דְּחַל (de.chal)
de.chal
to fear
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb dechal carries the sense of being struck by fear or awe. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, with a strong concentration in the book of Daniel. In these contexts, it describes a profound reaction to divine power or supernatural events, such as when visions or dreams disturb the peace of the mind.
Its usage highlights a specific kind of trembling response rather than general anxiety. The sources note that the Pael stem can mean to cause fear, indicating that this word often captures the impact of God’s presence on human observers. It is not merely an emotional state but a visceral reaction to something greater than oneself.
This rarity in Scripture gives it weight where it does appear. Translators typically render it as "fear" or "afraid," capturing the suddenness and intensity of the experience. The word serves as a literary marker for moments where the boundary between the human and divine becomes startlingly clear, leaving those who witness it shaken.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dechal appears only four times in the Old Testament, making it a rare marker for moments when the divine breaks into human history with startling intensity. It describes not everyday anxiety, but a visceral trembling before something far greater than ourselves. When Daniel encounters visions of God’s power or terrifying beasts, this word captures the sudden shift from normal life to awe-struck reverence.
In Daniel 2:31, the king sees an image whose appearance is dechal—terrifying and majestic. This reaction reminds us that encountering God’s glory often shakes our foundations. It is a holy fear that acknowledges our smallness against His greatness. Such moments invite us to pause, recognize His sovereignty, and rest in the knowledge that He holds all power.
Even when visions are disturbing, as in Daniel 7:19, this fear points to God’s ultimate authority. We do not need to understand every detail of prophecy to know that God is in control. This rare word encourages us to approach Scripture with humility, letting its weight shape our worship rather than our worry.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ fearing1×
- [was] terrible1×
- [was] fearful1×
- [it was] terrible1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/דָחֲלִ֖ין1×
- דְּחִילָה֩1×
- דְּחִילָ֣ה1×
- דְּחִֽיל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:31
“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
This verse uses dechal to describe the terrifying brightness of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image, marking the moment divine revelation overwhelms human perception.
-
Daniel 5:19
Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.
Here the word describes how peoples trembled before a king’s power, showing how earthly authority can evoke a fear that mirrors reverence for God.
-
Daniel 7:19
“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
Daniel uses this term to describe the fourth beast as exceedingly terrible, highlighting the awe-inspiring dread that accompanies visions of divine judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does dechal mean in the Bible?
How is dechal different from yare?
Where does this word appear in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)
Daniel 4 verses
“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood…
Daniel 5:19Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He…
Daniel 7:7“After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly…
Daniel 7:19“Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly…