### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ballâhâh**, represented by `{{H1091}}`, denotes a profound sense of **alarm**, **destruction**, **terror**, and **trouble**. Originating from the root word for alarm, it appears **10 times** across **10 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently conveying a state of sudden and overwhelming calamity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H1091}}` is primarily used to describe the catastrophic fate of the wicked or those facing divine judgment. It is not merely a feeling of fear, but a tangible, destructive force that overtakes individuals and nations. In the book of Job, it is depicted as an active agent that assails the unrighteous, with **terrors** making him afraid on every side [[Job 18:11]] and ultimately bringing him to the "king of **terrors**" [[Job 18:14]]. Similarly, the prophet Ezekiel uses the term to pronounce God's judgment upon Tyre, declaring "thou shalt be a **terror**, and never shalt be any more" ([[Ezekiel 27:36]], [[Ezekiel 28:19]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concepts of fear, destruction, and divine retribution:
* `{{H1204}}` **bâʻath** (to fear; terrify, trouble): This term describes the emotional state caused by the events associated with `{{H1091}}`. The two are directly linked in Job, where **terrors** `{{H1091}}` are said to **make him afraid** `{{H1204}}` on every side [[Job 18:11]].
* `{{H5381}}` **nâsag** (to reach, overtake): This word emphasizes the inescapable nature of the destruction. It describes how **terrors** `{{H1091}}` do not just threaten but actively **take hold** `{{H5381}}` of a person like a flood of waters [[Job 27:20]].
* `{{H6757}}` **tsalmâveth** (shadow of death): This evocative term is used to intensify the sense of dread. For those who reject the light, the morning becomes like the shadow of death, where they exist in the **terrors** `{{H1091}}` of the **shadow of death** `{{H6757}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H1091}}` is significant, highlighting the severe consequences of sin and rebellion.
* **Instrument of Divine Judgment:** The term is explicitly used to describe an outcome enacted by God. In his prophecies against Tyre and its king, Ezekiel states "I will make thee a **terror**" [[Ezekiel 26:21]] and "thou shalt be a **terror**" [[Ezekiel 28:19]], portraying it as a tool of divine judgment against pride and wickedness.
* **Sudden and Complete Destruction:** `{{H1091}}` signifies an end that is both swift and final. The psalmist marvels at how the wicked are "utterly consumed with **terrors**" as in a moment [[Psalms 73:19]], leaving no hope for recovery.
* **The Inevitable Consequence of Evil:** In the discourse of Job, terrors are presented as the certain outcome for the wicked man. They pursue his soul like the wind [[Job 30:15]] and are an inseparable part of his existence in the "shadow of death" [[Job 24:17]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1091}}` is a potent word that encapsulates more than simple fear. It represents a state of calamitous ruin, sudden destruction, and overwhelming trouble. Whether describing the personal downfall of a wicked individual in Job or the prophesied desolation of a prideful nation in Ezekiel, **ballâhâh** serves as a stark biblical illustration of final, terrifying judgment.
TRV