רְתֵת
𐤓𐤕𐤕
rᵉthêth
H7578 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A trembling or quaking; a state or instance of physical trembling, often caused by fear, panic, or overwhelming emotion. In biblical contexts, רְתֵת denotes a visible or palpable physical reaction—shaking or quivering—especially under conditions of acute fear or divine encounter.
Semantic Range
trembling, quaking, physical shaking due to fear or awe, terror manifest in bodily response
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root ר-ת-ת (רתת), which carries the core sense of 'to tremble' or 'to quiver.' The noun רְתֵת is formed directly from this root, expressing the result or manifestation of trembling.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רְתֵת is a rare noun in the Hebrew Bible, generally found in poetic or heightened narrative passages to describe the reaction of individuals or peoples to moments of great fear or divine manifestation. It closely parallels the more frequently used רֶטֶט (retet), which also denotes 'trembling' or 'shuddering,' but רְתֵת at times gives stronger emphasis to the outward, physical aspect of the response. In later Hebrew, the concept remains associated with strong emotional disturbance. Standard English translations render it as 'trembling' or 'terror,' though 'trembling' best captures the physical nuance. The term is not associated specifically with ritual contexts, but rather with moments of existential or psychological intensity. No evidence suggests a shift in meaning across different periods, though it does not occur frequently enough to suggest semantic development over time.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for רֶטֶט; terror; trembling. �
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רתת (r-t-t) — to tremble, to quake, to shake
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7578-01 |
רְתֵ֔ת | retet | HNcfsa |
there was trembling | trembling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7578-01 |
Hosea 13:1 | רְתֵ֔ת | retet | HNcfsa |
there was trembling | trembling |