חַת

From the study of Genesis 9:2

Range of meaning

As a noun: terror, dismay. As an adjective: shattered, broken, dismayed (1 Sam 2:4, 'the bows of the mighty are broken'; Jer 46:5). It comes from the root chatat, 'to be shattered, terrified, paralysed'. A related noun appears in Genesis 35:5: 'a terror of God (chittat 'elohim) was on the cities around them, so they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.'

Against the English

'Dread' (KJV, ESV, BSB) and 'terror' (NASB) both fit. Neither English word fully keeps the picture of being broken or shattered that sits behind the Hebrew.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun is very rare. Besides this verse it appears in Job 41:25 (Hebrew numbering; 41:33 in English), where Leviathan is a creature 'made without dread', the one beast that fears nothing. Paired with mora', it forms a doubled expression like Hebrew's other fear pairs (pachad u-mora', 'eimah va-pachad in Exod 15:16).

From the study of 1 Samuel 2:4

Range of meaning

From the root ḥ-t-t: (1) shattered, broken; (2) dismayed, terrified, broken in courage. The verb from this root is often paired with 'be afraid' ('do not fear or be dismayed,' Deut 1:21; Josh 1:9) and used of things physically broken (Isa 30:31; Jer 51:56, 'their bows are shattered,' using this very root).

Against the English

'Broken' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT) and 'shattered' (NASB) keep the physical sense. No English word holds both the broken weapon and the terrified warrior, and the Hebrew may intend both.

Used elsewhere in the period

Jer 51:56 has this root with 'bows' in the same picture. The Septuagint's 'has grown weak' and the Vulgate's 'superatus est' ('has been overcome') both soften it into general defeat.

From the study of Jeremiah 46:5

Range of meaning

From the root ḥ-t-t, 'to be shattered, broken'. It is used of things (a bow broken, Jer 51:56; ground cracked, Jer 14:4) and, most often, of people whose courage has broken: panic-stricken, demoralised, unable to act. As an adjective, ḥat describes someone in that broken state.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'dismayed'; BSB and NIV have 'terrified'. In current English 'dismayed' usually means 'disappointed, upset, taken aback', which is far too weak. 'Terrified' or 'shattered' is closer.

How it drifted

In older English, 'dismay' (from Old French) meant to be robbed of courage, to be overwhelmed. Over time the word softened into mild consternation, while the KJV-based phrase 'be not dismayed' stayed in church vocabulary.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is common in the paired formula 'do not fear and do not be ḥat' (Deut 1:21; Josh 1:9; Jer 1:17; 30:10), where the opposite of being ḥat is standing firm in battle. Jeremiah uses the root heavily in his war oracles: Moab is 'shattered' (48:20, 39), Babylon's warriors are 'shattered' (50:36). The Greek Septuagint usually renders it with words for cowering or panic.