📖 Key Verse (KJV):
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.”
— Deuteronomy 10:17
Here, “terrible” is used to describe God's overwhelming glory, might, and holiness that causes reverent fear and awe in people.
In Hebrew, the word translated as "terrible" is often “yare’”, which means:
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To fear
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To revere
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To stand in awe
🟡 1. "Terrible" Means God Is Awe-Inspiring and Fearsome in Power
God is called "terrible" because His presence shakes mountains, parts seas, and consumes with fire. He is not to be taken lightly.
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
— Exodus 15:11
His power humbles kings, topples nations, and silences proud men. This fear is not terror for the righteous—it is holy reverence.
🟡 2. God’s Justice Is Uncompromising
He is "terrible" because He is utterly just.
He will not tolerate sin, lies, or rebellion. This quality should make the unrepentant fear and the righteous rejoice, because it means evil will not win forever.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
— Hebrews 10:31
For the wicked, God’s justice is terrible. For the righteous, His justice is comforting.
🟡 3. God’s Presence Evokes Holy Fear
Even those who loved and obeyed God fell on their faces when He appeared.
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Isaiah cried, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5)
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Ezekiel fell on his face (Ezekiel 1:28)
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John fell as though dead when he saw the glorified Christ (Revelation 1:17)
Why? Because God is terribly holy—so perfect, so pure, so powerful that no flesh can stand casually in His presence.
✅ So Why Call Him “Terrible”?
Because in the old language, it’s the highest way of expressing reverence.
Today, we might say:
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“God is awesome in power.”
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“God is fearsome in holiness.”
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“God is mighty and majestic beyond words.”
But in the poetic and reverent language of the King James Bible, “terrible” captured this awe.
🔥 Final Thought
God is not “terrible” in character—He is perfect, holy, just, and good.
But He is "terrible" in His majesty—so mighty that no one can stand before Him apart from mercy.
To love God is to revere Him.
To follow Him is to fear Him—in awe, in wonder, in trembling trust.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” — Proverbs 9:10
🙏 Prayer: Revering the Fearsome Majesty of God
Abba Father, in the name of Jesus,
I come before You with reverence and trembling,
For You are a great and terrible God—
Awesome in power, unmatched in holiness,
The One who spoke and the heavens obeyed,
Who thundered from Sinai and parted the sea.
You are not to be taken lightly.
You are not a God to be molded by man’s hands or diluted by the world’s ideas.
You are fire, You are glory, You are light unapproachable.
And yet—You call me to come close through the blood of Jesus.
I humble myself before Your throne.
Teach me to fear You rightly—not with dread,
But with awe that stirs worship, obedience, and wonder.
Let my heart never grow casual about Your majesty.
Let me not treat what is holy as common.
Lord, You are both Lion and Lamb—
Terrible in judgment, tender in mercy.
Let this holy fear lead me to walk uprightly,
To turn from sin, to revere Your Word,
To tremble at Your voice and delight in Your presence.
I worship You—mighty God, consuming fire,
The One who was, who is, and who is to come.
May my life honor the weight of who You are.
And may I live every day in the fear of the Lord,
Which is the beginning of wisdom.
In Jesus Almighty name, Amen.
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