φόβητρον (phobētron)
phobētron
fearful thing
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun phobētron refers to something that strikes terror or serves as a cause of fright. It describes an object or event so alarming that it provokes intense fear in those who witness it. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Luke 21:11, where Jesus lists signs preceding the end times.
Jesus uses it to describe great earthquakes and fearsome sights occurring across the world. The term captures the visceral reaction to overwhelming events that disrupt normal life. Translators typically render it as "terrifying events" or "fearsome sights," emphasizing the external nature of what causes the dread rather than an internal emotional state.
Its root connects to the verb for fearing, but the noun form shifts focus to the source of the fear itself. This usage highlights how certain occurrences function as objects of dread, demanding attention through their sheer intensity. The word underscores the gravity of the signs Jesus describes, marking them as moments that naturally inspire awe and trepidation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word phobētron points to those overwhelming moments that shake our sense of stability. In Luke 21:11, Jesus describes great earthquakes and fearsome sights as signs of the end times. These are not abstract concepts but visceral events that disrupt normal life and provoke deep dread. The term highlights how external circumstances can strike terror into the human heart, demanding our attention through their sheer intensity.
For your faith, this word reminds us that even in chaos, Jesus speaks clearly about what is happening. He does not leave us guessing about the gravity of these times. Instead, He names the fear so we might recognize it and turn to Him. When the world feels unstable, remember that Christ is aware of every tremor and every terrifying sign.
This awareness invites a different kind of response than panic. It calls for steady trust in His sovereignty. You do not have to understand every detail of history to know who holds it. The same Lord who names these fearsome sights also walks beside you through them, offering peace that surpasses understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- fearful sights1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φόβητρά1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 21:11
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
Jesus uses this rare noun to categorize 'terrors' alongside earthquakes and plagues as specific external signs preceding the end, shifting focus from internal emotion to the alarming events themselves.