Lexical Summary charag: To be afraid, to tremble Original Word: חָרַג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be afraid A primitive root; properly, to leap suddenly, i.e. (by implication) to be dismayed -- be afraid. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to quake NASB Translation come trembling (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָרַג] verb quake (compare (si vera lectio) Arabic  be straitened, unable to move for fear and rage (Lane), also put oneself in a rage (Dozy); ᵑ7 חַרְגַת מוֺתָא Deuteronomy 32:25 terror of death) — only Qal Imperfect3masculine plural וְיַחְרְגוּ מִמִּסְגְּרוֺתֵיהֶם Psalm 18:46 pregnantly and come quaking out of their fortresses (compare יִרְגְּזוּ in like connection Micah 7:17); read the same also in "" 2 Samuel 22:46 (for ᵑ0 וְיַחְגְרוּ, see חגר; possible would be also ויחרדו in both, as Hosea 11:10,11 etc.) חרגל (quadriliteral √ of following; compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Imageryחָרַג conveys the visible, bodily response of alarm—“to come trembling,” “to quake,” or “to emerge in dread.” Its single appearance in the canonical text presents the word in a vivid, military setting in which foes physically manifest their terror. The image is not of mere inward anxiety but of outward, uncontrollable shaking that betrays the heart’s collapse. Scripture elsewhere uses other verbs for fear, but חָרַג is uniquely graphic, emphasizing the moment when enemies must leave their hiding places, confess defeat, and appear before the victor. Context in Psalm 18:45 Psalm 18 is David’s thanksgiving for deliverance from all his enemies and from Saul. After recounting God’s rescue, David describes the reaction of the surrounding nations: “Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their fortresses.” (Psalm 18:45) The verse divides into two complementary actions: (1) “lose heart” portrays their inner capitulation; (2) “come trembling” (חָרַג) depicts the outward, humiliating surrender. In David’s song, the trembling of the nations magnifies God’s power operating through His anointed king. Their fortresses—symbols of self-reliance—offer no refuge once the Lord has acted. Parallel in 2 Samuel 22:46 The companion song in 2 Samuel 22:46 echoes the same language, reinforcing the canonical witness that the episode is historical, not poetic exaggeration. The shared line places חָרַג within the broader narrative of David’s reign, where surrounding peoples were subdued (2 Samuel 8:1-14). The trembling therefore reflects an actual historical outcome of God’s covenant faithfulness to David. The Fear of the Lord and the Nations Throughout Scripture, the Lord intends that His mighty acts toward Israel produce awe among the nations (Exodus 15:14-16; Joshua 2:9-11). חָרַג illustrates the fulfillment of that purpose: Gentile powers recoil before the manifest presence of the covenant God. This anticipates prophetic scenes in which worldwide rulers will again tremble at the arrival of the Messianic King (Isaiah 64:2; Revelation 6:15-17). The single Old Testament occurrence thus serves as a microcosm of a larger biblical pattern: divine victory births missionary testimony as outsiders recognize the supremacy of Israel’s God. Typological Echoes in Christ David’s deliverances often foreshadow the greater victories of Jesus Christ, the Son of David. At the cross, demonic powers were disarmed (Colossians 2:15), and the resurrection proclaimed His universal lordship (Acts 2:34-36). Just as foreigners trembled before David, every knee will one day bow before Christ (Philippians 2:10). The trembling of Psalm 18:45 therefore prefigures the eschatological subjection of all hostile forces under the reign of the true King. Historical Setting Chronicles records that surrounding nations brought tribute to David (1 Chronicles 18:2-6, 11). Archaeology attests to city-states in the Transjordan and along the Mediterranean coast that paid heavy levies to Israel during his reign. The psychological impact of rapid military victories would have induced the very trembling described by חָרַג, corroborating the biblical narrative that foreign strongholds proved ineffective once the Lord fought for His servant. Application for Ministry 1. Confidence in Spiritual Warfare: Believers can draw encouragement that hostile forces ultimately tremble before the God who fights for His people (Romans 8:31). Related Words and Themes • Other Hebrew terms for trembling (e.g., רָעַד, זָעַף) emphasize internal fear or emotional agitation, whereas חָרַג stresses the compelled, public emergence of the fearful. Summary חָרַג, though occurring only once, captures a dramatic biblical moment when God’s enemies are forced into the open, trembling before His anointed king. The word illumines the historical reality of David’s triumphs, the theological principle that the fear of the Lord subdues nations, and the prophetic assurance that Christ will ultimately compel every adversary to acknowledge His rule. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ ויחרגו veyachreGu wə·yaḥ·rə·ḡū wəyaḥrəḡūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 18:45 HEB: נֵכָ֥ר יִבֹּ֑לוּ וְ֝יַחְרְג֗וּ מִֽמִּסְגְּרֽוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ NAS: fade away, And come trembling out of their fortresses. KJV: shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places. INT: alien fade and come of their fortresses 1 Occurrence |
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run right and left, run swiftly (Frey)).