Word Study for H1763 (דְּחַל)

dᵉchal /deh-khal'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to זָחַל

Meaningto slink, i.e. (by implication) to fear, or (causatively) be formidable

KJV usagemake afraid, dreadful, fear, terrible.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dᵉchal — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word dᵉchal, represented by H1763, is a term used to convey fear, to be formidable, or to make afraid. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses, with all occurrences found in the book of Daniel. Its usage encapsulates both the internal feeling of fear and the external quality of a person or vision being dreadful or terrible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1763 is used to describe the awesome and fear-inspiring nature of visions and powerful entities. In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the great image is described as having a form that was terrible Daniel 2:31. Similarly, the fourth beast in Daniel's vision is characterized as dreadful and terrible Daniel 7:7, a description so profound that Daniel later inquires specifically about this "exceeding dreadful" beast Daniel 7:19. The term also describes a direct emotional response, as when Nebuchadnezzar states, "I saw a dream which made me afraid" Daniel 4:5. This fear is directed toward both human authority, as people feared before the king Daniel 5:19, and divine authority, as Darius decrees that men should fear before the God of Daniel Daniel 6:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the meaning of dᵉchal:

H2112 zûwaʻ (to shake (with fear); tremble): This word often appears alongside H1763 to describe the physical reaction to fear. It is used to show people who "trembled and feared" before a powerful king Daniel 5:19 and in the decree that men "tremble and fear" before God Daniel 6:26.
H574 ʼêmᵉtânîy (terrible): This adjective is paired with dᵉchal to amplify the description of a formidable power. The fourth beast in Daniel's vision is described as both dreadful and terrible Daniel 7:7, emphasizing its fearsome nature.
H1934 hâvâʼ (to exist; be, become): As a common Aramaic verb, it is used to establish a state of being. It is used in the phrases where people were trembling and fearing, indicating an ongoing state of reaction to power (Daniel 5:19, Daniel 6:26).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1763 is significant within the context of the book of Daniel.

Fear of Earthly vs. Divine Power: The word is used to describe the fear inspired by formidable earthly powers, such as the king Daniel 5:19 and the terrifying beasts representing kingdoms Daniel 7:7. However, this is contrasted with the proper fear due to God, as commanded by Darius's decree Daniel 6:26.
Response to Prophetic Revelation: Fear is presented as a natural response to divine revelation. The image in the dream was terrible Daniel 2:31, and Nebuchadnezzar's dream "made me afraid" Daniel 4:5, showing that encounters with the supernatural are awe-inspiring and unsettling.
Characterizing Anti-Godly Power: The most intense descriptions using H1763 are reserved for the prophetic beasts, particularly the fourth beast, which is "exceeding dreadful" Daniel 7:19. This highlights the terrifying nature of worldly power that stands in opposition to God's kingdom.

Summary

In summary, H1763 is a focused Aramaic term from the book of Daniel that captures the essence of overwhelming awe and fear. It is applied to supernatural visions, terrifying prophetic symbols of worldly empires, and the response of humanity to both mighty kings and the living God. The word dᵉchal effectively distinguishes between the terror inspired by destructive earthly power and the reverential fear that is rightfully directed toward the eternal God whose kingdom shall not be destroyed.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

דְּחִילָה
דָחֲלִין
דְּחִיל
ידַחֲלִנַּ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

6 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.