What does בָּהַל (niḇhălû) mean in the Bible?
בָּהַל (niḇhălû): Inward trembling that erupts into panic-driven haste; sudden alarm commanding urgent, anxious action.
Hebrew · H926
בָּהַל
To tremble inwardly (or palpitate ), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make ) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated ; by implication to hasten anxiously
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בָּהַלH926
Pronunciationniḇhălû
What does בָּהַל (niḇhălû) mean in the Bible?
בָּהַל (niḇhălû): Inward trembling that erupts into panic-driven haste; sudden alarm commanding urgent, anxious action.
Full entry for בָּהַל (H926) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H926?
The BSB source-word alignment has 37 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and terrified (2), and terrify them (2), terror (2), a sudden (1), and dismayed (1).
Where does בָּהַל (niḇhălû) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 45:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (10), Job (5), 2 Chronicles (3), Ecclesiastes (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 Itand terrified2×Psalms 83:17, Psalms 90:7
and terrify them2×2 Chronicles 32:18, Psalms 83:15
terror2×Job 21:6, Isaiah 13:8
a sudden1×Zephaniah 1:18
and dismayed1×Psalms 6:10
and rushed1×Esther 6:14
and terrifies them1×Psalms 2:5
and you are dismayed1×Job 4:5
are dismayed1×Ezekiel 26:18
are in agony1×Psalms 6:2
are terrified1×Jeremiah 51:32
be quick1×Ecclesiastes 5:2
be quickly1×Ecclesiastes 7:9
dismayed1×Psalms 30:7
distraught he was1×1 Samuel 28:21
has terrified me1×Job 23:16
hasten1×Ecclesiastes 8:3
hastens1×Proverbs 28:22
I am dismayed1×Isaiah 21:3
I am terrified1×Job 23:15
in haste1×Esther 8:14
in terror1×Psalms 48:5
is deeply distressed1×Psalms 6:3
so he quickly1×Esther 2:9
terrifies you1×Job 22:10
they are terrified1×Psalms 104:29
they rushed him1×2 Chronicles 26:20
they were terrified1×Genesis 45:3
to hurry1×2 Chronicles 35:21
was dismayed1×2 Samuel 4:1
were terrified1×Judges 20:41
will alarm him1×Daniel 11:44
will be dismayed1×Exodus 15:15
will tremble1×Ezekiel 7:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 45:3נִבְהֲל֖וּtothey were terrifiedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralExodus 15:15נִבְהֲלוּ֙towill be dismayedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralJudges 20:41וַיִּבָּהֵ֖לtowere terrifiedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 28:21נִבְהַ֣לtodistraught he wasVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular2 Samuel 4:1נִבְהָֽלוּ׃towas dismayedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Chronicles 26:20וַיַּבְהִל֖וּהוּtothey rushed himConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 32:18וּֽלְבַהֲלָ֑םtoand terrify themConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural2 Chronicles 35:21לְבַֽהֲלֵ֑נִיtoto hurryPreposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singularEsther 2:9וַ֠יְבַהֵלtoso he quicklyConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularEsther 6:14וַיַּבְהִ֙לוּ֙toand rushedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 45:3
Aligned rows37
Books represented16
Genesis1Exodus1Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel12 Chronicles3Esther3Job5Psalms10Proverbs1Ecclesiastes3Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel2Daniel1Zephaniah1
Source forms
אֶבָּהֵ֑ל1x’eb·bā·hêlJob 23:15
הִבְהִילָֽנִי׃1xhiḇ·hî·lā·nîJob 23:16
וַ֠יְבַהֵל1xway·ḇa·hêlEsther 2:9
וַיִּבָּהֵ֖ל1xway·yib·bā·hêlJudges 20:41
וְיִבָּהֲל֣וּ1xwə·yib·bā·hă·lūPsalms 6:10
וְיִבָּהֲל֥וּ1xwə·yib·bā·hă·lūPsalms 83:17
וַיַּבְהִ֙לוּ֙1xway·yaḇ·hi·lūEsther 6:14
וַיַּבְהִל֖וּהוּ1xway·yaḇ·hi·lū·hū2 Chronicles 26:20
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural6xGenesis 45:3, Exodus 15:15, 2 Samuel 4:1, Psalms 6:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 6:10, Psalms 83:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xIsaiah 13:8, Ezekiel 26:18
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2xPsalms 30:7, Proverbs 28:22
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xEcclesiastes 5:2, Ecclesiastes 7:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xEsther 6:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular1x2 Chronicles 26:20
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1xJob 21:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Inward trembling that erupts into panic-driven haste; sudden alarm commanding urgent, anxious action.
Strong'sH926
Lexical occurrences39 versesWord forms3 forms20 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalm 6:1–3Source Gloss
to tremble inwardly (or palpitate ), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make ) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated ; by implication to hasten anxiously
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Inward trembling that erupts into panic-driven haste; sudden alarm commanding urgent, anxious action.
to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously BDB: be disturbed Usage: be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex.
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 forms20
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action16×
Perfect2Sam 4:1 · Exod 15:15 · Gen 45:3 · Jer 51:32 · Ps 6:3 · Ps 48:6 · 1Sam 28:21 · Isa 21:3 · Ps 6:4 · Ps 90:710×
Participle activeProv 28:22 · Ps 30:82×
ImperfectEzek 7:27 · Job 23:152×
JussiveEccl 8:31×
Participle passiveZeph 1:181×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
JussiveEccl 5:1 · Eccl 7:92×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
Participle passiveEsth 8:14 · Prov 20:212×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Are disturbed, terrified, or in sudden agony; denotes a state of shock or collapse
Showing 1 selected witness from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
בָּהַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.