Trembles
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Definition and Usage:
The term "trembles" in the Bible often refers to a physical manifestation of fear, awe, or reverence in response to the presence or actions of God. It can also denote the reaction of the earth or nations in the face of divine power and judgment.

Biblical Instances:

1. Fear and Reverence:
Trembling is frequently associated with the fear of the Lord, a profound respect and awe for His majesty and holiness. In Isaiah 66:2 , God says, "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word." This verse highlights the appropriate response of humility and reverence towards God's commands and revelations.

2. Divine Judgment:
The earth and its inhabitants are depicted as trembling in response to God's judgment. In Psalm 99:1 , it is written, "The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth quake." This imagery underscores the power and authority of God over all creation, causing even the earth to react to His presence.

3. Prophetic Imagery:
Prophets often use the imagery of trembling to convey the seriousness of God's impending judgment. In Joel 2:1 , the prophet declares, "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near." Here, trembling serves as a call to repentance and preparation for the day of the Lord.

4. Human Response to Divine Encounter:
Individuals in the Bible often tremble when encountering God or His messengers. In Daniel 10:11 , Daniel experiences trembling during a vision: "And he said to me, 'Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I am saying to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.' And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling." This reaction signifies the overwhelming nature of divine encounters.

5. Spiritual Significance:
Trembling can also reflect a spiritual state of repentance and recognition of one's sinfulness before a holy God. In Philippians 2:12 , Paul exhorts believers, "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now even more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This passage emphasizes the seriousness with which believers are to approach their spiritual growth and obedience to God.

Theological Implications:
Trembling in the biblical context is not merely a physical reaction but a profound acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, holiness, and the reality of His judgment. It serves as a reminder of the appropriate posture of humility and reverence that believers are to maintain in their relationship with God. The consistent biblical theme of trembling underscores the importance of recognizing God's authority and responding with a heart of worship and obedience.
Strong's Hebrew
3415. yara -- to quiver
... yara. 3416 . to quiver. Transliteration: yara Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-rah') Short
Definition: trembles. ... root Definition to quiver NASB Word Usage trembles (1). ...
/hebrew/3415.htm - 6k

2730a. chared -- trembling
... Word Origin from charad Definition trembling NASB Word Usage tremble (1), trembled
(1), trembling (2), who tremble (1), who trembles (1). 2730, 2730a. ...
/hebrew/2730a.htm - 5k

7460. raad -- to tremble, quake
... Definition: trembling. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to tremble, quake
NASB Word Usage trembles (1), trembling (2). tremble. A ...
/hebrew/7460.htm - 5k

2729. charad -- to tremble, be terrified
... him afraid (1), make them afraid (3), quaked (1), routed (1), startled (1), terrified
(2), terrify (2), tremble (10), trembled (4), trembles (1), trembling (2 ...
/hebrew/2729.htm - 6k

5568. samar -- to bristle up
... Definition: bristled. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to bristle up NASB
Word Usage bristled (1), trembles (1). stand up, tremble. A ...
/hebrew/5568.htm - 5k

Library

Here My Pen Trembles in My Hand; but When...
... Address 202: Here my pen trembles in my hand; but when? Here my pen trembles
in my hand; but when, O when will one single Christian ...
/.../address 202 0 0 here my pen.htm

Psalm 50:6. To the Old Proper Tune. The Last Judgment.
... the north; From east to west the sov'reign orders spread, Thro' distant worlds,
and regions of the dead: The trumpet sounds; hell trembles; heaven rejoices ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 50 6 0 to the old.htm

Psalm 50 the Last Judgment.
... Through distant worlds and regions of the dead: The trumpet sounds; hell trembles;
heav'n rejoices. ... Judgment proceeds; hell trembles; heav'n rejoices; ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 50 the last judgment.htm

Whether Fear Makes one Tremble?
... Objection 1: It would seem that trembling is not an effect of fear. Because trembling
is occasioned by cold; thus we observe that a cold person trembles. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether fear makes one tremble.htm

A Strain of Jonah the Prophet.
... God to avoid, and shun the Lord's right hand. 'Neath whom the whole orb trembles
and is held. ... 60 The forest of her tackling trembles all; ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/1 a strain of jonah.htm

The Right Kind of Fear
... That is the slavish fear which trembles before God as a criminal trembles before
the judge, "the fear which mistrusts, suspects, and has no confidence in God ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the right kind of fear.htm

Paul's Sermon Before Felix
... life or death, instead of entering into a defence of himself, he reasons "of
righteousness, continence, and judgment to come," until his judge trembles, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/pauls sermon before felix.htm

Effectual Calling
... "Ye were sometimes darkness" (Ephesians 5:8). Darkness is very disconsolate. A man
in the dark is full of fear, he trembles every step he takes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/effectual calling.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... You do not now hear him say that he trembles under the Word"not he. ... Almost persuaded
to be a Christian by some sermon from a Paul, he trembles at his feet. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Hebrews x. 26, 27
... A woman often has a garment woven with gold, and this she shakes, wraps up in linen,
keeps with care, trembles for it, and has no enjoyment of it. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xx hebrews x 26.htm

Thesaurus
Trembles (17 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Trembles (17 Occurrences). ... (See NIV). Job 37:1 "Yes, at
this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/t/trembles.htm - 11k

Tremble (92 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To totter; to shake; -- said of a thing. 3. (vi) To quaver or shake,
as sound; to be tremulous; as the voice trembles. 4 ...
/t/tremble.htm - 34k

Resound (8 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Jeremiah 49:21 The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there
is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea. (See NIV). ...
/r/resound.htm - 9k

Trembleth (21 Occurrences)

/t/trembleth.htm - 12k

Outcry (56 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Jeremiah 49:21 The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there
is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea. (See NAS). ...
/o/outcry.htm - 22k

Trembled (43 Occurrences)

/t/trembled.htm - 19k

Quakes (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 10:10 But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting
King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to ...
/q/quakes.htm - 8k

Neighing (3 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 8:16 The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan: at the sound of the
neighing of his strong ones the whole land trembles; for they are come, and ...
/n/neighing.htm - 7k

Lit (10 Occurrences)
... The earth trembled and shook. (WEB DBY NAS NIV). Psalms 97:4 His lightning
lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles. (See NAS). ...
/l/lit.htm - 9k

Leaps (5 Occurrences)
... Job 37:1 "Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place. (See NAS
RSV NIV). Job 41:22 There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him. ...
/l/leaps.htm - 7k

Resources
How is prayer communicating with God? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible teach that Sophia is the goddess of wisdom? | GotQuestions.org

What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.org

Trembles: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Trembles (17 Occurrences)

Judges 7:3
Now therefore make proclamation in the ears of the people, saying: Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.' And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
(See NIV)

Job 37:1
"Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Psalms 97:4
His lightning lights up the world. The earth sees, and trembles.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:32
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 119:120
My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 119:161
<SHIN> Rulers have been cruel to me without cause; but I have the fear of your word in my heart.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 30:21
For three things the earth is moved, and there are four which it will not put up with:
(See RSV NIV)

Isaiah 10:29
They have gone over the pass. They have taken up their lodging at Geba. Ramah trembles. Gibeah of Saul has fled.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Isaiah 15:4
Heshbon is crying out, and Elealeh; their voice is sounding even to Jahaz: for this cause the heart of Moab is shaking; his soul is shaking with fear.
(See NAS RSV)

Isaiah 66:2
For all these things has my hand made, and so all these things came to be," says Yahweh: "but to this man will I look, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 8:16
The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan: at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the whole land trembles; for they are come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it; the city and those who dwell therein.
(WEB NIV)

Jeremiah 10:10
But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.
(WEB NIV)

Jeremiah 49:21
The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea.
(WEB)

Jeremiah 50:46
At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembles, and the cry is heard among the nations.
(WEB)

Jeremiah 51:29
The land trembles and is in pain; for the purposes of Yahweh against Babylon do stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Joel 2:10
At their face trembled hath the earth, Shaken have the heavens, Sun and moon have been black, And stars have gathered up their shining.
(See NIV)

Nahum 1:5
The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
(WEB NIV)

Subtopics

Trembles

Related Terms

Quaketh (4 Occurrences)

Trembles (17 Occurrences)

Overcometh (12 Occurrences)

Overnight (6 Occurrences)

Leapeth (2 Occurrences)

Gibeath-shaul (3 Occurrences)

Wholly (67 Occurrences)

Weepeth (29 Occurrences)

Feareth (36 Occurrences)

Flees (19 Occurrences)

Rushes (13 Occurrences)

Moveth (18 Occurrences)

Provided (68 Occurrences)

Provision (50 Occurrences)

Comest (50 Occurrences)

Contains (17 Occurrences)

Aye (3 Occurrences)

Steeds (11 Occurrences)

Shuddereth (1 Occurrence)

Rush (35 Occurrences)

Bringeth (313 Occurrences)

Crieth (47 Occurrences)

Trembling (72 Occurrences)

Elohim (38 Occurrences)

Oh (164 Occurrences)

Toucheth (45 Occurrences)

Gib'e-ah (45 Occurrences)

Warfare (18 Occurrences)

War (529 Occurrences)

Exceedingly (167 Occurrences)

Eternity (23 Occurrences)

Lodge (64 Occurrences)

Turneth (249 Occurrences)

Met (118 Occurrences)

Faint (76 Occurrences)

Haste (106 Occurrences)

Whereof (94 Occurrences)

Hills (132 Occurrences)

Trembled
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