חָרַד (cha.rad)
cha.rad
to tremble
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chārad describes a physical trembling that reveals an inner state of fear or awe. It is used for people shaking with terror, as when Saul’s heart trembled at the witch of Endor’s presence (1 Samuel 28:5), and for mountains quaking under divine power in Isaiah 10:29. The word captures the involuntary reaction of the body to overwhelming circumstances.
Its meaning extends beyond simple fright to include anxious care or urgency. In 2 Kings 4:13, the Shunammite woman is described as being “careful” or anxious about her household, showing how chārad can denote a worried attentiveness. This nuance connects physical shaking with mental distress, suggesting that fear often manifests as restless concern.
Translators render chārad variously as tremble, quake, or be afraid, depending on context. The verb appears most frequently in prophetic literature like Isaiah and Jeremiah, where it underscores the human response to God’s majesty or judgment. Its usage highlights a consistent biblical theme: divine presence naturally evokes a visceral reaction of reverence or fear.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chārad captures a physical trembling that reveals an inner state of fear or awe. It describes people shaking with terror, as when Isaac trembled violently upon realizing he had blessed Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27:33). This reaction is not merely emotional but visceral, showing how overwhelming circumstances can shake the body and mind.
Yet this trembling also points to a deeper reality: divine presence naturally evokes reverence. When Mount Sinai quaked under God’s power, Israel trembled in awe (Exodus 19:18). Even so, Scripture offers comfort alongside this warning. God promises that those who trust Him will eventually lie down and no one will make them afraid (Leviticus 26:6; Jeremiah 30:10).
This tension between fear and peace invites us to examine our hearts. Are we trembling in anxiety, or in holy reverence? The biblical call is not to eliminate fear entirely, but to direct it toward God, who alone brings true rest.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [will be one who] terrifies6×
- and/ they trembled3×
- and/ it trembled3×
- they trembled2×
- they tremble2×
- and/ he trembled2×
- [will be one who] disturbs [them]2×
- you have taken care1×
- tremble1×
- they will tremble1×
- it trembles1×
- it has trembled1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחֲרִֽיד\׃4×
- וַ/יֶּחֱרַ֥ד4×
- מַחֲרִ֑יד3×
- מַחֲרִֽיד\׃\ \ס2×
- יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ2×
- יֶחֶרְד֤וּ1×
- יֶחֱרַ֣ד1×
- חָרַ֣דְתְּ\׀1×
- חָרְד֥וּ1×
- חָרְד֖וּ1×
- חָֽרְדָה֙1×
- חִרְדוּ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 27:33
Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came, and have blessed him? Yes, he will be blessed.”
Isaac’s violent trembling reveals the shock of realizing his blessing was given away, showing how chārad expresses sudden, overwhelming fear.
-
Exodus 19:18
All of Mount Sinai smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.
Mount Sinai quaking greatly illustrates how divine presence can cause even inanimate creation to tremble in awe.
-
I Samuel 28:5
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
Saul’s heart trembling greatly shows chārad as a physical manifestation of terror before impending judgment.
-
Jeremiah 30:10
Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.
God’s promise that no one will make Jacob afraid contrasts human trembling with the peace found in divine deliverance.