a.rats denotes trembling or dread, whether felt before opponents or associated with causing fear and awe.

The predominant use concerns persons being told not to tremble or be in dread before opponents or threatening circumstances. Other clauses use the verb for causing terror, while forms in Isaiah and the Psalm place it in language of awe or fear connected with God.

1. To be in dread before a threat · dominant

   Qal forms occur in commands not to yield to fear before adversaries: in Deuteronomy 20:3 the plural jussive stands among battle instructions, and the APB renders the clause "do not tremble before them." In Deuteronomy 31:6 and Joshua 1:9, the prohibition accompanies commands to be strong and courageous; in Isaiah 2:19 and Isaiah 2:21, the infinitive construct occurs in the stated reason people enter rocky hiding places before the LORD's dread.

   Deuteronomy 20:3Deuteronomy 31:6Deuteronomy 7:21Joshua 1:9Isaiah 2:19Isaiah 2:21
2. To cause or direct terror against someone · common

   In Isaiah 47:12, a Qal imperfect addresses a woman challenged to continue her spells, and the APB closes with "perhaps you can cause terror." In Job 13:25, the second-person Qal imperfect is used in Job's question about a driven leaf and dry stubble, while Psalm 10:18 ends with the prospect that earthly man may "strike terror no more."

   Isaiah 47:12Job 13:25Psalm 10:18
3. Fear or awe associated with God · occasional

   Hiphil forms place the term in clauses about fear and reverence: Isaiah 29:23 says that Jacob's children will sanctify God and "stand in awe," and Isaiah 8:12 prohibits sharing the people's fear. Isaiah 8:13 calls the LORD "your fear" and "your trembling" in the APB; Psalm 89:8 has a Niphal participle in its address to the LORD, though the translation does not clearly isolate that form's contribution.

   Isaiah 29:23Isaiah 8:12Isaiah 8:13Psalm 89:8

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the term through "tremble," "dread," or fear language in prohibitions, and in other clauses uses "cause terror," "strike terror," and "stand in awe." Because the translation renders whole verses rather than aligning each word, Psalm 89:8 does not clearly display a separate English rendering for its participle.