Fear of the Lord in Scripture and Christian Life
The "fear of the Lord" in Scripture is a central concept, particularly in the Old Testament, where it often designates true piety [1]. This fear is not a slavish dread but rather a filial reverence, conjoined with love and hope [1]. For instance, God is referred to as "the Fear of Isaac" in Genesis 31:42, 53, indicating the God whom Isaac revered [1].
In the book of Proverbs, the fear of the Lord is presented as foundational to wisdom and life. Proverbs 1:7 states that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," and Proverbs 9:10 reiterates this, calling it the "beginning of wisdom" [6, 10]. It is also described as a "wellspring of life, to avoid the snares of death" (Proverbs 14:27, Geneva1599) [2]. This fear motivates a life of wisdom and includes reverence and respect for God [6].
A key aspect of the fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil. Proverbs 8:13 (Geneva1599) declares, "The feare of the Lord is to hate euill as pride, and arrogancie, and the euill way: and a mouth that speaketh lewde things, I doe hate" [3]. John Gill elaborates on this, explaining that "the fear of the Lord" manifests itself in a hatred of all evil—evil thoughts, words, actions, company, worship, and doctrines—because of its loathsome nature and its opposition to God's will [7]. This reverential affection for God leads believers to turn away from sin [7].
The New Testament also enjoins a holy fear, not as a source of terror, but as a preventative against carelessness in religious life and an incentive for penitence [1]. Passages like Matthew 10:28, 2 Corinthians 5:11, Philippians 2:12, and Hebrews 12:28-29 encourage this reverence [1]. In Romans 11:20, "fear" can mean a reverential awe of God that includes the recognition of future judgment [11]. This godly fear is contrasted with unholy fear, which is characteristic of the wicked and includes fear of idols, fear of man, or fear of judgments [5].
The fear of the Lord brings confidence and refuge. Those who fear the Lord can be confident in God's love and protection [8]. It is also associated with longevity, as "The fear of the Lord prolongeth days" (Proverbs 10:27) [9]. This concept underscores a deep respect and awe for God's holiness, greatness, and goodness, which serves as a motive for obedience and worship [4].
Sources
- 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).”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 14:27 (Geneva1599) — The feare of the Lord is as a welspring of life, to auoyde the snares of death.”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 8:13 (Geneva1599) — The feare of the Lord is to hate euill as pride, and arrogancie, and the euill way: and a mouth that speaketh lewde things, I doe hate.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 34:9: 34:9-10 Fear of the Lord includes reverence and respect, and it motivates a life of wisdom (see Prov 1:7; 9:10).”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:13: The fear of the Lord is to hate evil,.... All evil in general, evil thoughts, evil words, evil actions, evil company, evil worship, and evil doctrines; and by "the fear of the Lord", which shows itself in an hatred of evil, because of the loathsome nature of it, and being contrary to God and his will, and as it appears in the glass of the law, and especially in the glass of pardoning love, is meant not the fear of his judgments and wrath, or a distrust of his grace and goodness, much less an hypocritical fear, or a mere show of devotion; but a reverential affection ”
- 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”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 10:27: The fear of the Lord prolongeth days,.... Not beyond the time fixed in the unalterable purposes and decrees of God, Job 14:5; but longer than some others, or than those that fear the Lord expect to live; or longer than, according to the course of nature, and the weakness of their constitutions, it could be thought they should live. Long life is promised to them that fear the Lord; godliness has the promise of this life and of that to come; the fear of the Lord is the means of preserving persons from those things which are pernicious to the health of men, and so of ”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:10: 9:10-12 Fear of the Lord: See study note on 1:7.”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 11:20: 11:20 fear what could happen: In Scripture, fear often means a reverential awe of God that includes the recognition that we must one day stand before him in judgment (see 2 Cor 5:11; 7:1, 11, 15; Phil 2:12; Col 3:22).”