חֲתַת (cha.tat)
cha.tat
terror
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chatat describes a state of intense fear or dread, functioning as a synonym for the more common word yirah (reverence or fear). In the biblical text, it captures the visceral reaction to a threat that is overwhelming and often unexpected. It is not merely anxiety but a paralyzing shock that strikes the heart.
This term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 6:20. Here, Job uses it to describe the crushing disappointment he feels when his friends fail to offer comfort. He expects them to show pity for his suffering, but instead, their silence terrifies him more than his physical pain. The word highlights how isolation can be as frightening as any external danger.
Its rarity in Scripture suggests it was reserved for moments of extreme distress rather than general caution. By using this specific term, Job emphasizes the depth of his despair. The friends’ absence is not just a lack of help; it is a source of profound terror that leaves him feeling abandoned and exposed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chatat describes a deep, paralyzing dread that goes beyond simple worry. It captures the shock of feeling abandoned when you need support most. In Job 6:21, this term reveals how painful it is to face suffering alone, especially when those who should comfort you remain silent.
This rare word reminds us that isolation can feel as terrifying as any physical danger. When friends fail to show pity, the resulting silence becomes a source of profound fear. It highlights the human need for connection during our darkest moments.
Knowing this helps us understand Job's despair more fully. His pain was not just from his own afflictions but from the terror of being misunderstood and left alone. This insight encourages us to be present for others in their distress, offering comfort rather than judgment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a terror1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲ֝תַ֗ת1×
Key Verses
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Job 6:21
For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
This verse uses the term to describe the friends' failure to offer pity, turning their silence into a source of terror for Job.