חָרֵד
𐤇𐤓𐤃
chârêd
H2730 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Deeply fearful or anxious; one experiencing intense emotional agitation due to fear, awe, or anticipation. The term often conveys trembling or shaking as a physical response to such emotional states. In various contexts, it may denote someone reverent toward, or in dread of, a powerful figure or event. The semantic range covers physical trembling, psychological fearfulness, and reverential awe toward the divine or authority.
Semantic Range
trembling from fear, anxious trembling, physical quaking, emotional agitation from impending trouble, trembling out of reverence or awe, those who revere a deity by trembling at divine instruction
Root / Etymology
From the root חרד (ḥ-r-d), which fundamentally means 'to tremble' or 'to quake.' The adjective חָרֵד (chârêd) is formed from this root and signifies 'one who trembles' (whether from fright or from awe).
Historical & Contextual Notes
During the monarchic period, חָרֵד could describe individuals overcome by fear of enemies, disaster, or divine action. The term often carries an emotional-intensity that exceeds ordinary fear, emphasizing inner agitation manifesting outwardly as trembling. In post-exilic (Second Temple) contexts such as Isaiah 66:2, 5, חָרֵד becomes closely associated with those showing reverence toward the commandments of Israel's deity—'the one who trembles at my word.' This marks a subtle semantic shift toward a pious, reverential attitude, rather than mere terror. The English term 'fearful' captures only part of the nuance, as חָרֵד implies both involuntary fear and voluntary, reverent awe. It is distinct from similar roots such as ירא (to fear, often with connotations of respect or worship) in that חרד emphasizes the somatic and emotional intensity, especially trembling, rather than abstract respect or obedience. Later translations sometimes render חָרֵד as 'Jew' or 'God-fearer' in certain contexts, but these terms are anachronistic for ancient Israelite usage and reflect interpretive traditions more than lexical meaning.
Translation Consistency
Most occurrences are rendered as “trembling,” and chârêd primarily conveys physical shaking or anxious/reverent trembling. “Tremble” is natural English that covers fear, awe, and physical quaking better than alternatives like “dread” or “quiver,” and works consistently for all forms of this lemma.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרַד; fearful; also reverential; afraid, trembling.
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kikongo | kelela | to tremble, to shiver (with fear or cold) | |
| Kimbundu | kelela | to tremble, shiver | |
| Lingala | kelela | to tremble, to shiver |
Root Family
חרד (Charadah) — to tremble, to shudder, to be agitated
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2730-01 |
חָרֵ֔ד | chared | HAamsa |
trembling | trembling one | trembling one | 2 |
H2730-03 |
וְ/חָרֵ֖ד | vechared | HC/Aamsa |
and trembles | and trembling one | and trembling one | 2 |
H2730-02 |
הַ/חֲרֵדִ֖ים | hacharedim | HTd/Aampa |
you who tremble | the trembling ones | the trembling ones | 1 |
H2730-04 |
וְ/הַ/חֲרֵדִ֖ים | vehacharedim | HC/Td/Aampa |
and those who tremble | and the trembling ones | and those who tremble | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2730-03 |
Judges 7:3 | וְ/חָרֵ֔ד | vechared | HC/Aamsa |
and trembling | and trembling one | and trembling one |
H2730-01 |
1 Samuel 4:13 | חָרֵ֔ד | chared | HAamsa |
trembling | trembling one | trembling one |
H2730-03 |
Isaiah 66:2 | וְ/חָרֵ֖ד | vechared | HC/Aamsa |
and trembles | and trembling one | and trembling one |
H2730-02 |
Isaiah 66:5 | הַ/חֲרֵדִ֖ים | hacharedim | HTd/Aampa |
you who tremble | the trembling ones | the trembling ones |
H2730-01 |
Ezra 9:4 | חָרֵד֙ | chared | HAamsa |
who-trembled | trembling one | trembling one |
H2730-04 |
Ezra 10:3 | וְ/הַ/חֲרֵדִ֖ים | vehacharedim | HC/Td/Aampa |
and those who tremble | and the trembling ones | and those who tremble |