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Every Biblical Reference to Fear of the Lord

The concept of "fear of the Lord" is a pervasive theme throughout the Bible, appearing in various contexts and traditions. In the Old Testament, it is often associated with true piety and wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10 [2, 7]. The phrase is not limited to a slavish dread, but rather encompasses a filial reverence and love for God, as noted in Deuteronomy 32:6 and Hosea 11:1 [2].

The biblical references to "fear of the Lord" are numerous and diverse. In the Old Testament, it is linked to the names of certain individuals, such as Irijah and Jeriah, which mean "the fear of the Lord" [1, 5]. The concept is also connected to the idea of reverence and worship, as expressed in Psalms 102:15, where it is written that "the nations will fear the name of the LORD" [4].

In the wisdom literature, the "fear of the Lord" is presented as the beginning of wisdom, as stated in Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 111:10 [7, 12]. Sirach 1:17 further emphasizes this idea, describing the fear of the Lord as "the religiousness of knowledge" [3]. The New Testament also references the concept, with 2 Corinthians 5:11 and 7:1 highlighting the importance of a godly fear as a motivator for Christian living [9].

The interpretation of "fear of the Lord" has been explored by various traditions. In Jewish tradition, the Babylonian Talmud emphasizes the significance of fearing Heaven, citing Isaiah 33:6, which states that "fear of the Lord is his treasure" [14, 15]. Patristic writers, such as Hippolytus and Cyprian, also referenced the concept in their works, often linking it to the idea of reverence and obedience to God [6, 10, 13].

In Christian theology, the concept has been understood in different ways. According to Aquinas, the gift of fear is a virtue that regards God's power and greatness, inspiring reverence and awe [11]. Reformed theologians, such as John Gill, have also written extensively on the topic, emphasizing its connection to trust and confidence in God [7, 8].

The "fear of the Lord" remains a rich and complex concept, with its biblical roots and diverse interpretations continuing to shape Christian thought and practice. As seen in the various traditions represented, the concept is multifaceted, encompassing elements of reverence, worship, and obedience [2, 3, 7].

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Irijah — the fear of the Lord”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).”
  3. Sirach “Sirach 1:17 (DRC) — The fear of the Lord is the religiousness of knowledge.”
  4. Psalms “Psalms 102:15 (BSB) — So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Jeriah — fear, or throwing down, of the Lord”
  6. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 20): all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(10) Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "He that loveth father or mother above me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter above me, is not worthy of me; and he that taketh not up his cross and followeth me, is not my disciple."(11) Also in the Epistle of Paul to the Romans: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, Because”
  7. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 111:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,.... The fear of the Lord, whose name is revered, is not a fear of his judgments here or hereafter, but of his goodness and grace; it is a reverential affection for him, a fiducial fear of him, a fear of offending so good a Being as he is; and it includes all religious worship of him, inward and outward, private and public; and at this true wisdom begins; a man begins to be wise when he fears the Lord, and not till then; this is his highest wisdom, and this is, as it may be rendered, "the chief of wisdom" (i), the prin”
  8. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 14:26: In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence,.... Such who fear the Lord may be confident that he has a love to them, a delight in them; that his eye is upon them, and his heart towards them; and will communicate every needful good to them, and protect and defend them: or the Lord himself that is feared, who is the object of fear, called the fear of Isaac, Gen 31:42; he is a strong tower, a place of defence to those that fear him and trust in him, Pro 18:10; and his children shall have a place of refuge; the children of God, as those that fear him are; the Lord i”
  9. 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:11: terror of the Lord--the coming judgment, so full of terrors to unbelievers [ESTIUS]. ELLICOTT and ALFORD, after GROTIUS and BENGEL, translate, "The fear of the Lord" (Co2 7:1; Ecc 12:13; Act 9:31; Rom 3:18; Eph 5:21). persuade--Ministers should use the terrors of the Lord to persuade men, not to rouse their enmity (Jde 1:23). BENGEL, ESTIUS, and ALFORD explain: "Persuade men" (by our whole lives, Co2 5:13), namely, of our integrity as ministers. But this would have been expressed after "persuade," had it been the sense. The connection seems as”
  10. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 20): the wedding, that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him. Blessed are those servants whom their Lord, when He cometh, shall find watching."[3] Also in the Apocalypse: "The Lord God omnipotent reigneth: let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give to Him the honour of glory; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready."[4] 20. That the Jews would fasten Christ to the cross. In Isaiah: "I have spread out my hands all day to a people disobedient and contradicting me, who walk in wa”
  11. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Grace of Christ as an Individual Man, Art. 6: Article: Whether in Christ there was the gift of fear? I answer that, As was said above (FS, Question [42], Article [1]), fear regards two objects, one of which is an evil causing terror; the other is that by whose power an evil can be inflicted, as we fear the king inasmuch as he has the power of putting to death. Now whoever can hurt would not be feared unless he had a certain greatness of might, to which resistance could not easily be offered; for what we easily repel we do not fear. An”
  12. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 14:27: (Compare Pro 13:14). fear of the Lord--or, "law of the wise," is wisdom (Psa 111:10).”
  13. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 5: Hippolytus, Cyprian, Caius, Novatian — TESTIMONIES. (part 11): in Isaiah: "And a rod shall go forth of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall go up from his root; and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and the spirit of the fear of the Lord shall fill Him."[5] Also in the cxxxist Psalm: "God hath sworn the truth unto David himself, and He has not repudiated it; of the fruit of thy belly will I set upon my throne."[6] Also in the Gospel according to Luke: "And the an”
  14. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.66:24: The verse says: What does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear the Lord your God. The Gemara asks: Is fear of Heaven a minor matter that it can be presented as if God is not asking anything significant? Didn’t Rabbi Ḥanina say in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One, Blessed be He, has nothing in his treasury other than a treasure of fear of Heaven, as it is stated: “Fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). The Lord values and treasures fear of Heaven over all else.”
  15. Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128b.66:24: The verse says: What does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear the Lord your God. The Gemara asks: Is fear of Heaven a minor matter that it can be presented as if God is not asking anything significant? Didn’t Rabbi Ḥanina say in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One, Blessed be He, has nothing in his treasury other than a treasure of fear of Heaven, as it is stated: “Fear of the Lord is his treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). The Lord values and treasures fear of Heaven over all else.”
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