Genesis 3:10

3:10 The man replied, ¹  “I heard you moving about ²  in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

Genesis 28:17

28:17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!”

Genesis 31:31

31:31 “I left secretly because I was afraid!” ³  Jacob replied to Laban. “I thought ⁴  you might take your daughters away from me by force. ⁵ 

Genesis 32:7

32:7 Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, as well as the flocks, herds, and camels.

Genesis 35:5

35:5 and they started on their journey. ⁶  The surrounding cities were afraid of God, ⁷  and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Genesis 35:17

35:17 When her labor was at its hardest, ⁸  the midwife said to her, “Don’t be afraid, for you are having another son.” ⁹ 

Genesis 50:21

50:21 So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly ¹⁰  to them.

---

¹ tn Heb “and he said.”

² tn Heb “your sound.” If one sees a storm theophany here (see the note on the word “time” in v. 8), then one could translate, “your powerful voice.”

³ tn Heb “and Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘Because I was afraid.’” This statement is a not a response to the question about Laban’s household gods that immediately precedes, but to the earlier question about Jacob’s motivation for leaving so quickly and secretly (see v. 27). For this reason the words “I left secretly” are supplied in the translation to indicate the connection to Laban’s earlier question in v. 27. Additionally the order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse have been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.

⁴ tn Heb “for I said.”

⁵ tn Heb “lest you steal your daughters from with me.”

⁶ tn Heb “and they journeyed.”

⁷ tn Heb “and the fear of God was upon the cities which were round about them.” The expression “fear of God” apparently refers (1) to a fear of God (objective genitive; God is the object of their fear). (2) But it could mean “fear from God,” that is, fear which God placed in them (cf. NRSV “a terror from God”). Another option (3) is that the divine name is used as a superlative here, referring to “tremendous fear” (cf. NEB “were panic-stricken”; NASB “a great terror”).

⁸ tn The construction uses a Hiphil infinitive, which E. A. Speiser classifies as an elative Hiphil. The contrast is with the previous Piel: there “she had hard labor,” and here, “her labor was at its hardest.” Failure to see this, Speiser notes, has led to redundant translations and misunderstandings (Genesis [AB], 273).

⁹ sn Another son. The episode recalls and fulfills the prayer of Rachel at the birth of Joseph (Gen 30:24): “may he add” another son.

¹⁰ tn Heb “spoke to their heart.”