רָעַד
𐤓𐤏𐤃
râʻad
H7460 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To tremble, quake, or shudder, typically as a response to intense emotion such as fear, awe, or fright; also used of physical trembling due to cold or overwhelming experience. In contextual usage it refers both to inward, emotional trembling (such as fear before the appearance or command of a deity, a threatening situation, or a powerful person or event), and outward, visible physical trembling. The term may be applied to both individuals and groups.
Semantic Range
to tremble (from fear, awe, or cold), to quake (physically or emotionally), to shudder with fear, to exhibit involuntary shaking, to be overcome with terror or dread
Root / Etymology
From the root ר־ע־ד, which carries the core sense of trembling or shaking. The root likely imitates the sense of physical movement or agitation, though it is not attested outside Hebrew and cognates are uncertain; etymology outside Hebrew is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, רָעַד is used to describe responses to divine encounters (e.g., trembling before a theophany), panic at military threats, or overwhelming fear. It is found predominantly in poetic or elevated narrative contexts to emphasize physical or emotional reactions. The root is related in meaning to חרד (ḥ-r-d), which also means "to tremble" or "be afraid," though רָעַד more strongly connotes physical shaking, whereas חרד can denote emotional agitation. In most English translations, "tremble" or "quake" is used, but these do not always capture the depth of emotion or the full context implied in the Hebrew usage. In later periods, the root is very rare. There is no developed theological or technical meaning. The term is not associated with later Judean or religious identities and appears chiefly in classical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to shudder (more or less violently); tremble.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רעד (r-ʿ-d) — to tremble, to shudder, to quake
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7461 | רַעַד | in trembling |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7460-01 |
מַרְעִֽיד | mareid | HVhrmsa |
trembling | one who causes trembling | 1 |
H7460-03 |
וַ/תִּרְעָ֑ד | vatiread | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it trembles | and she trembled | 1 |
H7460-02 |
מַרְעִידִ֥ים | mareidim | HVhrmpa |
trembling | those who cause trembling | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7460-03 |
Psalms 104:32 | וַ/תִּרְעָ֑ד | vatiread | HC/Vqw3fs |
and it trembles | and she trembled |
H7460-01 |
Daniel 10:11 | מַרְעִֽיד | mareid | HVhrmsa |
trembling | one who causes trembling |
H7460-02 |
Ezra 10:9 | מַרְעִידִ֥ים | mareidim | HVhrmpa |
trembling | those who cause trembling |