or expression of fear, particularly in response to threatening circumstances. Its nuance does not typically include reverential awe as sometimes associated with יָרֵא (yare’), which is the more common biblical term for fear or awe, especially towards the divine. רָהָה tends to emphasize an immediate or instinctive reaction of terror or anxiety. Usage of רָהָה appears in poetic or archaic passages, suggesting it was either regional or had fallen into relative disuse by the time of much of the canonical Hebrew Bible. Most English translations render this as 'to fear' or 'to be afraid,' but the context may be more vividly expressive of panic, terror, or trembling than the more general term יָרֵא. There is no known shift in meaning across Israelite history due to its rare attestation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to fear; be afraid.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רהה (r-h-h) — trembling, agitation, fear

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7297-01 תִּרְה֔וּ tirehu HVqj2mp be dismayed may you tremble 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7297-01 Isaiah 44:8 תִּרְה֔וּ tirehu HVqj2mp be dismayed may you tremble
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