TERRIBLE, TERROR

ter'-i-b'l, ter'-er (yare', "to be feared," "reverenced," arits, "powerful," "tyrannical," 'ayom, "aweinspiring," chittith "terror," ballahah, "a worn-out or wasted thing," 'emah, "fright"; phoberos, "dreadful," phobos, "fear"): The above terms, and many others which employed, denote whatever, by horrible aspect, or by greatness, power, or cruelty, affrights men (Deuteronomy 1:19; Deuteronomy 26:8 Daniel 2:31). God is terrible by reason of His awful greatness, His infinite power, His inscrutable dealings, His perfect holiness, His covenant faithfulness, His strict justice and fearful judgments (Exodus 34:10 Deuteronomy 7:21 Nehemiah 9:32 Job 6:4; Job 37:22 Psalm 65:5; Psalm 88:15 Joel 2:11 Zephaniah 2:11 Hebrews 12:21). The term is also applied to the enemies of God and of His people (Isaiah 13:11; Isaiah 25:3; 49:25 Daniel 7:7 1 Peter 3:14). "The terror (the Revised Version (British and American) "fear") of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:11) denotes the reverence or fear inspired by the thought that Christ is judge (2 Corinthians 5:10).

M. O. Evans