מַעֲרָצָה (ma.a.ra.tsah)
ma.a.ra.tsah
terror
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ma‘aratsah conveys a sense of sudden, overwhelming dread or a terrifying shock. It is not merely fear, but a visceral reaction to something so powerful and abrupt that it causes a physical or spiritual collapse. The term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 10:33.
In this verse, the word describes God’s action against Assyria using the image of a tree being lopped off. Just as a heavy blow to a tree’s crown sends it crashing down, ma‘aratsah captures the awe-inspiring force of divine judgment. The sources highlight its association with an "awful shock," emphasizing the sheer weight and impact of the event rather than just the emotion of fear.
This rare usage anchors the word in the context of decisive intervention. It illustrates how biblical language often uses physical violence or natural disasters to describe spiritual realities. The term reminds readers that divine power is not abstract; it has a tangible, crushing force that leaves no room for resistance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ma‘aratsah describes a sudden, overwhelming dread that strikes like a physical blow. It is not just nervous anxiety, but a visceral reaction to something so powerful it causes collapse. In Isaiah 10:33, this term paints a vivid picture of God’s decisive action against Assyria. The image is of a tree being lopped off with terror, where the tall branches are cut down and the lofty brought low.
For your faith, this reminds us that divine power is not abstract. It has a tangible force that leaves no room for resistance or pride. When we face situations that feel beyond our control, this word assures us that God’s intervention is both real and effective. It calls us to humility, recognizing that human strength often crumbles before the weight of His will.
This assurance brings hope rather than fear. We do not need to rely on our own towering achievements or defenses. Instead, we can rest in the knowledge that God sees clearly and acts with purpose. His power is sufficient to handle any threat, allowing us to find peace in His sovereignty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ a crash1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/מַעֲרָצָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 10:33
Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
This verse uses the word to describe the sudden, crushing force of God’s judgment against Assyria, likening it to a tree being lopped off.