There is no substantial difference between the two verbs translated be in dread and be … afraid. The verb for be in dread is used less frequently than the other verb and appears also at 7.21; 20.3; 21.6. Another way to express this is “Don’t let your hearts fall [or, melt] when you think about these people.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .