What does the Bible say about fear?

Isaiah 41:10 says, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God,' and 2 Timothy 1:7 says 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.'

How many times does the Bible say do not be afraid?

Some form of 'fear not' appears well over a hundred times across Scripture, making it one of God's most repeated commands, and it is almost always joined to a promise of His presence (Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9).

What did Jesus say about fear?

Jesus said, 'Fear not, little flock' (Luke 12:32), 'let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27), and He calmed His disciples in the storm, asking, 'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' (Matthew 8:26).

What Bible verse helps with fear and anxiety?

Isaiah 41:10 and Philippians 4:6-7 are anchors, and Psalm 34:4 testifies, 'I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.'

How do I overcome fear with faith?

1 John 4:18 says 'perfect love casteth out fear.' Trust God's nearness (Psalm 23:4), cast your fears on Him because He cares (1 Peter 5:7), and let His love, not the fear, have the final word.

What is the fear of the Lord?

This is a different word: reverent awe and trust, not dread. Proverbs 9:10 says, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' Rightly fearing God is what frees us from being ruled by every other fear.

Home › Bible verses › Fear

An empty boat on calm water as light breaks through parting storm clouds.

Bible verses

Bible Verses About Fear

Over and over the Bible says the same thing to the frightened: do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 41:10, 2 Timothy 1:7 and Psalm 34:4 are among the clearest verses about fear. Scripture does not shame the fear; it answers it with God's nearness.

Bible verses about fear

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.”

Isaiah 41:10 · King James Version (public domain)

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7 · King James Version (public domain)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1 · King James Version (public domain)

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Joshua 1:9 · King James Version (public domain)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Psalm 23:4 · King James Version (public domain)

The valley is real and dark, yet the reason not to fear is not that the danger is small but that the Shepherd is present.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1 · King James Version (public domain)

When God Himself is your light, salvation, and strength, the question of whom to fear loses its grip.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 · King James Version (public domain)

Courage is commanded and made possible by a promise: the God who goes with you will never fail you or leave you.

How these verses point to Christ

Again and again God tells His people, fear not, and always for the same reason: I am with you. In Jesus that presence took on flesh and was named Immanuel, God with us. He faced the deepest fear, death itself, and rose, so that He could tell His own, be not afraid. The One who conquered the last enemy now walks with us through every lesser fear.

Read these verses in full

Each of these has its own page with the whole verse, what it means, and how it points to Christ.

You do not have to carry this alone

On The Living Bread you can read these passages in full, ask Simon what they mean, hear how Christ has met others in the same place, and pray them with a community that will pray for you by name. You are welcome exactly as you are.

Pray with someone now Hear a testimony Ask Simon

Questions people ask about fear

What does the Bible say about fear?: Isaiah 41:10 says, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God,' and 2 Timothy 1:7 says 'God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.'
How many times does the Bible say do not be afraid?: Some form of 'fear not' appears well over a hundred times across Scripture, making it one of God's most repeated commands, and it is almost always joined to a promise of His presence (Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9).
What did Jesus say about fear?: Jesus said, 'Fear not, little flock' (Luke 12:32), 'let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid' (John 14:27), and He calmed His disciples in the storm, asking, 'Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?' (Matthew 8:26).
What Bible verse helps with fear and anxiety?: Isaiah 41:10 and Philippians 4:6-7 are anchors, and Psalm 34:4 testifies, 'I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.'
How do I overcome fear with faith?: 1 John 4:18 says 'perfect love casteth out fear.' Trust God's nearness (Psalm 23:4), cast your fears on Him because He cares (1 Peter 5:7), and let His love, not the fear, have the final word.
What is the fear of the Lord?: This is a different word: reverent awe and trust, not dread. Proverbs 9:10 says, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' Rightly fearing God is what frees us from being ruled by every other fear.

Grounded in Scripture, and made to genuinely help. Our approach to Scripture and trust.

Keep it in the app