In the Bible, “terror” often refers to a profound fear or dread that can arise from God’s judgment, the acknowledgment of His power, or impending calamity. It is associated with feelings of helplessness in the face of divine wrath or existential threats, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 28:65 and Psalm 55:5.
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10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty.
11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low,
and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled,
and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;
13 against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;
14 against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills;
15 Against every high tower, and against every fortified wall,
16 against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft.
17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
18 And the idols shall utterly pass away.
19 And people shall enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
20 In that day mankind will cast away their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats,
21 to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts of the cliffs, from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.
Biblical Meaning of Terror
The concept of “terror” in the Bible encapsulates both the fear of God’s judgment and the deeper existential dread that comes from recognizing human vulnerability in the face of divine authority. In Deuteronomy 28:65, it states, “And among those nations you shall find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul.” This verse highlights the anguish and anxiety that may befall those who turn away from God, illustrating how the awareness of divine displeasure can manifest as terror in one’s heart. Similarly, Psalm 55:5 expresses a deeply personal fear, as the psalmist laments, “Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me,” revealing the torment that accompanies the knowledge of betrayal or impending destruction.
Beyond personal fear, this biblical terror serves a greater purpose within the narrative of faith—it acts as a catalyst for repentance and a reminder of humanity’s reliance on God’s grace. In Hebrews 10:31, it is proclaimed, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” This declaration emphasizes that terror, while often overwhelming, can also lead to an understanding of God’s holiness and the need for divine mercy. The dual nature of terror in the Bible, thus, functions as both a warning and a call to humility, urging individuals to confront their shortcomings and seek refuge in God’s compassion. It underscores the overarching biblical theme that true understanding involves reverence for the Almighty, shaping our worship and relationship with Him.
The theme of terror in the Bible is further explored through various narratives and verses that illuminate its multifaceted nature. For instance, in the accounts of the prophets, we often find instances where an encounter with the divine provokes intense fear and awe. Consider the calling of Isaiah in Isaiah 6, where he observes the glory of the Lord and cries out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; I am a man of unclean lips.” This moment reveals how the recognition of God’s absolute holiness can induce terror in the human heart, underscoring an essential aspect of the transformative nature of divine encounters. Such terror is not merely about fright but is deeply connected to the realization of one’s own sinfulness and the consequent desire for redemption.
Moreover, the Book of Revelation presents imagery of cosmic judgments and the ultimate return of Christ that saturates its pages with terror, especially for those who have rejected divine truth. In Revelation 6:15-17, the kings and the great ones, along with the rich and the powerful, hide in the caves and among the rocks, crying out for the mountains to fall upon them in an effort to escape the wrath of the Lamb. This vivid depiction illustrates how the terror associated with divine judgment is all-encompassing, transcending social status, and instills a profound realization of accountability before God. Ultimately, this terror serves as a poignant reminder of the moral order established by God and emphasizes the imperative call to seek Him earnestly, portraying a divine justice that beckons both a fear of condemnation and hope for salvation.
The Fear of God
In the Bible, terror often relates to the profound reverence and awe that one should have towards God. This fear is not merely about being afraid but encompasses a deep respect for God’s power, holiness, and justice. It serves as a reminder of human limitations and the need for humility in the presence of the divine. This type of terror can lead to a transformative relationship with God, prompting individuals to seek righteousness and align their lives with His will.
Consequences of Disobedience
Terror in the biblical context can also signify the consequences of turning away from God’s commandments. It serves as a warning of the potential calamities and judgments that may befall those who choose to live in rebellion against divine laws. This aspect of terror highlights the seriousness of sin and the inevitable repercussions that can arise from a life disconnected from God’s guidance.
Spiritual Warfare
Another broader meaning of terror in the Bible relates to the concept of spiritual warfare. In this context, terror can represent the fear and chaos that arise from the influence of evil forces. Believers are often encouraged to stand firm against such terror, relying on their faith and the power of God to overcome spiritual adversities. This understanding emphasizes the ongoing battle between good and evil, where terror can be both a tactic of the enemy and a call to vigilance for the faithful.
How to Embrace Fear and Awe in Faith
Embracing fear and awe in faith is a transformative journey that invites us to recognize the vastness of God’s power and love. It’s easy to think of fear as something negative, but in the context of our relationship with God, it can be a profound reverence that draws us closer to Him. When we stand in awe of His creation, from the majesty of a starry sky to the intricate beauty of a single flower, we begin to understand our place in His grand design. This sense of wonder can inspire us to trust Him more deeply, even when we face uncertainties or challenges. Remember, fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and it’s in that sacred space of humility and respect that we can truly grow. So, take a moment each day to reflect on the incredible nature of God—allow that fear and awe to fill your heart, guiding you to live with purpose and faithfulness, knowing that you are part of something much greater than yourself.
Bible References to the Meaning of Terror:
Jeremiah 6:22-26: 22 Thus says the Lord: “Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They lay hold on bow and javelin;
they are cruel and have no mercy;
the sound of them is like the roaring sea;
they ride on horses,
set in array as a man for battle,
against you, O daughter of Zion!”
24 We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.
25 Keep your eyes on the bare heights and see, where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom.
26 O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
Ezekiel 32:7-10: 7 When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.
8 All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord God.
9 “Then the land will be desolate, and its fullness, because of all these nations who are at the head of it.”
10 I will make many peoples appalled at you, and their kings shall shudder because of you, when I brandish my sword before them. They shall tremble every moment, every one for his own life, on the day of your downfall.
Psalm 91:5-8: 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Deuteronomy 32:23-25: 23 “‘And I will heap disasters upon them;
I will spend my arrows on them;
24 they shall be wasted with hunger,
and devoured by plague
and poisonous pestilence;
I will send the teeth of beasts against them,
with the venom of things that crawl in the dust.
25 The sword shall destroy outside; there shall be terror within for the young man and the young woman, the nursing infant with the man of gray hairs.
Isaiah 24:17-18: 17 Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!
18 He who flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
Job 18:11-14: 11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
and calamity is ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
and is brought to the king of terrors.
Proverbs 1:24-27: 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Isaiah 13:6-9: 6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!
7 Therefore all hands will be feeble,
and every human heart will melt.
13 I will punish the world for its evil,
and the wicked for their iniquity;
I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant,
and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.
9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Zephaniah 1:14-18: 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.
15 A day of wrath is that day,
a day of distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and devastation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.
17 I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold
shall be able to deliver them
on the day of the wrath of the Lord.
Revelation 6:15-17: 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,
16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,
17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Leviticus 26:36-37: 36 And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none pursues.
37 They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though none pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
Isaiah 33:14-16: 14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
trembling has seized the godless:
“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
16 he will dwell on the heights;
his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
Jeremiah 49:23-27: 23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor.
25 How the hammer of the whole earth is cut down and broken! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the Lord of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus,
and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.
Ezekiel 21:12-17: 12 Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh.
13 “For it is a testing; and what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter shall be no more, declares the Lord God.”
14 “So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times; the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them,
15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt and many stumble. Alas! It is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.
16 Gathered together, sharpened to slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Let us strike the unrighteous with terror!
17 I also will clap my hands together, and I will satisfy my fury; I the Lord have spoken.”
Joel 2:1-11: 1 Blow a trumpet in Zion;
sound an alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the Lord is coming;
2 a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful people;
their like has never been before,
nor will be again after them
through the years of all generations.
3 Fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns. The land is like the garden of Eden before them, but behind them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run.
5 Like the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.
6 Before them peoples are in anguish;
all faces grow pale.
7 They charge like warriors;
they scale walls like soldiers.
They all march in line,
not swerving from their paths.
8 They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted.
9 They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
10 The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
Nahum 2:10-13: 10 She is empty, void, and waste; the heart melts, and the knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!
11 The queen is stripped; she is carried off, her slave girls lamenting, moaning like doves and beating their breasts.
12 The lion tore enough for his cubs
and strangled prey for his lionesses;
he filled his caves with prey
and his dens with torn flesh.
13 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.
Luke 21:25-26: 25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,
26 People fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10: 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
Hebrews 10:26-31: 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.