What does חָרַד (ḥārad) mean in the Bible?
This Hebrew verb can describe trembling, being startled or taking concerned trouble over something. Isaac trembles violently when the deception surrounding his blessing becomes clear in Genesis 27:33.
Hebrew · H2729
חָרַד
To shudder with terror; hence, to fear ; also to hasten (with anxiety)
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חָרַדH2729
Pronunciationḥārad
What does חָרַד (ḥārad) mean in the Bible?
This Hebrew verb can describe trembling, being startled or taking concerned trouble over something. Isaac trembles violently when the deception surrounding his blessing becomes clear in Genesis 27:33.
Reader summary
Full entry for חָרַד (H2729) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2729?
The BSB source-word alignment has 39 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include tremble (3), to fear (2), to make him afraid (2), trembled (2), and trembled (1).
Where does חָרַד (ḥārad) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 27:33. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (6), 1 Samuel (5), Isaiah (5), Jeremiah (3).
What This Word Actually Means
This Hebrew verb can describe trembling, being startled or taking concerned trouble over something. Isaac trembles violently when the deception surrounding his blessing becomes clear in Genesis 27:33. The people tremble amid the thunder, cloud and trumpet at Sinai in Exodus 19:16. Boaz is startled on waking at midnight in Ruth 3:8. These scenes supply different reasons for a strong response; the verb alone does not pronounce the same judgment on each person.
Second Kings 4:13 shows why the broader context matters. Elisha acknowledges the trouble the Shunammite woman has taken for him and his servant. The focus is her attentive hospitality, not a description of terror. Micah 4:4, in turn, pictures people resting under their vines and fig trees with no one to frighten them. Trembling, startled awareness, concerned effort and freedom from intimidation belong to different sentences. Neither a visible bodily reaction nor its absence can serve as a reliable test of another person's reverence, courage or relationship with God.
source_lexiconPassage contextCanonical parallelPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
Isaac's shock, Sinai's overwhelming encounter, Boaz's sudden awakening, a woman's attentive hospitality and Micah's promised security distinguish the causes and objects of concern.
- Gen.27.33
Isaac began to tremble violently and said, “Who was it, then, who hunted the game and brought it to me? Before you came in, I ate it all and blessed him—and indeed, he will be blessed!”
Isaac's violent trembling occurs when he learns that the blessing has already gone to the other son. The surrounding deception and recognition explain the scene without making trembling itself a universal sign of guilt.
- Exod.19.16
On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning. A thick cloud was upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the ram’s horn went out, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
The people tremble amid thunder, lightning, cloud and the loud trumpet as they prepare to meet God. The passage describes this encounter rather than prescribing a bodily display for every gathering.
- Ruth.3.8
At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman!
Boaz is startled at midnight and discovers Ruth at his feet. His subsequent question and her reply identify what has happened; the reaction does not establish a general diagnosis of either person's character.
- 2Kgs.4.13
And Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.
Elisha recognizes the trouble the Shunammite woman has taken for them and asks how he can respond. The wording belongs to appreciation of her hospitality, not a claim that she is terrified.
- Mic.4.4
And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
The promise pictures each person at rest with no one to frighten him, following the vision of nations no longer training for war. Its hope should be heard without pretending that every present threat has already disappeared.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ittremble3×Isaiah 41:5, Ezekiel 26:18, Amos 3:6
to fear2×Leviticus 26:6, Isaiah 17:2
to make him afraid2×Jeremiah 30:10, Jeremiah 46:27
trembled2×Exodus 19:16, 1 Samuel 14:15
and trembled1×1 Samuel 28:5
and trembling1×Genesis 42:28
began to tremble violently1×Genesis 27:33
fear1×Job 11:19
he trembled1×1 Samuel 21:1
I will throw him into a panic1×2 Samuel 17:2
in terror1×1 Kings 1:49
one to frighten him1×Micah 4:4
one to frighten them1×Ezekiel 39:26
one to scare them away1×Deuteronomy 28:26
one will frighten them1×Ezekiel 34:28
pounds1×Job 37:1
quaked1×Exodus 19:18
routing1×Judges 8:12
Shudder1×Isaiah 32:11
they trembled1×1 Samuel 16:4
They will come trembling1×Hosea 11:11
They will tremble1×Isaiah 19:16
to frighten1×Ezekiel 30:9
to frighten them away1×Nahum 2:11
to make them tremble1×Zephaniah 3:13
to scare them away1×Jeremiah 7:33
to terrify1×Zechariah 1:21
trembles1×Isaiah 10:29
trembling1×Ezekiel 26:16
trouble1×2 Kings 4:13
was startled1×Ruth 3:8
were quaking in fear1×1 Samuel 13:7
will come trembling1×Hosea 11:10
will tremble1×Ezekiel 32:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 27:33וַיֶּחֱרַ֨דtobegan to tremble violentlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 42:28וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּtoand tremblingConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 19:16וַיֶּחֱרַ֥דtotrembledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 19:18וַיֶּחֱרַ֥דtoquakedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularLeviticus 26:6מַחֲרִ֑ידtoto fearVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 28:26מַחֲרִֽיד׃toone to scare them awayVerb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularJudges 8:12הֶחֱרִֽיד׃toroutingVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularRuth 3:8וַיֶּחֱרַ֥דtowas startledConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular1 Samuel 13:7חָרְד֥וּtowere quaking in fearVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural1 Samuel 14:15חָרְד֖וּtotrembledVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 27:33
Aligned rows39
Books represented20
Genesis2Exodus2Leviticus1Deuteronomy1Judges1Ruth11 Samuel52 Samuel11 Kings12 Kings1Job2Isaiah5Jeremiah3Ezekiel6Hosea2Amos1Micah1Nahum1Zephaniah1Zechariah1
Source forms
מַחֲרִֽיד׃7xma·ḥă·rîḏDeuteronomy 28:26, Isaiah 17:2, Jeremiah 7:33, Jeremiah 30:10
וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד4xway·ye·ḥĕ·raḏExodus 19:16, Exodus 19:18, Ruth 3:8, 1 Samuel 28:5
מַחֲרִ֑יד3xma·ḥă·rîḏLeviticus 26:6, Job 11:19, Micah 4:4
וַיֶּחֱרַ֨ד2xway·ye·ḥĕ·raḏGenesis 27:33, 1 Samuel 21:1
יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ2xye·ḥĕ·rā·ḏūIsaiah 41:5, Amos 3:6
מַחֲרִֽיד׃ס2xma·ḥă·rîḏJeremiah 46:27, Zephaniah 3:13
הֶחֱרִֽיד׃1xhe·ḥĕ·rîḏJudges 8:12
וְהַֽחֲרַדְתִּ֣י1xwə·ha·ḥă·raḏ·tî2 Samuel 17:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular12xLeviticus 26:6, Deuteronomy 28:26, Job 11:19, Isaiah 17:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular6xGenesis 27:33, Exodus 19:16, Exodus 19:18, Ruth 3:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural4xIsaiah 41:5, Ezekiel 26:18, Hosea 11:11, Amos 3:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural3xGenesis 42:28, 1 Samuel 16:4, 1 Kings 1:49
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 26:16, Ezekiel 32:10
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct2xEzekiel 30:9, Zechariah 1:21
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2x1 Samuel 13:7, 1 Samuel 14:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular1x2 Samuel 17:2
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Appreciate concerned effort without demanding anxious overwork as the measure of faithful service.
- Allow people to describe fear honestly and seek appropriate support without having to perform composure.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that trembling always reveals guilt, divine rejection or a superior encounter with God.
- Do not claim that a person must suppress bodily distress or reproduce it to demonstrate faith.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Fear manifested physically—trembling body reflects inner terror; anxiety-driven urgency in movement.
Strong'sH2729
Lexical occurrences39 versesWord forms2 forms23 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 11:8-11Source Gloss
to shudder with terror; hence, to fear ; also to hasten (with anxiety)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Fear manifested physically—trembling body reflects inner terror; anxiety-driven urgency in movement.
to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety) BDB: tremble Usage: be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble.
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 groups2Aligned forms23
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action13×
Participle activeDeut 28:26 · Ezek 34:28 · Ezek 39:26 · Isa 17:2 · Jer 7:33 · Jer 30:10 · Jer 46:27 · Job 11:19 · Lev 26:6 · Mic 4:4 · Nah 2:12 · Zeph 3:1312×
PerfectJudg 8:121×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense10×
ImperfectAmos 3:6 · Ezek 26:18 · Hos 11:11 · Isa 41:5 · Job 37:15×
Perfect1Sam 13:7 · 1Sam 14:15 · 2Kgs 4:13 · Isa 10:294×
Sequential imperfectIsa 32:111×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to tremble
To quake or be terrified.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 39 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָרַד is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The verb captures the emotional impact of divine intervention.Hosea 11:8-11
Reverent response of returning exiles.Isaiah 19:16-17
For the Preacher and Teacher
Second Kings 4:13 gives the reader an unusually helpful check against a one-word shortcut. Elisha has received hospitality, and he asks what can be done for the woman who has taken such trouble for them. Reading the verb as though it must mean terror would obscure his acknowledgment of her care. The scene invites attention to another person's effort before turning the story into an abstract lesson about fear.
The same care is needed when the response really is trembling. Sinai, Isaac's discovery and Boaz's awakening are not interchangeable events. The passage supplies the cause and significance; a modern observer does not gain access to someone's heart merely by noticing a bodily reaction. Micah's vision of freedom from intimidation can sustain hope while calling readers to take actual fear seriously. Neither enforced composure nor a required display of shaking should become a condition for belonging among God's people.
Anchor passage
2Kgs.4.13
Doctrinal connections
- Second Kings 4:8-13 places the woman's concerned effort within her provision of hospitality for Elisha.
- Genesis 27:32-35 locates Isaac's trembling within the discovery of deception surrounding the blessing.
- Exodus 19:16-18 describes the people's and mountain's trembling at the Lord's descent.
- Ruth 3:8-10 moves from Boaz's startled awakening to Ruth's stated request and his response.
- Micah 4:3-4 joins freedom from intimidation with the promised end of training for war.
- Hebrews 12:18-24 recalls the overwhelming mountain encounter and names Jesus as mediator of the new covenant.
The lexical range includes trembling and fearful response, while the hospitality scene employs language of taking trouble. Identifying the action's object and the speaker's purpose prevents an emotional sense from being imposed where the sentence emphasizes attentive effort.
From Old to New Testament
Hebrews 12:18-24 explicitly recalls the mountain encounter and describes coming to Jesus, the mediator, and to His sprinkled blood. The connection directs attention to how people approach God through Christ. It does not establish a required bodily reaction or authorize a teacher to measure another person's faith from visible trembling.
Passage contextPastoral applicationCanonical parallel