ter'-i-b'l, ter'-er (yare', "to be feared," "reverenced," arits, "powerful," "tyrannical," 'ayom, "aweinspiring," chittith "terror," ballahah, "a worn-out or wasted thing," 'emah, "fright"; phoberos, "dreadful," phobos, "fear"): The above terms, and many others which employed, denote whatever, by horrible aspect, or by greatness, power, or cruelty, affrights men (De 1:19;26:8;Da 2:31). God is terrible by reason of His awful greatness, His infinite power, His inscrutable dealings, His perfect holiness, His covenant faithfulness, His strict justice and fearful judgments (Ex 34:10;De 7:21;Ne 9:32;Job 6:4;37:22;Ps 65:5;88:15f; Joe 2:11;Ze 2:11;Heb 12:21). The term is also applied to the enemies of God and of His people (Isa 13:11;25:3 ff;49:25;Da 7:7;1Pe 3:14). "The terror (the Revised Version (British and American) "fear") of the Lord" (2Co 5:11) denotes the reverence or fear inspired by the thought that Christ is judge (2Co 5:10).
M. O. Evans