Lexical Summary chathath: terror Original Word: חֲתַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance casting down From chathath; dismay -- casting down. see HEBREW chathath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chathath Definition terror NASB Translation terror (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. חֲתַת noun [masculine] terror — only וַתִּירָ֑אוּ ׳תִּרְאוּ ח Job 6:21 (>Baer ִתּירְאוּ for תִּרְאוּ) ye see a terror, and fear (note paronomasia in Hebrew; see Di). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun חֲתַת appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 6:21. It denotes a sudden, paralyzing dread that overwhelms and unnerves. This singular usage places the word in a literary and theological spotlight, inviting careful reflection on the reality of human fear in the face of suffering and the sustaining sufficiency of God. Biblical Setting Job 6 records Job’s response to Eliphaz after the first cycle of speeches. Having tasted profound loss, Job rebukes his friends for failing to provide the comfort they had implied. He laments: “For now you are nothing; you see terror, and are afraid” (Job 6:21). חֲתַת (“terror”) captures the dismay that deterred these companions from true compassion. Instead of entering Job’s pain, they recoiled, exposing the limits of purely human sympathy. Literary and Theological Nuances 1. Intensity of Emotion: The term conveys more than ordinary fear; it suggests an inward collapse, a shattering of composure. Job’s friends, once considered reliable, are unmasked as brittle under pressure. Connection with Broader Biblical Themes Though חֲתַת itself is unique to Job 6:21, the experience it names is echoed elsewhere: Each passage contrasts debilitating dread with confidence grounded in God’s presence. Job 6:21 thus belongs to the canonical pattern: human terror stands opposite divine assurance. Christological and Redemptive Insights Jesus Christ entered the arena of human suffering, surrounded by disciples who, like Job’s friends, faltered (Matthew 26:56). Yet where human loyalty collapses, Christ remains faithful. Hebrews 2:15 declares that through His death He liberates “those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” In this light, Job 6:21 foreshadows the better Friend who overcomes terror and stays near to the suffering. Application for Ministry 1. Pastoral Presence: Believers are called to resist the reflex to withdraw from pain. Romans 12:15—“weep with those who weep”—cannot be obeyed when חֲתַת prevails. Homiletical Suggestions • Sermon theme: “When Friends Fail—Christ Remains.” Begin with Job 6:21; move to John 16:32; conclude with Hebrews 13:5. In the lone appearance of חֲתַת, Scripture exposes the frailty of human support while directing readers to the steadfast mercy of God, ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ, who dispels terror with His abiding presence. Forms and Transliterations חֲ֝תַ֗ת חתת chaTat ḥă·ṯaṯ ḥăṯaṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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