Job 4:14 — Word Study
WLCפַּ֣חַד קְ֭רָאַנִי וּרְעָדָ֑ה וְרֹ֖ב עַצְמוֹתַ֣י הִפְחִֽיד׃
BSAfearpachad [dread, terror] and tremblingraʻad [shaking, quaking] came over meqârâʼ■ and made allrôb my bonesʻetsem [the substance of my being] shudderpâchad■ [to shake, be affrighted]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| פַּ֣חַד | fear | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| קְ֭רָאַנִי | it happened to me | Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וּרְעָדָ֑ה | and trembling | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular absolute |
| וְרֹ֖ב | and [the] multitude of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עַצְמוֹתַ֣י | bones my | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| הִפְחִֽיד׃ | it caused to tremble | Verb, Hiphil, perfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder. |
| KJV | Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. |
| ASV | Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake. |
| YLT | Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear. |
| WEB | fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. |
| BBE | Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble; |
Where they part company is פַּחַד — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause followed by noun phrases that clarify the subject and object of Job's experience.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּחַד
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 4:14
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Disturbing Visionsgenerated
Job 4:14 describes a moment when Job is overtaken by fear and trembling, which causes a physical reaction in his bones. This experience occurs in the context of unsettling visions that come to him at night, highlighting the emotional and psychological turmoil he faces. The verses surrounding this one illustrate Job's deep sense of dread and the supernatural elements that contribute to his fear, as seen in Job 4:13 and Job 4:15.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 7:14 | then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, |
| 2 | Psalm 119:120 | My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. |
| 3 | Isaiah 6:5 | Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” |
| 4 | Daniel 10:11 | He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. |
| 5 | Habakkuk 3:16 | I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — פַּחַד, Pa.chadgenerated
The noun פַּחַד (pachad) refers to a profound feeling of dread or terror, often triggered by something sudden or alarming. It encompasses the emotional response of fear, particularly in relation to the fear of God or divine judgment.
In this verse, it indicates the overwhelming dread that Job experiences, which is so intense that it causes a physical reaction in his body. The parsing as a masculine singular noun emphasizes its role as a subject of Job's emotional state.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse uses fear and trembling consistently with other translations such as the KJV and ASV, all maintaining the same terminology.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is קְ֭רָא, it happened, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes noun phrases that serve as both subject and object, indicating Job's experience of fear and its effects on his body.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the intensity of the experience, with the noun phrases detailing the elements of fear and trembling that overwhelm Job.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates פַּחַד as τρόμος (tremor), which conveys a similar sense of fear but may imply a slightly different nuance of physical manifestation.
This choice reflects a focus on the physical reaction to fear, aligning with Job's description of his bones shuddering due to the overwhelming dread he feels.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 4:14 describes a moment when Job is overtaken by fear and trembling, causing his bones to shudder. This experience occurs during unsettling visions at night, highlighting the emotional turmoil he faces.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing a deep emotional response to a terrifying experience, indicating that he is overwhelmed by dread.
The fear is so intense that it causes a physical reaction, making all his bones shudder.
This verse is part of a series of disturbing visions that Job experiences at night, contributing to his overall sense of dread.
Job's visions reflect his inner turmoil and the existential questions he faces regarding suffering and divine justice.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What experiences in my life have caused me to feel overwhelming fear or dread?
- How do I respond physically when I encounter fear? Can I relate to Job's experience?
- In what ways can I find comfort in moments of fear, similar to how Job seeks understanding?
- How do the themes of fear and trembling in this verse resonate with my understanding of faith and trust in God?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentaries on Job's experience of fear highlight the profound nature of his dread. Here are quotations from Gregory the Dialogist, who reflects on the implications of this verse.
Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. But when the mind is lifted on high, in proportion as it sees things higher above itself, the more terribly it trembles in itself.Early Church Fathers on Job 4 →
ON HOW HERETICS MISUSE THIS VERSE. Fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. For because they desire to appear objects of wonder for the loftiness of their instructions,Early Church Fathers on Job 4 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 4:14 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleFear came upon me, and trembling,.... Not only a dread of mind, but trembling of body; which was often the case even with good men, whenever there was any unusual appearance of God unto them by a
Read John Gill on Job 4 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryFear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 4 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleFear came upon me; either caused by the apparition following; or sent by God to humble him, and to prepare him for the more diligent attention to, reverent reception of; and ready compliance with, the Divine message.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 4 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 4:14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.Ver. 14. Fear came on me, and trembling] Fear in the inward man, and trembling in the outward. And this is God’ s method still: the more he draweth nigh to any man the more doth rottenness enter into his bones, and he is horribly afraid of God’ s judgments, with David; he trembleth at his word, with Josiah, that it may be the more efficacious in his soul. "Let us have grace" (saith the apostle), "whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for even our God also" (and not the God of the Jews only) "is a consuming fire," Hebrews 12:28-29. Aξιωματικωτατοςμενεστινοβασιλευςημων, saith Basil. Our…
Read John Trapp on Job 4 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges14. Eliphaz depicts graphically the circumstances in which he received the message from heaven. In the dead night, in the midst of his perplexing thoughts upon his bed, a supernatural terror suddenly seized him. Then he was conscious of a breath passing before him, Job 4:15. Then he seemed to perceive a figure in his presence, too dim, however, to be discerned; and at last a whisper of a voice gave utterance to the awful words that expressed the relations of man to God, Job 4:16. So awful were the impressions of that night, that Eliphaz in recalling the circumstances almost feels himself in the midst of them again, and he falls into the present tense in describing them: a breath passeth…
Read Cambridge on Job 4 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleFear came upon me - Margin, “Met me.” The Chaldee Paraphrase renders this, “a tempest,” זיקא. The Septuagint, φρίκη frikē - “shuddering,” or “horror.” The sense is, that he became greatly alarmed at the vision.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 4 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible14. All my bones — Literally, the multitude of my bones. Virgil similarly describes the effects of horror, — “gelidus per ima cucurrit ossa tremor,” (AEneid, 2:120,) — through the inmost bones an icy tremor ran.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 4 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
a trembling gripped me – and a terror! – and made all my bones shake.
Tyndale line
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
Feare came vpon me, and dread which made all my bones to tremble.
Strictly literal
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
Fear has met me, and trembling, || And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.
From the Latin
Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:
Simplified
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in the wording of this verse, with five of the six words matching directly. This indicates a strong consistency in the transmission of this text across different traditions.
פַּ֣חַד קְ֭רָאַנִי וּרְעָדָ֑ה וְרֹ֖ב עַצְמוֹתַ֣י הִפְחִֽיד׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 4:14
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
פַּ֫חַד (pachad) refers to the concept of dread or terror, often indicating both the feeling of fear and the object that inspires it. The word is derived from a root meaning to be alarmed, and it encompasses a range of meanings related to fear and terror.
פַּ֫חַד 49 n.m. dread
dread
= object of dread
as design. dei
base
H6343 פַּ֫חַד dread . dread
. = object of dread
. as design. dei
6343 pachad pakh'-ad
from 6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by
implication, the feeling):--dread(-ful), fear, (thing) great
(fear, -ly feared), terror.
see HEBREW for 06342
פַּ֫חַד (pa.chad) — dread.
1) terror, dread
1a) dread
1b) object of dread
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
fer (yir'ah, yare'; phobos, phobeo):
Terms, etc.:
"Fear" is the translation of many words in the Old Testament; the chief are: yir'ah, "fear," "terror," "reverence," "awe," most often "the fear of God," "fear of Yahweh" (Ge 20:11; 2Ch 19:9, etc.); also of "fear" generally (Job 22:4; Isa 7:25; Eze 30:13, etc.); yare', "to be afraid," "to fear," "to reverence" (Ge 15:1; Le 19:3,14; De 6:2, etc.); pachadh, "fear," "terror," "dread" (
→ See COWARDICE
→ Also see FEAR OF GOD, below
The Hebrew word קָרָא (*qara'*) is a primitive root meaning to encounter or meet, often unexpectedly. It encompasses various nuances, including to befall or happen by chance. The verb appears in different forms: Qal (to meet), Niphal (to meet unexpectedly), and Hiphil (to cause to meet). Brown-Driver-Briggs notes its use in a figurative sense as well.
[קָרָא] 137 vb. encounter, befall
Qal 131
meet, encounter
fig. befall
Niph. meet unexpectedly
Hiph. thou didst cause all this evil to befall them
base
H7122 קָרָא encounter, befall
7122 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a
hostile manner:--befall, (by) chance, (cause to) come (upon),
fall out, happen, meet.
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: meet.
: meet
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: toward.
: toward/(come)against
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to encounter: chanced.
: happen[unexpectedly]
1) to encounter, befall, meet
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to meet, encounter
1a2) to befall (fig)
1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal perfect third person masculine singular · suffixHVqp3ms/Sp1bs
רַ֫עַד (ra'ad) means 'trembling' and is closely related to רְעַדָה (re'adah), which also means 'trembling.' Both forms derive from the same root, indicating a sense of shuddering or fear. The entries consistently emphasize this meaning without significant disagreement.
רַ֫עַד n.m. trembling
base
רְעַדָה n.f. id. [t.dj.ab]
base
H7461a רַ֫עַד trembling H7461b רְעַדָה id. [7461a]
7461 ra`ad rah'-ad
or (feminine) radah {reh-aw-daw'}; from 7460; a
shudder:--trembling.
see HEBREW for 07460
רַ֫עַד (ra.ad) — trembling.
trembling
Another spelling of re.a.dah (רְעַדָה "trembling" H7461B)
רְעַדָה (re.a.dah) — trembling.
trembling
Also means: ra.ad (רַ֫עַד "trembling" H7461A)
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absoluteHC/Ncfsa
רֹב (rov) refers to a multitude or abundance, encompassing ideas of greatness and numerousness. It is derived from a related root and can describe anything from a large quantity to excellence. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, emphasizing its broad application in the Old Testament.
רֹב 151 n.m. multitude, abundance, greatness
base
H7230 רֹב multitude, abundance, greatness
7230 rob robe
from 7231; abundance (in any respect):--abundance(- antly),
all, X common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number),
huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much,
multitude, plenty(-ifully), X very (age).
see HEBREW for 07231
רֹב (rov) — abundance.
1) multitude, abundance, greatness
1a) multitude
1a1) abundance, abundantly
1a2) numerous
1b) greatness
Conj | N-cs — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עֶ֫צֶם (etsem) primarily means 'bone' but extends to concepts of substance and self. It can refer to the physical body, limbs, or essence. The word is derived from a root related to strength, indicating a connection between physicality and identity.
עֶ֫צֶם 125 n.f. bone, substance, self
base
H6106 עֶ֫צֶם bone, substance, self
6106 `etsem eh'tsem
from 6105; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body;
figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame:--body,
bone, X life, (self-)same, strength, X very.
see HEBREW for 06105
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone.
: bone/limb
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone: same.
: same/very
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone: body.
: body
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp1bs
פָּחַד (pachad) is a Hebrew verb meaning to dread or fear. It encompasses being startled or filled with awe, with various forms indicating different intensities of dread. The root conveys a sense of alarm and reverence, appearing in contexts that evoke both fear and respect.
פָּחַד vb. dread, be in dread, in awe
Qal
be in dread
be in awe
Pi. be in great dread
Hiph. filled my bones with dread
base
H6342 פָּחַד dread, be in dread, in awe
6342 pachad paw-kkad'
a primitive root; to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence,
to fear in general:--be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear,
make to shake.
פָּחַד (pa.chad) — to dread.
1) to fear, tremble, revere, dread, be in awe or dread
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be in dread
1a2) to be in awe
1b) (Piel) to be in great dread
1c) (Hiphil) to cause to dread
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · perfect third person masculine singularHVhp3ms