Bible glossary
What Does ‘Fear of the Lord’ Mean in the Bible?
The fear of the Lord is reverent awe and honor toward God: not cringing terror, but a humble wonder that treats Him as truly God.
In short
The fear of the Lord is reverent awe and honor toward God: not cringing terror, but a humble wonder that treats Him as truly God.
This phrase can be misheard. The fear of the LORD is not being scared of a bully in the sky. It is the awe and reverence owed to the One who made and sustains all things, a right-sized sense of who God is and who we are before Him.
The Bible calls this fear the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. When we take God seriously, everything else falls into proper place. It frees us from the smaller fears of the world by anchoring us in reverence for the One who holds all things.
Key verses
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.”
Psalm 111:10
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear of the Lord and Jesus
In Jesus this reverent fear meets tender love. The One before whom we bow in awe is the same One who washed His disciples' feet and gave His life for them. Awe and intimacy are not opposites in Him; the God we revere is the God who draws near.