בָּהַל (ba.hal)
ba.hal
to dismay
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 29 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb baḥal describes a state of being deeply unsettled, trembling inwardly with fear or anxiety. It captures the physical reaction to terror, where one’s composure breaks down into panic. This sense of agitation is vivid in Psalm 6:3, where the psalmist feels his bones shaken by distress, and in Job 23:15, where the thought of God causes him to tremble with dread.
Beyond mere fear, the word often implies a hurried, frantic response to that alarm. When people are terrified, they act hastily, sometimes without wisdom. Proverbs 28:22 illustrates this link between anxiety and impulsive action, describing how an envious person rushes after wealth. The term appears frequently in Psalms and Job, reflecting moments where individuals feel overwhelmed by circumstances or divine presence.
Its root suggests a sudden, jarring movement, like a startle reflex. Translators often render it as "dismayed," "terrified," or "hastened," depending on whether the focus is on the emotional shock or the resulting speed of action. This dual nature shows how fear can both paralyze and drive people to act recklessly.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, it is natural to feel shaken. The Hebrew word baḥal describes this deep unsettling, where fear or anxiety causes our composure to break down. It captures that moment when we are so startled by circumstances that we might act hastily or feel paralyzed. Recognizing this reaction helps us understand that feeling troubled is a human experience, not necessarily a failure of faith.
In Psalm 6:3, the psalmist feels his bones shaken by distress, showing that even those close to God experience profound fear. Yet, this awareness can lead us to pause rather than panic. Instead of rushing into impulsive decisions driven by dread, we can bring our trembling hearts to God. He meets us in our weakness with stability and peace.
This word reminds us that our reactions matter. When we feel the urge to hurry or flee, we can choose stillness. By acknowledging our fear without letting it control our actions, we open space for divine guidance. It is an invitation to trust that God holds our trembling hands and brings order to chaos.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 29 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you be hasty2×
- they were terrified2×
- they are terrified2×
- I am terrified2×
- we are terrified1×
- to/ hurry/ I1×
- they will dismay/ him1×
- they are terrified/ !1×
- he was terrified1×
- he terrifies/ them1×
- he has terrified/ me1×
- hastily gained1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּבָּהֵ֤ל1×
- תְּבַהֵ֥ל1×
- נִבְהָלָה֙1×
- נִבְהָֽלוּ\׃\ \ס1×
- נִבְהָֽלוּ\׃1×
- נִבְהָֽלְנוּ\׃1×
- נִבְהַ֣ל1×
- נִבְהַ֖לְתִּי1×
- נִבְהֲלוּ֙1×
- נִבְהֲל֖וּ1×
- נִֽבֳהָ֥ל1×
- מְבֹהָלִ֥ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 45:3
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
This verse shows how overwhelming joy or shock can cause people to be speechless and terrified, illustrating the word's use for intense emotional disruption.
-
Job 23:15
Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.
Here the term describes a profound dread of God's presence, linking the feeling of being troubled directly to divine majesty rather than just external danger.
-
Psalms 90:7
For we are consumed in your anger. We are troubled in your wrath.
The psalmist connects being troubled with experiencing God's anger, highlighting how spiritual awareness can bring a heavy sense of unease before repentance.
-
Proverbs 28:22
A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.
This occurrence links the state of being troubled or envious to hasty action, showing how inner agitation can lead to foolish pursuit of wealth.