a primitive root; properly, perhaps to rend, i.e. (by implication) to quiver; tremble.
Transliteration:pâlats
Pronunciation:paw-lats'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root H6426 (pâlats) is a primitive root, suggesting a fundamental and perhaps onomatopoeic origin. Its core meaning is described as "properly, perhaps to rend," which implies a violent tearing or splitting. From this initial sense, it extends by implication to "quiver" or "tremble." This semantic shift suggests that the act of rending or being rent causes a violent shaking or convulsion. Therefore, the primary semantic range revolves around a physical manifestation of instability, fear, or profound disturbance, expressed as trembling or quivering. It's not a gentle shiver but a more forceful, perhaps involuntary, shaking, indicative of a deep internal or external disruption.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word H6426 (pâlats) appears only twice in the Masoretic Text, both in the Hiphil stem, which typically denotes causation (to cause to tremble/quiver).
* **[[Job 4:14]]**: "Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake." Here, the Hiphil form *wayyappâlēṣ* is translated "made... to shake" or "made to tremble." The context is Eliphaz's terrifying nocturnal vision, where a spirit passed before his face, causing his hair to stand on end and his bones to quiver. This is an involuntary, visceral reaction to the supernatural and fearful. The shaking is not merely external but deeply internal, affecting the very skeletal structure, highlighting a profound, existential terror.
* **[[Job 9:6]]**: "who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble." Here, the Hiphil form *wayyappâlēṣû* is used to describe the trembling of the earth's pillars. Job is speaking of God's immense power and sovereignty, emphasizing His ability to cause cosmic disruption. The earth's foundations are depicted as quivering before His might. This usage extends the concept of trembling from an individual's physical reaction to a metaphorical description of the earth's instability in the face of divine, overwhelming power.
In both instances, H6426 describes a profound, involuntary shaking caused by an overwhelming, often terrifying, force – either a supernatural vision or the uncontainable power of God.
### Related Words & Concepts
H6426 (pâlats) exists within a semantic field of words related to shaking, trembling, and fear. Other notable terms include:
* **Trembling/Shaking:**
* H2729 (ḥārad): To tremble, be afraid, often with a sense of dread or awe.
* H7460 (rā‘ad): To tremble, quake, often associated with fear or divine presence.
* H7314 (rāgaz): To tremble, quake, be agitated, often in anger or fear.
* H7493 (ra‘ash): To quake, shake, often used for earthquakes or the shaking of mountains.
* **Fear/Dread:**
* H6343 (paḥad): Fear, dread, terror. This is explicitly linked with H6426 in [[Job 4:14]].
* H3372 (yir’ah): Fear, awe, reverence, often in the context of God.
The unique aspect of H6426 lies in its potential etymological connection to "rending," suggesting a more violent, almost convulsive, type of trembling compared to other synonyms. It implies a deeper, more fundamental disturbance, as if the very fabric of being or creation is being torn or disrupted, leading to an involuntary, violent tremor.
### Theological Significance
The rare but potent usage of H6426 highlights the overwhelming power and majesty of God. In [[Job 9:6]], the trembling of the earth's pillars underscores God's absolute control over creation, capable of shaking the very foundations of the cosmos. This portrays a God whose power is so immense that even inanimate objects respond with convulsive instability, emphasizing His supreme sovereignty and the fragility of creation before Him.
In [[Job 4:14]], the trembling of Eliphaz's bones in response to a spiritual encounter emphasizes the profound, unsettling nature of divine or supernatural revelation. It speaks to the human inability to withstand the sheer presence or manifestation of the spiritual realm without a visceral, physical reaction. This trembling is not merely fear but a deep, existential disquiet, a recognition of one's own frailty and finitude before the transcendent.
The word thus serves to convey the awesome, sometimes terrifying, aspect of God's sovereignty and the human (or even cosmic) response to His uncontainable might. It points to a divine power that causes deep, involuntary shaking, whether in fear, awe, or as a demonstration of cosmic control, serving as a powerful descriptor of divine impact.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H6426 (pâlats), meaning "to quiver" or "to tremble," is a primitive root suggesting an initial sense of "rending" or violent tearing, leading by implication to a convulsive shaking. Its two occurrences in the Hiphil stem in the book of Job vividly depict a profound, involuntary trembling. In [[Job 4:14]], it describes Eliphaz's bones quivering in response to a terrifying spiritual vision, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of supernatural encounters and the deep, physical impact of fear. In [[Job 9:6]], it portrays the earth's pillars trembling before God's immense power, illustrating His absolute sovereignty and control over creation. H6426 thus conveys a deep, visceral, and sometimes cosmic disturbance, highlighting the awesome and uncontainable might of God and the profound, often fearful, response of creation to His presence or action. It stands out among synonyms for trembling by implying a more violent, fundamental disruption, suggesting a tearing or convulsing at the very core of what is being affected.
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