זַעֲוָה (za.a.vah)
za.a.vah
horror
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun za’avah describes a state of intense fear or trembling that turns a person into an object of dread. It is not merely nervousness but a deep, paralyzing horror that causes one to shake with terror. In the Hebrew Bible, this word captures the visceral reaction to divine judgment or overwhelming disaster.
This term appears six times, primarily in Jeremiah and Deuteronomy. For instance, it describes the fate of those who reject God’s covenant, becoming a source of shock and trembling to other nations (Deuteronomy 28:37). It is also used to depict the psychological devastation inflicted upon Israel by its enemies, where fear becomes so pervasive that it defines their existence (Jeremiah 51:46).
The word highlights how sin and rebellion can invert social order, turning a people from a blessing into a curse. The horror associated with za’avah is not just personal anxiety but a public reputation of ruin. It serves as a stark warning that turning away from God leads to a life defined by fear rather than peace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word za’avah describes more than simple nervousness; it captures a deep, paralyzing horror that leaves one trembling. In Scripture, this intense fear often arises when people turn away from God’s covenant, resulting in a life defined by dread rather than peace. It serves as a stark reminder that rebellion against divine wisdom leads to ruin and social disgrace.
Yet this warning also highlights the value of remaining close to the Lord. When we walk in obedience, we avoid the isolation and terror that come from rejecting His guidance. The hope found in Scripture is not just avoidance of judgment, but the security of living under God’s protective care.
This term invites us to examine our own lives for areas where fear might be replacing faith. By seeking God’s presence daily, we can find stability even when the world around us feels unstable and frightening.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- into/ a terror5×
- <into>/ a terror1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/זַעֲוָ֔ה2×
- לְ/זַעֲוָ֣ה1×
- לְ/זַעֲוָ֜ה1×
- לְ/זַֽעֲוָה֙1×
- לְ/זַֽעֲוָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 29:18
I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of horror, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
Here the word appears in a list of judgments, emphasizing that exile results in becoming a source of shock and dread among all nations.
-
II Chronicles 29:8
Therefore Yahweh’s wrath was on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to be tossed back and forth, to be an astonishment and a hissing, as you see with your eyes.
Though the translation varies, this passage connects God’s wrath with the state of being an object of horror and hissing to the eyes of observers.