The term "shudder" in the biblical context often conveys a sense of fear, awe, or reverence in response to the divine or the supernatural. It is a physical manifestation of an internal reaction to something profoundly significant or terrifying. In the Bible, the concept of shuddering is closely associated with the recognition of God's power and majesty, as well as the fear of judgment.

Biblical References:

1. James 2:19 : "You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." This verse highlights the reaction of demons to the knowledge of God's oneness and power. The demons' shuddering is a response to the reality of God's authority and the impending judgment they face. It underscores the idea that mere intellectual assent to the truth of God's existence is insufficient without a corresponding faith and obedience.

2. Revelation 6:15-17 : While the word "shudder" is not explicitly used, the imagery in this passage conveys a similar reaction. "Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?'" This passage illustrates the terror and dread experienced by those who face the wrath of God, akin to a shuddering response.

Theological Implications:

The concept of shuddering in response to God or His judgment serves as a reminder of the holiness and power of the Almighty. It reflects the appropriate human response to the divine, characterized by reverence and awe. The shuddering of demons, as mentioned in James, also serves as a warning to believers that mere belief without action is inadequate. True faith is demonstrated through obedience and reverence for God.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, physical reactions such as shuddering were often associated with encounters with the divine or supernatural. Such reactions were seen as appropriate responses to the overwhelming presence of a deity or the realization of one's own mortality and sinfulness in light of divine holiness.

Practical Application:

For believers, the notion of shuddering can serve as a call to examine one's own faith and response to God. It challenges individuals to move beyond intellectual acknowledgment of God's existence to a living faith characterized by reverence, obedience, and a deep awareness of God's majesty and holiness. The fear of the Lord, often associated with shuddering, is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), guiding believers to live in a manner that honors God.1. (v. i.) To tremble or shake with fear, horror, or aversion; to shiver with cold; to quake.

2. (n.) The act of shuddering, as with fear.

5425. phrisso -- to be rough, to shiver, shudder
... to be rough, to shiver, shudder. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phrisso Phonetic
Spelling: (fris'-so) Short Definition: I shudder Definition: I shudder ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5425.htm - 6k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... Faith is always work. Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes "-believing"
by the transforming grace of God. : Demons believe (and shudder) . . . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

6426. palats -- to shudder
... to shudder. Transliteration: palats Phonetic Spelling: (paw-lats') Short Definition:
tremble. ... root Definition to shudder NASB Word Usage tremble (1). tremble. ...
/hebrew/6426.htm - 5k

8175c. saar -- to bristle (with horror)
... Word Origin denominative verb from sear Definition to bristle (with horror) NASB
Word Usage afraid (2), shudder (1). 8175b, 8175c. saar. 8176 . ...
/hebrew/8175c.htm - 5k

7460. raad -- to tremble, quake
... trembling (2). tremble. A primitive root: to shudder (more or less violently) --
tremble. 7459, 7460. raad. 7461 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7460.htm - 5k

7461. ra'ad -- a trembling
... trembling Or (feminine) radah {reh-aw-daw'}; from ra'ad; a shudder -- trembling.
see HEBREW ra'ad. 7460, 7461. ra'ad. 7461a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7461.htm - 5k

2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... A primitive root; to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)
-- be (make) afraid, be careful, discomfit, fray (away), quake, tremble ...
/hebrew/2729.htm - 6k

Nor Does Ps. Lxxii. Apply to Solomon, Whose Faults Christians ...
... Chapter XXXIV."Nor does Ps. lxxii. apply to Solomon, whose faults Christians
shudder at. "Further, to persuade you that you have ...
/.../chapter xxxiv nor does ps lxxii.htm

The Blood of the Testament
... BLOOD IS ALWAYS a terrible thing. It makes a sensitive mind shudder even to pronounce
the word; but, to look upon the thing itself causes a thrill of horror. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 58 1912/the blood of the testament.htm

Meanwhile, Angela Sovrani was Detained in Her Studio by the ...
... the theatre to look at him and I almost fancy I am in love with him instead of
Fontenelle, till I remember he stage-manages;"ah!"then I-shudder!- -and my ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xi meanwhile angela sovrani was.htm

Epistle Lviii. To Fidus, on the Baptism of Infants.
... with respect to what you say, that the aspect of an infant in the first days after
its birth is not pure, so that any one of us would still shudder at kissing ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lviii to fidus on.htm

His Earliest Oracles. (ii. 2-iv. 4. )
... Yet My people exchanged their(149) Glory For that which is worthless. Be
heavy,(150) O heavens, for this, 12 Shudder and shudder again! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 his earliest oracles ii.htm

Philippians i. 22-26
... We all shudder at death, I am wont to say, some by reason of our many sins, of whom
I too am one, others from love of life, and cowardice, of whom may I never ...
/.../homily iv philippians i 22-26.htm

In this Beginning, O God, Hast Thou Made Heaven and Earth...
... Who shall comprehend? Who declare it? What is that which gleams through me, and
strikes my heart without hurting it; and I shudder and kindle? ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter ix in this beginning.htm

Wisdom and the Beginning.
... Who shall comprehend? who shall relate it? What is that which shines through me,
and strikes my heart without injury, and I both shudder and burn? ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ix wisdom and the beginning.htm

Further References to Cyprian.
... 2847] As far as we can, we must strive that, if possible, no soul be lost." [2848]
And a little afterwards he says: "Nor ought any of us to shudder at what God ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 23 further references to cyprian.htm

John xvi. 16, 17
... Do ye shudder, when ye hear that I require as much love in the case of God, as we
have shown towards a harlot? ... Perhaps again ye shudder; for so do I myself. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxix john xvi 16.htm

Shudder (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Shudder (8 Occurrences). James 2:19 You believe that
God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. ...
/s/shudder.htm - 8k

Quake (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To be agitated with quick, short motions continually
repeated; to shake with fear, cold, etc.; to shudder; to tremble. ...
/q/quake.htm - 12k

Quiver (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Nimble; active. 2. (vi) To shake or move with
slight and tremulous motion; to tremble; to quake; to shudder; to shiver. ...
/q/quiver.htm - 11k

Tremble (92 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To shake involuntarily, as with fear, cold, or weakness; to quake; to
quiver; to shiver; to shudder; -- said of a person or an animal. ...
/t/tremble.htm - 34k

Shuddereth (1 Occurrence)

/s/shuddereth.htm - 6k

Shu'ba-el (2 Occurrences)
Shu'ba-el. Shubael, Shu'ba-el. Shudder . Multi-Version Concordance Shu'ba-el
(2 Occurrences). ... Shubael, Shu'ba-el. Shudder . Reference Bible.
/s/shu'ba-el.htm - 6k

Shrink (10 Occurrences)
... horror, or distress. 3. (vi) To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting
the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake. 4. (vt) To ...
/s/shrink.htm - 10k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... James 2:19 You believe that God is one, and you are quite right: evil spirits
also believe this, and shudder." (WEY). Revelation ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Horrible (12 Occurrences)
... Horribly is the translation of sa`ar, "to shudder," "to be whirled away," in Jeremiah
2:12, and of sa`ar, "fear," "trembling," in Ezekiel 32:10; in Ezekiel 27 ...
/h/horrible.htm - 11k

Lying (203 Occurrences)
... The story of Peter's denial of his Lord, and his persistent asseverations that he
did not know Him and was not one of His followers, makes us shudder to think ...
/l/lying.htm - 44k

Can a person believe in some sense but not be saved? | GotQuestions.org

Is suffering for Christ always going to be a part of being a follower of Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that even the demons believe (James 2:19)? | GotQuestions.org

Shudder: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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