Hebrew · H3372, G5399 · unreviewed

יָרֵא

To fear ; morally to revere ; causatively to frighten · to fear

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

יָרֵא H3372 to fear ; morally to revere ; causatively to frighten
Pronunciation yare
Fear and reverence converge: respect rooted in awe of God's power, not mere terror.
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φοβέω G5399 to fear
Pronunciation phobéō
Reverential fear of God distinct from mere terror; conveys both awe and obedient respect.
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What does יָרֵא (yare) mean in the Bible?

יָרֵא · φοβέω is a Hebrew word meaning "to fear, revere, or stand in awe".

Full entry for יָרֵא (H3372, G5399) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to fear, revere, or stand in awe
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 172×
Jussive 1Chr 22:13 · 1Chr 28:20 · 1Sam 22:23 · 1Sam 23:17 · 2Kgs 1:15 · 2Kgs 6:16 · 2Kgs 19:6 · 2Sam 9:7 · Dan 10:12 · Dan 10:19 · Deut 1:21 · Deut 3:2 · Ezek 2:6 · Gen 15:1 · Gen 26:24 · Gen 46:3 77×
Imperfect 1Sam 12:14 · 2Kgs 17:35 · 2Kgs 17:36 · 2Kgs 17:37 · 2Kgs 17:38 · 2Kgs 17:39 · Deut 13:5 · Isa 8:12 · Jer 5:22 · Judg 6:10 · Lev 19:3 · Lev 19:30 · Lev 26:2 · Deut 6:2 · Deut 6:13 · Deut 7:18 50×
Perfect 1Chr 10:4 · 1Kgs 1:50 · 1Kgs 1:51 · 1Sam 3:15 · 1Sam 14:26 · 1Sam 31:4 · Exod 3:6 · Gen 19:30 · Gen 26:7 · Job 1:9 · Judg 6:27 · Judg 8:20 · 2Kgs 17:25 · 2Kgs 25:26 · Exod 1:21 · Jer 41:18 32×
Sequential imperfect Eccl 5:6 · Eccl 12:13 · Prov 3:7 · Prov 24:21 · 1Sam 12:24 · Josh 24:14 · Ps 34:10
Participle active 2Kgs 4:1 · Eccl 9:2 · Gen 42:18 · Ps 112:1
Cohortative Jer 5:24
Infinitive construct Josh 22:25
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 23×
Participle active Exod 15:11 · Exod 34:10 · Gen 28:17 · Isa 18:2 · Isa 18:7 · Isa 21:1 · Isa 64:2 · Job 37:22 · Judg 13:6 · Mal 1:14 · Ps 45:5 · Ps 47:3 · Ps 65:6 · Ps 66:3 · Ps 66:5 · Ps 68:36 22×
Imperfect Ps 130:4
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action
Participle active Neh 6:9 · Neh 6:14
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 197 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 128 Perfect 32 Participle 28 Imperative 7 Cohortative 1 Infinitive construct 1
Stem
Qal 172 Niphal 23 Piel 2
Mood
Jussive 77 Indicative/jussive 41 Indicative 32 Indicative/cohortative 10 Imperative 7
OT Occurrences
Gen 15:1 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 18:15 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 19:30 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 21:17 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 26:7 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 26:24 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 28:17 Niphal · Participle Gen 31:31 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 35:17 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 42:18 Qal · Participle Gen 43:23 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 46:3 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 50:19 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 50:21 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Exod 1:21 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 3:6 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 14:13 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Exod 15:11 Niphal · Participle Exod 20:20 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Exod 34:10 Niphal · Participle Lev 19:3 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 19:30 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 26:2 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Num 12:8 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Num 14:9 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Num 21:34 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Deut 1:21 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Deut 3:2 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Deut 5:5 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 6:2 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 6:13 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 7:18 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 10:20 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 13:5 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 20:1 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 20:3 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Deut 31:6 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Deut 31:8 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Josh 4:14 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Josh 4:24 Qal · Perfect · Indicative +157 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 18 — The Lord Strengthens the Mission in Corinth and Beyond John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 16 — He Has Risen: The Empty Tomb, the Angelic Announcement, Galilee Promise, and Trembling Witness Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources