Definition and Usage:
The term "terribleness" in the Bible often refers to the awe-inspiring, fearsome, or dreadful nature of God, His works, or His judgments. It conveys a sense of reverence and fear that is due to the Almighty because of His power, majesty, and holiness. The concept is closely associated with the fear of the Lord, which is a recurring theme throughout Scripture.

Biblical References:

1. God's Terribleness in His Works:
The Bible frequently describes God's actions as "terrible" in the sense of being awe-inspiring and mighty. In Psalm 66:3 , it is written, "Say to God, 'How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.'" Here, the term "awesome" is synonymous with "terrible," highlighting the overwhelming power of God that commands respect and fear.

2. The Terribleness of God's Presence:
The presence of God is often depicted as overwhelming and fearsome. In Exodus 19:16 , when God descended upon Mount Sinai, "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled." This scene illustrates the terribleness of God's presence, which instills fear and reverence in those who witness it.

3. Terribleness in Judgment:
God's judgments are described as terrible, reflecting their severity and righteousness. In Deuteronomy 10:21 , it is stated, "He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome wonders your eyes have seen." The term "awesome" here can be understood as "terrible," emphasizing the fearsome nature of God's acts, including His judgments against sin.

4. The Fear of the Lord:
The concept of terribleness is closely linked to the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). This fear is not merely about being afraid but involves a deep respect and reverence for God's holiness and power. In Isaiah 8:13 , it is written, "The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded."

5. Terribleness in Prophecy:
Prophetic literature often uses the language of terribleness to describe the coming day of the Lord. In Joel 2:11 , it is declared, "The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible—who can endure it?" This passage underscores the fearsome nature of God's future interventions in history.

Theological Implications:

The terribleness of God serves as a reminder of His absolute sovereignty and the seriousness of His holiness. It calls believers to a posture of humility, reverence, and obedience. The fear of the Lord, inspired by His terribleness, is foundational to a life of faith and devotion. It encourages believers to live in a manner that honors God, recognizing His power and authority over all creation.4172. mora -- a fear, terror
... is to be feared (1). dread, that ought to be feared, terribleness, terror.
Or morat {mo-raw'}; or morah (Psa. 9:20) {mo-raw'}; from ...
/hebrew/4172.htm - 6k

The Eagle and Its Brood
... The monarch of the sky busies itself with tender cares for its brood. Then,
there is gentleness along with the terribleness. The ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the eagle and its brood.htm

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up ...
... and shortly, we may say, the spirit should have the impression of God's greatness
and majesty, of his goodness and mercy, of his terribleness and justice. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xviii and there is.htm

What is his Name?
... And what one nation in the earth is like thy people: to make thee a name of greatness
and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 2 what is his.htm

The Pastor's Parting Blessing
... never came into the world to make individual professors of it isolated, like the
icebergs which float away on the wide sea in solitary terribleness; neither is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the pastors parting blessing.htm

A Life Lost and Found [Footnote: Preached after the Funeral of Mr. ...
... exquisitely painful one, which made every nerve quiver and the whole frame thrill
with anguish; and that slow agony, in all its terribleness and protractedness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/a life lost and found.htm

Going Out and Going In
... an entrance.' So the terribleness and mystery dwindled down into this"a change of
position; or if locality is scarcely the right class of ideas to apply to ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/going out and going in.htm

Every Nature, as Nature, is Good.
... Take from the winds their terribleness and excessive force, with which you find
fault, you can conceive of winds as gentle and mild; take from them the ...
/.../chapter 33 name nature as.htm

"But to Return to Avitianus: While at Every Other Place...
... him, and exclaimed, Why, thou holy man, dost thou treat me thus?' But then Martin
said, It is not at you, but at him who, in all his terribleness, leans over ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter viii but to return.htm

Heresy Compared to -1 the Stormy Ocean, -2 the Rocks of the Sirens ...
... Now, the poets of the Greeks allege that Ulysses sailed through (this channel),
adroitly using (to his own purpose) the terribleness of these strange monsters. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter i heresy compared to -1.htm

Aron, Brother of Moses, 486, 487.
... Angels, rebel, fell through pride, [52]591. Anger, definition of, [53]16; anger
of God, [54]382, [55]399; terribleness of His anger, [56]443. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/aron brother of moses 486.htm

Terribleness (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Terribleness (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy
26:8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty ...
/t/terribleness.htm - 7k

Terribly (9 Occurrences)

/t/terribly.htm - 9k

Terrible (90 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 34:12 and according to all that mighty hand; and according to all the
great terribleness that Moses had wrought in the sight of all Israel. ...
/t/terrible.htm - 36k

Out-stretched (17 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 26:8 And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with
an out-stretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with ...
/o/out-stretched.htm - 11k

Eagle's (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath lifted thee up, The pride of thy heart, O dweller
in clefts of the rock, Holding the high place of the height, For thou ...
/e/eagle's.htm - 7k

Dweller (13 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath lifted thee up, The pride of thy heart, O dweller
in clefts of the rock, Holding the high place of the height, For thou ...
/d/dweller.htm - 10k

Dwellest (27 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart,
O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of ...
/d/dwellest.htm - 14k

Rocks (48 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath lifted thee up, The pride of thy heart, O dweller
in clefts of the rock, Holding the high place of the height, For thou ...
/r/rocks.htm - 21k

Powerful (93 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 26:8 and Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt with a powerful hand,
and with a stretched-out arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and ...
/p/powerful.htm - 34k

Holdest (11 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 49:16 Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart,
O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of ...
/h/holdest.htm - 9k

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