Esther 9:2

9:2 The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm. No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples.

Genesis 35:5

35:5 and they started on their journey. ¹  The surrounding cities were afraid of God, ²  and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Exodus 15:16

15:16 Fear and dread ³  will fall ⁴  on them;

by the greatness ⁵  of your arm they will be as still as stone ⁶ 

until ⁷  your people pass by, O Lord,

until the people whom you have bought ⁸  pass by.

Deuteronomy 2:25

2:25 This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth ⁹  with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.” ¹⁰ 

Deuteronomy 11:25

11:25 Nobody will be able to resist you; the Lord your God will spread the fear and terror of you over the whole land on which you walk, just as he promised you.

[35:5]  ¹ tn Heb “and they journeyed.”

[35:5]  ² tn Heb “and the fear of God was upon the cities which were round about them.” The expression “fear of God” apparently refers (1) to a fear of God (objective genitive; God is the object of their fear). (2) But it could mean “fear from God,” that is, fear which God placed in them (cf. NRSV “a terror from God”). Another option (3) is that the divine name is used as a superlative here, referring to “tremendous fear” (cf. NEB “were panic-stricken”; NASB “a great terror”).

[15:16]  ³ tn The two words can form a nominal hendiadys, “a dreadful fear,” though most English versions retain the two separate terms.

[15:16]  ⁴ tn The form is an imperfect.

[15:16]  ⁵ tn The adjective is in construct form and governs the noun “arm” (“arm” being the anthropomorphic expression for what God did). See GKC 428 §132.c.

[15:16]  ⁶ sn For a study of the words for fear, see N. Waldman, “A Comparative Note on Exodus 15:14-16,” JQR 66 (1976): 189-92.

[15:16]  ⁷ tn Clauses beginning with עַד (’ad) express a limit that is not absolute, but only relative, beyond which the action continues (GKC 446-47 §138.g).

[15:16]  ⁸ tn The verb קָנָה (qanah) here is the verb “acquire, purchase,” and probably not the homonym “to create, make” (see Gen 4:1; Deut 32:6; and Prov 8:22).

[2:25]  ⁹ tn Heb “under heaven” (so NIV, NRSV).

[2:25]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “from before you.”