Terrifying renders the same Greek word which was translated to wait in fear in verse 27. It does not mean in general terms “something very bad,” but specifically “a thing to be feared.”

To fall into the hands of simply means “to come under the power of,” “to be subjected to,” or “to be controlled by.”

The living God, in English and some other languages, is a rather conventional biblical phrase which is best avoided in a modern translation. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch first edition had “God is alive; to fall into his hands is fearful!” (also in 9.14). Compare 3.12; 12.22.

It may be necessary to restructure the items in this verse; for example, “To have the living God get control of a person is something to be greatly feared.” The suggestion of some degree of hostile control may be expressed as “If the living God grabs hold of a person…” or “If the living God catches a person….”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .