מָגוֹר (ma.gor)
ma.gor
terror
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word מָגוֹר describes a profound, paralyzing fear that leaves no escape route. It is not merely nervousness but a deep dread that surrounds a person completely. In the biblical text, this term often appears in phrases like 'terror on every side,' painting a picture of total vulnerability where safety seems impossible to find.
When we encounter such intense anxiety or fear in our own lives, it can feel as though there is no way out. The scriptures acknowledge this reality honestly rather than dismissing our struggles. Recognizing the weight of this emotion helps us understand why ancient believers cried out for divine protection when surrounded by threats they could not control.
Yet even amidst descriptions of overwhelming dread, the biblical narrative points toward a refuge that remains steady. While human defenses may fail and fear may rise up from all directions, faith offers a perspective that looks beyond immediate danger. This word reminds us that our ultimate security does not depend on our ability to eliminate every threat, but on who stands with us through them.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- terror4×
- terrors/ my1×
- into/ a terror1×
- from/ terror1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָג֖וֹר2×
- מָג֥וֹר1×
- מָג֣וֹר1×
- מִ/מָּג֣וֹר1×
- מְגוּרַ/י֙1×
- לְ/מָג֜וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 6:25
Don’t go out into the field or walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror are on every side.
This verse uses the word to describe an inescapable atmosphere of danger that restricts movement and creates a sense of being trapped.
-
Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the defaming of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
Here the term shifts from external military threat to internal social pressure, showing how betrayal by friends can create a psychological siege.
-
Isaiah 31:9
His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says Yahweh, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
The word explains why powerful enemies ultimately fail, as their confidence collapses under the weight of divine judgment rather than human strength.