Word Study for H928 (בֶּהָלָה)

behâlâh /beh-haw-law'/ Ask about this word

Meaningpanic, destruction

KJV usageterror, trouble.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of behâlâh — 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 Hebrew word behâlâh, represented by H928, describes a state of panic, destruction; terror, trouble. Derived from a root meaning to panic, it appears 4 times across 4 unique verses. It consistently denotes an overwhelming and sudden calamity, often as a result of divine judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H928 is primarily a term of consequence. In Leviticus, God warns that He will appoint terror H928 as a punishment for disobedience, alongside disease and agricultural failure Leviticus 26:16. The Psalms describe how God consumed the years of a disobedient generation in trouble H928 Psalms 78:33. Similarly, Jeremiah depicts the sudden arrival of terrors H928 upon a city as part of a divine judgment Jeremiah 15:8. The only instance of its use in a positive context is its absence, where in a time of blessing, people will no longer "bring forth for trouble" Isaiah 65:23.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the scope of H928:

H6597 pithʼôwm (suddenly): This adverb is used with H928 to emphasize the instantaneous and shocking nature of the terror that befalls a city Jeremiah 15:8.
H7703 shâdad (to ravage; destroy(-er), spoil(-er)): This word describes the agent of destruction, the "spoiler" who brings the terrors associated with H928 Jeremiah 15:8.
H1892 hebel (vanity): This term for emptiness is used in parallel with H928, suggesting that a life ending in trouble is ultimately a life spent in vanity Psalms 78:33.
H7385 rîyq (in vain): This word appears alongside H928, linking the concept of terror and trouble to the futility of human effort, such as sowing seed Leviticus 26:16 or laboring Isaiah 65:23 for a worthless outcome.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H928 is significant, highlighting several key themes:

Divine Judgment: The word is almost exclusively used to describe a consequence delivered by God in response to sin or disobedience. It is not a random event but a specific and appointed calamity (Leviticus 26:16, Psalms 78:33).
Sudden Calamity: The panic and destruction of H928 are characterized by their abruptness. This underscores the powerlessness of those experiencing it and the swiftness of divine action Jeremiah 15:8.
The Reversal of the Curse: The promise in Isaiah that labor will no longer be for trouble H928 presents its absence as a sign of God's ultimate blessing and restoration. Peace and security are defined by freedom from this kind of terror.

Summary

In summary, H928 is a potent term that conveys more than simple difficulty. It signifies a terrifying, sudden, and destructive event that serves as a direct consequence of divine judgment. Its usage illustrates the severe outcome of disobedience, while its promised removal serves as a powerful symbol of God's redemptive blessing and peace.

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 noun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

בֶּהָלָה
בֶהָלוֹת

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

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

Leviticus

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

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.