רֶטֶט
𐤓𐤈𐤈
reṭeṭ
H7374 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Physical trembling or quaking, especially as the bodily manifestation of intense fear or terror. Refers specifically to involuntary shaking resulting from powerful emotional or psychological distress, most often fear-induced, but may also suggest profound awe or agitation in rare cases.
Semantic Range
bodily trembling from fear, quaking with terror, physical shaking from intense emotion, visible agitation or awe
Root / Etymology
Likely related to the root רטט, an unattested verbal root presumed to mean 'to tremble, quake.' The noun רֶטֶט appears to derive directly from this root, though the verbal form is not found in the Hebrew Bible. Cognate with Aramaic רְטֵט ('to tremble').
Historical & Contextual Notes
רֶטֶט is a rare noun, appearing only twice in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 27:33, Daniel 10:11), both times describing a profound, overwhelming experience of fear causing physical trembling. Its usage is intentionally vivid, contrasting other Hebrew terms for fear (e.g., פחד pachad, יראה yirah) by focusing on the outward, bodily symptoms rather than the inner emotion. In Genesis, the term conveys Isaac's nearly paralyzing shock; in Daniel, it describes a physical debilitation under supernatural encounter. Translated variously as 'trembling, quaking, trembling with fear' in modern English versions, but sometimes rendered less vividly as 'fear' or 'terror.' The word is not used as a general term for fear but specifically for externally visible trembling. Unlike פחד or יראה, רֶטֶט is physically descriptive, not a generic psychological state. Few differences appear across historical periods due to the term's rarity and vividness. The post-biblical Hebrew usage is scarce and likely dependent on these biblical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to tremble; terror; fear.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רטט (r-ṭ-ṭ) — to tremble, to quake, to shake
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7374-01 |
וְ/רֶ֣טֶט | veretet | HC/Ncmsa |
and trembling | trembling | and trembling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7374-01 |
Jeremiah 49:24 | וְ/רֶ֣טֶט | veretet | HC/Ncmsa |
and trembling | trembling | and trembling |