What does יָרֵא · אֱלֹהִים mean in the Bible?
יָרֵא · אֱלֹהִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "God-fearing — the fundamental orientation of covenant loyalty".
Hebrew · H3372, H430
יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים
To fear ; morally to revere ; causatively to frighten · gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God ; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates ; and sometimes as a superlative
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
יָרֵאH3372to fear ; morally to revere ; causatively to frighten
Pronunciationyare
Fear and reverence converge: respect rooted in awe of God's power, not mere terror.
Open lexicon entry →אֱלֹהִיםH430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God ; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates ; and sometimes as a superlative
Pronunciationʾĕlōhiym
Plural form persistently denotes the singular God of Israel; signals transcendent power and authority in every application.
Open lexicon entry →What does יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים (yere Elohim) mean in the Bible?
יָרֵא · אֱלֹהִים is a Hebrew phrase meaning "God-fearing — the fundamental orientation of covenant loyalty".
Full entry for יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים (H3372, H430) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3372, H430?
H3372, H430 is connected to 2,929 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. God-fearing — the fundamental orientation of covenant loyalty
Source Gloss
God-fearing — the fundamental orientation of covenant loyalty
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms205
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense172×
Jussive1Chr 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 46:377×
Imperfect1Sam 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 7:1850×
Perfect1Chr 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 41:1832×
Sequential imperfectEccl 5:6 · Eccl 12:13 · Prov 3:7 · Prov 24:21 · 1Sam 12:24 · Josh 24:14 · Ps 34:107×
Participle active2Kgs 4:1 · Eccl 9:2 · Gen 42:18 · Ps 112:14×
CohortativeJer 5:241×
Infinitive constructJosh 22:251×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action23×
Participle activeExod 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 68:3622×
ImperfectPs 130:41×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
Participle activeNeh 6:9 · Neh 6:142×
Word Origins
יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים is a primitive root - no further derivation.