What does פָּחַד (pachad) mean in the Bible?
פָּחַד (pachad): Fear rooted in sudden alarm or startlement; emphasis on reactive dread rather than reasoned caution.
Hebrew · H6342
פָּחַד
To be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general
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פָּחַדH6342
Pronunciationpachad
What does פָּחַד (pachad) mean in the Bible?
פָּחַד (pachad): Fear rooted in sudden alarm or startlement; emphasis on reactive dread rather than reasoned caution.
Full entry for פָּחַד (H6342) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6342?
The BSB source-word alignment has 25 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include be afraid (2), overwhelmed (2), and you will be afraid (1), are afraid (1), be brought to terror (1).
Where does פָּחַד (pachad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 28:66. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (8), Psalms (5), Jeremiah (3), Job (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itbe afraid2×Proverbs 3:24, Isaiah 12:2
overwhelmed2×Psalms 14:5, Psalms 53:5
and you will be afraid1×Deuteronomy 28:66
are afraid1×Isaiah 33:14
be brought to terror1×Isaiah 44:11
become frightened1×Jeremiah 36:24
Egypt will tremble1×Isaiah 19:17
fear1×Psalms 78:53
fears only1×Psalms 119:161
I fear1×Job 23:15
I feared1×Job 3:25
in awe1×Jeremiah 33:9
in fear1×Jeremiah 36:16
reverent1×Proverbs 28:14
shall I dread1×Psalms 27:1
shudder1×Job 4:14
the terrifying1×Deuteronomy 28:67
They will come trembling1×Hosea 3:5
they will tremble1×Micah 7:17
tremble1×Isaiah 44:8
will tremble1×Isaiah 60:5
with fear1×Isaiah 19:16
You live in terror1×Isaiah 51:13
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:66וּפָֽחַדְתָּ֙toand you will be afraidConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:67תִּפְחָ֔דtothe terrifyingVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularJob 3:25פָּ֭חַדְתִּיtoI fearedVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularJob 4:14הִפְחִֽיד׃toshudderVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularJob 23:15וְאֶפְחַ֥דtoI fearConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularPsalms 14:5פָּ֣חֲדוּtooverwhelmedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 27:1אֶפְחָֽד׃toshall I dreadVerb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularPsalms 53:5פָּֽחֲדוּ־tooverwhelmedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 78:53פָחָ֑דוּtofearVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 119:161פָּחַ֥דtofears onlyVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 28:66
Aligned rows25
Books represented8
Deuteronomy2Job3Psalms5Proverbs2Isaiah8Jeremiah3Hosea1Micah1
Source forms
אֶפְחָ֑ד1x’ep̄·ḥāḏIsaiah 12:2
אֶפְחָֽד׃1x’ep̄·ḥāḏPsalms 27:1
הִפְחִֽיד׃1xhip̄·ḥîḏJob 4:14
וְאֶפְחַ֥ד1xwə·’ep̄·ḥaḏJob 23:15
וּפָחַ֗ד1xū·p̄ā·ḥaḏIsaiah 19:16
וּפָחַ֥ד1xū·p̄ā·ḥaḏIsaiah 60:5
וּפָחֲד֣וּ1xū·p̄ā·ḥă·ḏūJeremiah 33:9
וּפָחֲד֧וּ1xū·p̄ā·ḥă·ḏūHosea 3:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural6xPsalms 14:5, Psalms 53:5, Psalms 78:53, Isaiah 33:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xJeremiah 33:9, Hosea 3:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2xIsaiah 19:16, Isaiah 60:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular2xPsalms 27:1, Isaiah 12:2
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 28:67, Proverbs 3:24
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 44:11, Micah 7:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 51:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular1xJob 23:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Fear rooted in sudden alarm or startlement; emphasis on reactive dread rather than reasoned caution.
Strong'sH6342
Lexical occurrences25 versesWord forms3 forms18 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 3:1-5Source Gloss
to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Fear rooted in sudden alarm or startlement; emphasis on reactive dread rather than reasoned caution.
to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general BDB: dread Usage: be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear, make to shake.
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 forms18
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense16×
PerfectIsa 33:14 · Jer 36:16 · Jer 36:24 · Ps 14:5 · Ps 53:6 · Ps 78:53 · Job 3:25 · Ps 119:1618×
ImperfectDeut 28:67 · Prov 3:24 · Isa 12:2 · Ps 27:1 · Isa 44:11 · Mic 7:17 · Isa 19:177×
JussiveIsa 44:81×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
PerfectJob 4:141×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action1×
Participle activeProv 28:141×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to tremble
Showing 1 selected witness from 25 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פָּחַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Reverent awe characterizes restored relationship.Hosea 3:1-5