The term "King of Terrors" is a vivid biblical expression that encapsulates the fearsome and inevitable nature of death. This phrase is found in the book of Job, where it is used to describe the ultimate power and dread that death holds over humanity. In Job 18:14 , Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's friends, refers to death as the "king of terrors," saying, "He is torn from the shelter of his tent and is marched off to the king of terrors."

In the context of the Book of Job, Bildad is speaking about the fate of the wicked, emphasizing the inescapable and terrifying nature of death as a divine judgment. The imagery of being "torn from the shelter of his tent" suggests a sudden and forceful removal from the security of life, highlighting the vulnerability of human existence in the face of death's dominion.

The concept of death as the "king of terrors" resonates throughout Scripture, reflecting the universal human experience of mortality and the fear it often engenders. In the Old Testament, death is frequently portrayed as an inevitable consequence of sin, beginning with the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. The Apostle Paul echoes this in the New Testament, stating in Romans 6:23 , "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

The fear of death, as the "king of terrors," is a theme that underscores the need for redemption and the hope of eternal life. In Hebrews 2:14-15 , the author writes about Jesus Christ's victory over death, saying, "Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

For believers, the fear associated with the "king of terrors" is mitigated by the promise of resurrection and eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 , Paul triumphantly declares, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'"

Thus, while death remains a formidable and fearsome reality, the Christian faith offers a perspective of hope and assurance, transforming the "king of terrors" into a defeated foe through the redemptive work of Christ.Job 18:14
His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
Nave's Topical Index

Homiletical.
... Twenty-four homilies on miscellaneous subjects, published under St. ... an evil, except
in the case of the death of the ... of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/iv homiletical.htm

Life of Bunyan
... draw the world's delighted attention to the subjects of supreme ... sighing behest,
"Let me die the death of the ... which it still imparts to his miscellaneous works. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hamilton/life of bunyan/life of bunyan.htm

Enthusiasm.
... His exuberant imagination delighted in subjects which, since ... in the intermediate
state after death, upon the ... More died the year before King William's accession ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter vii enthusiasm.htm

What is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about near death experiences? | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.org

Death: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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