What does the Bible say

What Does the Bible Say About The Fear of God?

The Bible calls the fear of the LORD the beginning of wisdom, a reverent awe and honour toward God rather than a cringing terror. This holy fear draws us near rather than driving us away, teaching us to take God seriously, hate evil, and walk humbly. Perfect love, Scripture says, casts out the fear that has torment, leaving a childlike reverence.

What Scripture says

Here are real verses on the Fear of God, each in the King James Version, with a word on what it means.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

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 (KJV)

Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.Psalm 111:10 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.Proverbs 8:13 (KJV)

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.Psalm 34:9 (KJV)

O fear the LORD, ye his saints, for there is no want to them that fear him.

What this means for you today

The fear of God is not being scared of him but standing in awe of who he is: holy, majestic, and worthy of everything. It is the reverence that takes God seriously and orders the whole of life around him.

This holy fear is the beginning of wisdom because it puts us in our right place before God and frees us from lesser fears. For those in Christ, it is the reverence of a beloved child, not the terror of a slave.

The deepest answer is Jesus

Jesus makes the awesome God our Father, so that holy fear and warm intimacy meet; we can revere him deeply and draw near without dread.

Every one of these Scriptures points beyond itself to a Person. The deepest answer the Bible gives to any human need is not a rule or a technique but Jesus Christ, who came, lived, died, and rose again so that you could be forgiven and brought home to God. He said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Whatever you are carrying, you do not have to carry it alone, and you do not have to make yourself clean first. You can come to him today, just as you are.

This is the good news the whole Bible is telling. We were made for God, we have all turned from him and gone our own way, and none of us can fix that on our own. But God did not leave us there. Out of love he sent his Son to take our place, bearing our wrong on the cross and rising again to open the way back to the Father. Everyone who turns to Jesus and trusts him is forgiven, given new life, and welcomed as a beloved child of God, held by a love that will never let go. That is why the Bible's answer to every topic on this page finally leads here. You can respond right now, in your own words, simply telling God you need him and asking Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord. He hears the honest prayer of anyone who comes.

Related: God's Will · God's Timing · Hearing God's Voice · Spiritual Growth · Assurance of Salvation · All topics