FEAR GOD

A Doctrinal Study on the Practical Meaning of the Command

A Word to the Reader

The introduction to the Three Angel’s Messages is a solemn two-word command. Often it
has been commented that the word “Fear” could be better translated “Reverence” or
“Hold in Awe.”

With this the average reader has too often supposed that the depths of the command had
been plumbed. Or, rather, that the command had little depth.

Yet the phrase invites the serious student into a world of metaphysics and world-view
correction. Something terribly wrong has skewed our understanding of this subject.

I write “world-view correction” because the error is societal and sub-conscious. There are
few persons as exceptions within our sphere of acquaintances. Only with difficulty can
we even conceptualize the Biblical reality of fearing God.

And our forgetfulness of God belies a deeply buried fear of something other than God.

Perhaps as defined by a lexicon we can say that we fear God. If we compare ourselves to
the Bible illustrations of the term, we will find first that we do not. We will find next that
we must. And we will see in Scripture terrible reasons why.

Not all in scripture meets the approval of those who deny a God of Judgment.

A Consideration of Motives for Fearing God

Marketing originated with He who made all things. But from His hand all goods come as
advertised. All promised benefits are true. His offers warrant trust.

And perhaps no article from the Heavenly Merchantman is advertised with greater
frequency than the Fear of God. By stories that illustrate its rewards, but no less by
simple promises to those that cherish this virtue, the Fear of the Lord is promoted as the
way to most desirous ends.

What can they who fear the Lord expect from God’s hands?

Healing from Jesus when He appears!

But unto you that fear yareh my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with
healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Mal
4:2

Fulfilled desires! Answered Prayers! Saved from difficulties!

 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear yareh him: he also will hear their cry, and
will save them. Ps 145:19

Have you wondered how to make God happy? You may please Him this way!
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear yareh him, in those that hope in his
mercy. Ps 147:11

Success in departing from evil!

A wise man feareth yareh, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is
confident. Pr 14:16
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear yir-ah of the LORD men
depart from evil. Pr 16:6

Honor from God’s faithful!

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear yareh the
LORD. Ps 15:4
By humility and the fear yir-ah of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. Pr 22:4

Refuge as children of God! Strong confidence in the Lord!

In the fear yir-ah of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a
place of refuge. Pr 14:26

Recognition and attention from our loved ones! (for ladies)

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth yareh the LORD,
she shall be praised. Pr 31:30

Blessings of happiness and gladness!

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth yareh the LORD. Ps 128:4
They that fear yareh thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in
thy word. Ps 119:74

Needed food! **
He hath given meat unto them that fear yareh him: he will ever be mindful of his
covenant. Ps 111:5

Inheritance with the faithful!

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those
that fear yareh thy name. Ps 61:5

Salvation near to us! Glory in our land!

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear yareh him; that glory may dwell in our
land. Ps 85:9

Mercy as high as the heavens and as enduring as eternity! To generations!

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that
fear yareh him. . . .The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon
 them that fear yareh him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; Ps 103:11,
17
And his mercy is on them that fear phobeo him from generation to generation. Lu
1:50

Pity as tender as that of a father for his children!

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear yareh him.
Ps 103:13

Personal teaching from the Lord on the path we should take in life!
What man is he that feareth yareh the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he
shall choose. Ps 25:12

Understand in the secrets of the Lord! Understanding of the covenants!

The secret of the LORD is with them that fear yareh him; and he will shew them his
covenant. Ps 25:14

Special watchcare from the Lord’s eyes!

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear yareh him, upon them that hope
in his mercy; Ps 33:18

Good things that God is working out for us in heaven!

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear yareh thee;
which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Ps
31:19

Protection from the Holy Angels camped around us!

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear yareh him, and
delivereth them. Ps 34:7

No need (see the passage)!

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear yareh him. Ps
34:9

Responsibilities in God’s work! (This means your life will have great meaning!)
Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear yareh God,
men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of
thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Ex 18:21

More confidence in the word!

Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear yir-ah. Ps 119:38

Gifts at the Second Coming!

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that
they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the
 prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear phobeo thy name, small and great; and
shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. Re 11:18

Motive in Evangelism!
Knowing therefore the terror phobos of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 2Co
5:11

Direction in the Work of Character Development!

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear phobos of God. 2Co
7:1

Audience with our Father in Heaven!

[Jesus] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, . . .
was heard in that he feared eulabia; Heb 5:7
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the
LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and trembleth chared at my word. Isa 66:2
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant,
and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear yare thy name: and prosper, I
pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I
was the king’s cupbearer. Ne 1:11

Opportunities to Participate in the Great Work God is doing in the Earth!

Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled chared at the words of the
God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away;
and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice. Ezr 9:4

Opportunities to Guide by Good Counsel the Great Work God is doing in the Earth!
Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and
such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that
tremble chared at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the
law. Ezr 10:3
That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over
Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared yare God above many. Ne 7:2
My covenant [designating his children as my priests] was with [Levi] of life and
peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared yare me, and was
afraid before my name. Mal 2:5

Triumph over our Pseudo-Christian Persecutors at Christ’s Appearing!

Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble chared at his word; Your brethren that
hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified:
but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Isa 66:5
Life and More of It!
The fear yir-ah of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be
shortened. Pr 10:27
The fear yir-ah of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Pr 14:27
By humility and the fear yir-ah of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. Pr 22:4

Contentment with Such as We Have!

Better is little with the fear yir-ah of the LORD than great treasure and trouble
therewith. Pr 15:16.
The fear yir-ah of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
he shall not be visited with evil. Pr 19:23

Angel Visitants to Help Us Know What to Do!

A devout man, and one that feared phobeo God with all his house, which gave much
alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. . . . And they said, Cornelius the
centurion, a just man, and one that feareth phobeo God, and of good report among all
the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee
into his house, and to hear words of thee. Acts 10:2, 22. See the verses between.

Acceptance with God!!

But in every nation he that feareth phobeo him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him. Ac 10:35

Special Sermons and Instructions from God’s Messengers!

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that
fear phobeo God, give audience. Ac 13:16
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you
feareth phobeo God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. Ac 13:26
Come and hear, all ye that fear yareh God, and I will declare what he hath done for
my soul. Ps 66:16

Riches!
By humility and the fear yir-ah of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. Pr 22:4

Covenants of Life and Peace During Times of Judgment!

My covenant was with him of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear
mowra
wherewith he feared yare me, and was afraid chathath before my name. Mal 2:5

Lodging!
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared yare God, that he made them
houses. Ex 1:21

Find Delight in the Commandments!

Have Powerful Children!
Have Wealth in Your Home! (Above?)
Have Righteousness Unending!
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth yare the LORD, that delighteth
greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation
of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his
righteousness endureth for ever. Ps 112:1-3

Companionship with God’s Men!

I am a companion of all them that fear yare thee, and of them that keep thy
precepts. Ps 119:63. See Ps 22:25.
Then they that feared yareh the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for
them that feared yareh the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:16

It Shall be Well!
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I
know that it shall be well with them that fear yareh God, which fear yare before him:
Ec 8:12

Life Insurance for Your Spouse When You Die!

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto
Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy
servant did fear yareh the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two
sons to be bondmen. (See the story) 2Ki 4:1

You Can Reap Benefits from Your Work!

Your Wife Will Be Fruitful!
Your Children Will be Precious! They Will Sit Around the Table!
You Will See the Church Prosper!
You Will See Grandchildren!
Blessed is every one that feareth yareh the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For
thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well
with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy
children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be
blessed that feareth the LORD. The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou
shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, thou shalt see thy
children’s children, and peace upon Israel. Ps 128

Besides these many blessings the Bible suggests that the Fear of the Lord has a number of
impacts on the life. It moved Jonah’s shipmates to honor the Creator God with sacrifice
and vows. They feared the Lord “exceedingly.” Jon 1:16.

Hosea links the Fear of God to stability of the throne. Ho 10:3.

The first chapter of Proverbs speaks of men who cry to God in their troubles. Ironically,
they paid no attention to God when He had earlier sent counsel their direction. They
lacked the fear of God. God responds that He will not help them in their current distress.
Why not?

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear yir-ah of the LORD: Pr
1:29
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth yareh the
commandment shall be rewarded. Pr 13:13

Jehoshaphat’s fear of God moved him to lead out in a national revival—beginning with a
heart-searching time of fasting. 2 Ch 20:3. By this he, like others, succeeded where most
fell. “He that feareth yareh God shall come forth of them all.” Ec. 7:18.

Though God’s blessings on the reverential are exemplified through the lives of many
prophets, kings, and persons of note, yet those blessings are available no less to the lowly.

He will bless them that fear yareh the LORD, both small and great. Ps 115:13

God exalts His truth through those that fear Him. They are granted the responsibility of
holding the banner of truth aloft. Their lives advertise the value of believing. They honor
God and He honors them. We are asked to think about this – “Selah”.

Thou hast given a banner to them that fear yareh thee, that it may be displayed
because of the truth. Selah. Ps 60:4

Motives in the Commands

Motive precedes production. Many commands to Fear God make reference to some
reason for doing so. The commands can be broken into two categories. The first describe
the benefits that come from fearing God. We are to fear so that God can preserve our life,
and watch for our good “always.”

And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear yare the LORD our
God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. De
6:24

Our fear leads to fulfillment of our needs. Our need for deliverance from our enemy is
one of those filled.

O fear yare the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Ps
34:9
But the LORD your God ye shall fear yare; and he shall deliver you out of the hand
of all your enemies. 2Ki 17:39

The second classification of motivation-oriented commands offers truth that should

inform our fear. The fact that the Jews lost their position as the honored of heaven should
affect us. The ongoing judgment in heaven is a reason sublime for fearing God. Both
testaments testify to the holiness of God as cause for godly fear.

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not
highminded, but fear phobeo: Ro 11:20
Saying with a loud voice, Fear phobeo God, and give glory to him; for the hour of
his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
and the fountains of waters. Re 14:7
Who shall not fear phobeo thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art
holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are
made manifest. Re 15:4
Let them praise thy great and terrible yare name; for it is holy. Ps 99:3

Nehemiah saw in the shameful sufferings of his people evidence of God’s judgments and
cause for concern: “Ought ye not,” he countered, “to walk in the fear of our God?” Neh.
5:9. Solomon thought, by a reminder of God’s presence, to sanctify the conscience of his
judicial appointments. 2Ch 19:7. Jeremiah spoke for his Maker as Jehovah used His own
reasons to call men to a trembling submission.

Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble khool at my presence, which
have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot
pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail;
though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? Jer 5:22

A finale consideration of motives for fearing God arises from an accusation of Satan. The
deceiver recognized the blessings that attend God-fearing men. To the face of God the
fallen angel accused faithful Job of fearing God in trade for blessings.

Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Job 1:9

This accusation forms the platform on which the book of Job is built. The story is God’s
proof that the fear of God, while bringing the greatest blessings, does not rest on them. It
springs from a motive purer. Job maintained his godly fear.

We lack what he kept. Did we let it go? Or did we never have it? Whichever is the case,
we should consider that we have it not.

A Consideration of our Lack of Godly Fear

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master, if then I be a father, where is
mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear mowra? saith the LORD of
hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we
despised thy name? Mal 1:6

Virtues, when absent, can neither prevent wrong nor produce good. So the Fear of God,
in those instances so many where it failed to appear, failed to thwart tragic events. It
failed to bring desirable ends. Jude compared men without godly fear to clouds and trees
—harbingers of hope—but bringing only disappointment. So a deficiency in godly fear
blights the hope one might justly hold for a being created in the image of God.

These [dreamers] are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you,
feeding themselves without fear phobos*: clouds they are without water, carried
about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up
by the roots; Jude 1:12

Miriam suffered leprosy when she failed to respect her brother’s position as a chosen
messenger of God. God, reminding Miriam of Moses’ special revelations, asked her
“wherefore then were ye not afraid yare to speak against my servant Moses?” Nu 12:8.

Those that acknowledge the Bible to be a production of chosen messengers are not less
accountable than she when they take the counsel lightly.

Pharaoh suffered the plagues after God revealed that he would not “fear the Lord.” Ex
9:30. The Samaritans suffered under a plague of man-tearing lions when they “feared not
the Lord” and the lions did not leave until a teacher came that taught them “how they
should fear the Lord.” 2 Ki 17:25, 28.

Yet they learned their lessons poorly. Notice the progression of the Samaritans from their
new fear of God after being taught. Soon they were fearing “not the Lord.” First, they
combined their fear of God with an innovative worship. Then they added to the Fear of
God joint service—honoring other sources of support and aid beside the Lord. And so
their fear of God, conducted with a partial service, was counted as fearing not.

So they feared yareh the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them
priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high
places. They feared yareh the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of
the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the
former manners: they fear yareh not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes,
or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD
commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; . . . So these nations
feared yareh the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and
their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day. 2Ki 17:32-
34, 41.

God can not be accused of letting this development occur without remonstrance or
warning. Verses 35-39 contain four warnings given to Jacob, and through their teacher, to
the Samaritans. These all emphatically called the people of the land to worship God
alone.

With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall
not fear yare other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice
to them: . . . And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the
 commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and
ye shall not fear yare other gods. And the covenant that I have made with you ye
shall not forget; neither shall ye fear yare other gods. But the LORD your God ye
shall fear yare; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies. 2 Ki
17:35-39

The curses of De 28 were aimed at producing godly fear where it was found lacking. De
28:58. Those curses find their counterpart in the last generation when it neglects to “fear
the Lord.” The end is that the harvest is postponed and the Latter Rain withheld. Jer.
5:22-25.

When the Fear of God is lacking, other fears prosper. God asked “And of whom hast thou
been afraid or feared yare, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to
thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest yare me not?” Is 57:11.

Jeremiah pointed to astrology and idolatry as being sources of dismay for the heathen.
But such things were not to “dismay” God’s people. Only Jehovah had power. “Who
would not fear yare thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as
among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto
thee.” Jer. 10:7

The lack of a fear of God forms part of the description Paul gives of human depravity.
“There is no fear phobos of God before their eyes.” Rom. 3:18. The hardness of the heart,
made equivalent to a lack of godly fear by Isaiah, can be reversed by revival. Is. 63:17.
So connected is the fear of God with obedience that David wrote:

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear pachad of
God before his eyes. Ps 36:1

Jeremiah spoke the same:

They are not humbled or contrite even unto this day, neither have they feared yare,
nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your
fathers. (margin) Jer 44:10

Yet not all apparent well-doing springs from a submissive heart. While the trust of the
parable of the unjust judge certainly pertains to God’s willingness to answer prayer, the
illustration also shows how wicked men, fearing not God, may be motivated to do right.

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared phobeo not God, neither regarded
man: . . .And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself,
Though I fear phobeo not God, nor regard entrepo man; Lu 18:2, 4.

The Fear of God, as expressed by religious men in Jesus’ time, was tragically flawed.
While it corrected some behaviors, it failed to warm the heart. It could not prevent
backslidings. Its fruit was bitter. And its source: The teachings of men.
It just can not be that giving reverential respect to men will suffice for giving the same to
God. Such “honor” of God is in name only. It is vain.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their
mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from
me, and their fear yir-ah toward me is taught by the precept of men: Isa 29:13
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:
know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken
the LORD thy God, and that my fear pachdah is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of
hosts. Jer 2:19

How is it that the wickedness of the wicked will “correct” them? By their slavery to sin
they can recognize their condition. It does not mean that on earth their prosperity will lag.
Solomon testifies to the contrary that they may live long on the earth. But there is a
judgment and then it “shall be well” with “them that fear God.”

Ec 8:12-13 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged,
yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear yareh God, which fear yare
before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his
days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth yareh not before God.

Exhortations
Books on counseling often comment on how persons would rather be listened to than
lectured, rather tell of grief than receive advice.

Books by prophets often comment that erring mortals are in dire need of good advice.
Confused souls misjudge what to do and need help. Their felt need to be understood
matters not so much to their destiny as their unfelt need to understand.

Nevertheless, they are perfectly understood and God always listens to sincere calls. If we
would listen to Him and strive to understand His grief we would hear repeated calls to
“fear” Him.

The Biblical exhortations to “fear God” are categorized in this paper. There are passages
which combine the exhortation with instruction on how God is to be feared. Other verses
include the fear of God in series with associated obligations. Some passages speak to
those that fear God with concomitant duties—You who fear the Lord, do such and such.

A most pleasant set of references are those that attach to the command to fear a rationale
for doing so. A small set of verses are exhortations to reverence—where the word
meaning reverence is one of the words for “fear” in this “fear God” study. Another short
list of verses contains exhortations to the “world” or to the “earth” to fear the Lord.

And a finale category is the indirect exhortations, passages that seem implicit in their
recommendations of the fear of God.
We will explore this last category first. After exploring indirect invitations to fear God we
will observe the direct exhortations to the world. The other exhortations we will
encounter in the sections on how and why and what it means to fear God.

Indirect Invitations—We should fear the Lord

We ought to do what we are commanded. That is the genius of the following passages.
While they do not iterate straight orders, they do describe appropriate behavior. In the
first three the Psalmist indicates that assemblies for worship, and offering calls, are places
for Godly fear. Places where His name is mentioned, as in prayer (see Mat 6:9) and
praise, are also places for reverential respect.

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God, let all that be round about him bring
presents unto him that ought to be feared mowra. Ps 76:11
God is greatly to be feared arats in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in
reverence yare of all them that are about him. Ps 89:7
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever:
holy and reverend yare is his name. Ps 111:9

God spoke through Zephaniah regarding His chosen confidence that His people would
fear Him and “receive instruction” to avert judgments. Alas, it was not so. The thief on
the cross warned his fellow to fear God during the judgment. And doing so led to the
salvation of the speaking thief. It is this converting power of godly fear that makes it the
“treasure” of the Lord. Zep 3:7; Lu 23:40; Is 33:6

Societal
The work of God on earth has often been forwarded by a divinely inspired sense of awe
or doom. Men have become keenly aware of the movement of God and feared to oppose
Him. Nations, including God’s chosen, have acted out their fear by advancing in battle at
His command or retreating from his chosen.

As these incidents can not be said to represent the fear of only the righteous, I here
separate them. The fear of God that moves one man to repentance may move a stubborn
man to desperation.

The passages have so much in common and can be so readily understood from reading
the stories connected with them, I list them here in whole and without comment. Notice
the ones especially that show how God is able to make the world notice his small group
of chosen people and to call attention to their power.

And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout
all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not
forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear
pachad
of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out as one man (margin). 1Sa
11:7
 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear
pachad
of him upon all nations. 1Ch 14:17
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear pachad of the LORD
came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much
spoil in them. 2Ch 14:14
And the fear pachad of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were
round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 2Ch 17:10
And the fear pachad of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they
had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 2Ch 20:29
I will send my fear eymah before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou
shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. Ex 23:27
And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD,
and they shall be afraid yare of thee. De 28:10
Men do therefore fear yare him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart. Job
37:24
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall
fear yare thee. Isa 25:3
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and
sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of
hosts, and my name is dreadful yare among the heathen. Mal 1:14

How may a Man Fear God?

Cause
1. Is 29:23 Converted ones in the midst
2. Pr 2:5 Searching Bible as for life
3. Ma 10:28 God’s power to kill and destroy
4. Heb 12:28 By grace to live acceptably
5. De 13:11 By deadly judgments on presumptuous sin
6. De 14:23 By regularity in stewardship
7. De 17:18-19 By writing and reviewing inspired commands
8. De 31:12-13 By hearing the unmitigated Word
9. De 5:29 By a heart change
10. Jer 32:39-40 By a heart change
11. I Ki 8:40-43 By experiencing the power of God through prayer
12. Ps 52:6 By contemplating the fate of the impenitent
13. Ps 130:3-4 By God’s mercy towards our just condemnation

Isa 29:23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of
him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall
fear arats the God of Israel.

Context and Lesson: There is an attack on the few faithful reprovers among God’s people.
Men discount their lessons and look for a slip of the tongue on the part of the watchmen.
God is displeased. But such attacks will not bring the church to ruin. “Jacob will not now
be ashamed.” Isa 29:20-22. What will lead him to fear God? When he sees truly
converted souls, the work of God, in his company, it will radically rejuvenate his ideas
of holiness and his respect for the Holy One.

Pr 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear yir-ah of the LORD, and find the
knowledge of God.

Context and Lesson: The condition to understanding the fear of the Lord is, emphatically,
to search for wisdom with energy—to apply your heart to the task, to dig as for treasure.
Lackadaisical perusal of scripture will not avail. Pr 2:1-4. We must seek the Bible as for
our life if we are to comprehend the fear of God.

Mt 10:28 And fear phobeo not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear phobeo him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.

Context and Lesson: In a time of persecution men are tempted to restrict their mission
labors to non-lethal activities. Our fear of death instinct overrides our sense of
responsibility. Jesus says “I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear.” He explains that God
also will kill. And He will follow up the execution with the lake of fire, the second death.
“Yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Lu 12:5. Rev. 20:14; 21:8.

When we witness the mighty creative power of Jesus our forgetfulness of God vanishes,
if but for a moment. The supernatural receives its due attention. We fear God. This was
the case with the disciples when Jesus calmed the storm. “They feared exceedingly phobos,
and said one to another, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey
him?’ Mr. 4:41.

The Gadarenes were afraid when they saw him that had been “possessed with” a legion
of devils now “clothed and in his right mind.” Mr. 5:15. The power of Jesus in the life of
another robbed them of peace. But for the woman with the issue of blood, it was power in
her own body. “But the woman fearing phobeo and trembling, knowing what was done in
her, came and fell down before him.” Mr. 5:33.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us

have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear
eulabia
:

Context and Lesson: Moses witnessed the fires of Sinai and did “exceedingly fear and
quake.” We face the fires of Mount Sion. There the angels form a circle of watchers as we
stand before “God the Judge of all.” While the blood of Abel cried for vengeance, that of
Jesus cries for mercy. Jesus himself mediates the judgment.

While the judgments at the base of Sinai destroyed those unmindful of God, the
judgments of the end will exceed those at Sinai. All that can be shaken will be shaken.
Only by grace can we receive a kingdom immovable. Only by grace can we render
acceptable reverence and “godly fear.”
 And all Israel shall hear, and fear yare, and shall do no more any such wickedness
as this is among you. De 13:11

Context and Lesson: The church can not tolerate members that trifle with treachery. God
commanded that if some near relative or dearest friend should invite one to practice
idolatry that the one invited had a responsibility. Not only was he to refuse. He was to
accuse. His hand was to be the “first” raised in killing the seducer.

All the nation was to follow him. He was no wise “to conceal” him, to neglect to reveal
the evil to the authorities. De 13:8-10. And all the church would hear and realize that their
hidden sins exposed them to terrible judgments and would put them away.

Men despising the judgment of the Levitical court died for their presumption. And “all
the people shall hear, and fear yare, and do no more presumptuously.” De. 17:13. Parents
were to deliver their rebellious child over to similar judgments for the same reason—to
retard the growth of youthful rebellion. De 21:21.

And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose
to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the
firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks, that thou mayest learn to fear yare the
LORD thy God always. De 14:23

Context and Lesson: De. 12 introduces the subject of long-distance tithing. Though men
were hungry and were free to eat their fill of whichever of their livestock they chose, they
were not free to use the consecrated portions—the tithe of the harvest and the firstlings of
the herds. These were to be offered in sacrifice.

A portion of the sacrifices were to be eaten by the worshippers, and thus “thou shalt eat.”1
Before the Lord, in the Holy plot he chose, they would be reminded of His presence. A
continual reminder of God’s presence is how one “mayest learn to fear.” By giving of our
first receipts, by acknowledging God in the use we make of the rest, we “mayest learn.”

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write
him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, that he
may learn to fear yare the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and
these statutes, to do them: De 17:18, 19

Context and Lesson: God made provision for a future king of his nation. What exercise
would tend to produce the requisite Fear of God? The king was to make his own hand-
written copy of the inspired writings. After using his pen on the significant project, he

1
This solves the mystery of verse 27. While the meats and grains and juices might be left for human
consumption in the sacrificial services, the strong drink was to be poured on the ground. It symbolized the
wrath of God, the “wine” of Revelation 14 that filled the cup that Jesus wished not to drink. Notice that the
Levites were to be included in the feast, verse 28, though they were forbidden to use strong drink.
was to “read therein all the days of his life.” This is how he could learn to fear God, “to
keep all the words of this law.”

And not the king only. “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the
judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them
in the land whither ye pass over to possess it: That thou mightest fear yare the LORD thy
God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and
thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life, and that thy days may be prolonged.”
De 6:1-2.

Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that
is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear yare
the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. . . . And that
their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear yare
the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to
possess it. De 31:12-13

Context and Lesson: Every seven years the children of Israel had a special Day of
Atonement. Like other years, they were to spend the day afflicting their souls and putting
away their sins. But on the Sabbatical year they were to do more. The entire camp,
toddlers and visitors not excluded, were to crowd around the teaching priests. The law
was to be read in their hearing.

They were to be reminded of God’s requirements and his statutes. They were to hear the
blessings and the curses. Their ears were to catch the laws of cause and effect—rebellion
the cause and death the effect.

Children not old enough to read, but old enough to understand familiar stories, were
edified. Elders in the camp shuffled their feet as the law publicly exposed the error of
their attitudes and justified the suffering widows.

Pure words of Life, when heard, taught the listeners how to “fear the Lord.” Children,
assisted by angel visitants, comprehended something of God’s holiness. The preaching of
the Word formed the basis of learning.

Habakkuk wrote “I have heard thy speech, and was afraid” just before his touching plea
“revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in
wrath remember mercy.” Hab. 3:2. God’s Word, with its clarity and its testimony to God’s
eternal power, inspires humility in men.

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear yare me, and keep all
my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their
children for ever! De 5:29

Context and Lesson: When God spake the words from Mt. Sinai that He carved in stone,
he made his people gather to hear and see the fearful sight. “I will make them hear my
words, that they may learn to fear yare me all the days that they shall live upon the earth,
and that they may teach their children.” De 4:10.

They did hear. And they did promise to do what they were told. They were frightened, but
this was not the fear God was seeking for. He longed for them to submit to heart
transformation that would give weight to the promises and to the lessons they would
teach their children. Then “it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”

He would gladly have given them the heart. Listen to his promise to them in the days of
Jeremiah.

And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear yare me all days
(margin), for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make
an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do
them good; but I will put my fear yir-ah in their hearts, that they shall not depart
from me. Jer 32:39-40

Context and Lesson: God chose Jerusalem to be the center of His work for the earth. But
the city had never risen to fill its destiny. Rather than honoring God by obedience, it had
tried to appease images of the Deity by ever dearer sacrifices, culminating in the burning
of children. God abhorred such offerings. As you read the passage (Jer. 32:31-38) you
sense that God is about to explode in curses and promised judgments.

But no, God promises to bring back the captivity, to revive his people. Amazing surprise!
And how will He lead them to “fear” Him? By giving them a new “heart”, a “united”
heart, and putting into that new heart the “fear” so needed to keep them from drifting.

So “fear” is a heavenly implant. When we choose to fear God He puts the precious
commodity inside of us. Our heart is “enlarged”, Is 60:5, and the “abundance of the sea”
flocks to be converted under our labor. The word “see” in the phrase “thou shalt see” in
this verse is yare, “fear.”

David prayed for this heart work in conjunction with his request for Divine teaching.
“Unite my heart to fear.” Ps. 86.11. God gives the gift by so arranging nature and events
as to make His works manifest.

The permanence of God’s activity, and the nature of it is such that no man can improve
on it. This reality “should” lead men to “fear before him.” Ec. 3:14.

That they may fear yare thee all the days that they live in the land which thou
gavest unto our fathers. . . .Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do
according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth
may know thy name, to fear yare thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may
know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name. 1Ki 8:40, 43
Context and Lesson: Solomon dedicated the temple with a prayer of practical steps to
revival. He implored the Lord to hear the prayer of men in any of several forms of
distress, provided that they meet two conditions. The first, they must “know every man
the plague of his own heart.” The second, they must pray bowing and reaching for the
temple—a symbol of their dependence on Christ’s ministration.

Solomon asked that prayers from such men be answered “that they may fear thee all the
days they live.” And he encircled the gentiles with his prayer. By answered petitions the
strangers too of “all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy
people.” See also 2 Ch. 6:28-33.

David’s praise for answered prayer edified “many” that, by it, saw God’s power in behalf
of His people. Seeing this, they would “fear, and trust in the Lord.” Ps 40:3.

Men may receive benefit from age-old miracles in behalf of God’s people—if they will
be at the trouble of remembering. Joshua commanded a stone monument to be established
that would lead future generations to remember the opening of the Red Sea. Such terrible
deliverance would speak to the world community and bless the church. The believers
would “fear the Lord all days.” Jos 4:20-24, margin. See De 10:21.

The righteous also shall see, and fear yare, and shall laugh at him: Ps 52:6

Context and Lesson: Doeg, the Edomite, reported David’s activity to Saul and
occasioned the death of a town of priests. David prophesied of Doeg’s heart, and then of
God’s judgments that awaited the lover of mischief. It is these that the “righteous” shall
see and “fear” and at Doeg that they “shall laugh.” The irony of feeble men opposing
Almighty God seems to fuel the humor of a number of similar passages where the
righteous laugh at the fate of the wicked. We are yet too earthly in our attachments to see
the humor in a situation that is equally tragic.

In a similar passage, Ps 64:5-9, the righteous “are glad” and “glory” at God’s judgments.
And it is as they “wisely consider of his doings” that they are led to “fear.”

As God’s judgments on the impenitent, so His blessings on the redeemed will capture the
earth’s attention. “And all the ends of the earth shall fear him.” Ps 67:7. So God’s saving
of the “children” and not less his breaking of the “oppressors” leads men to fear God “as
long as the sun and the moon endure.” Ps. 72:4-5.

These activities are one, for God saves “the meek” from his enemies with a jealous anger
that creates the fear. Ps. 76:6-9. See also Ps. 102:15. Professors of religion undefended by
an intercessor will feel the vengeance of God and will, according to Is. 59:18-19, “fear”
him from the east to the west.

Ps 130:3-4 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared yare.
Context and Lesson: Prayer would avail nothing if our petitions came to the throne of
God burdened with the weight of our every transgression. This passage surprises those
who read “fearful” as “scary.” How can God’s forgiveness make fear possible?

Those who have no just concept of their guilt and degradation can not comprehend this
passage experientially. He who views himself as about right, or as a good person, can not
but see Christ’s mercy in forgiveness as about what should be expected from a nice
person.

But those who have studied the Bible as described in Proverbs 2 and who have reviewed
it as described in De 17 know how it condemns all deviations from holiness. They know
that not one of their sins are properly “small.” They are awed that God would forgive
them.

It is God’s mercy that leads them to repentance. His forgiveness subdues the heart. His
Law converts the soul by leading it to Jesus. And so “there is forgiveness with thee, that
thou mayest be feared.”

How Might We Fear God?

The Law Book, Deuteronomy, gives more explicit directions than more general Biblical
documents. This is what one would expect. Laws must be comprehended before they can
be obeyed.

What does the command ‘fear God’ mean? All. It means to walk in all His ways and to
love Him. It means to serve Him with your whole being. It means to serve Him with joy
mixed with “trembling.” It means to do these things at all times.

And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear yare the
LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD
thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, De 10:12
Serve the LORD with fear yir-ah, and rejoice with trembling. Ps 2:11
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear yir-ah of the LORD all the
day long. Pr 23:17

What virtues are associated with the Fear of God?

Keeping the Commandments De 8:6; 13:4

Walking in God’s Ways De 8:6; 13:4
Serving God De 6:13; 10:20; 13:4; Josh 24:14; I Sam
12:14; 12:24
Swearing by God’s Name De 6:13; 10:20
Cleaving to the Lord De 10:20; 13:4
Obeying God’s voice De 13:4; I Sam 12:14
Putting away your gods Josh 24:14; 2 Ki 17:38
Offering yourself with sincerity, truthJosh 24:14
Resisting temptations to rebel I Sam 12:14
 Considering what God has done I Sam 12:24
Worshiping God 2 Ki 17:36
Sacrificing to God 2 Ki 17:36
Remembering the covenant 2 Ki 17:38
Departing from Evil Pr 3:7
Fearing the King Pr 24:21

The list shows a strong correlation between offering God heartfelt service and fearing
Him. If to obey God and to cease rebelling and to put away idols and to depart from evil
can be summarized as keeping the Commandments, then such obedience is the other
strong corollary to the Fear of God.

Worship and holding firm (cleaving) to the Lord are not only connected here with the
Fear of God, but in other passages with the end-time crisis. The First Angel’s Message
puts these three together.

When Jehoshaphat led a national revival he installed judges and judging priests. He
instructed them with jurisprudence holy spiritual. How were they to fear the Lord in their
judging?

Wherefore now let the fear pachad of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it:
for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking
of gifts. And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear yir-ah of the
LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 2Ch 19:7, 9.

First, they were to “take heed and do it.” Subconscious fear works not the miracle that
men might suppose. And for that matter, neither does subconscious love. Both virtues
require attention to be effective.

They were to hold the fear of God “faithfully” and with undivided attention, “with a
perfect heart.” Only willful fear aids the soul consistently.

Definition/Illustration
What does it mean to fear God?

We can not well limit the meaning of the fear of God by looking up a definition of a
Hebrew or Greek word in the lexicon.

In the following verses fearing God is connected to some other activity in an illustrative
manner. In other words, the activity is made to be a picture of what it means to fear God.
Interestingly enough, in the six passages below seven different words are used for the
idea of “fear.”

Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe pa–chad of
thy word. Ps 119:161
 Who is among you that feareth yareh the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his
servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of
the LORD, and stay upon his God. Isa 50:10
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and
were edified; and walking in the fear phobos of the Lord, and in the comfort of the
Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Ac 9:31
And so terrible phoberos was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear ekphobos and
quake. Heb 12:21
Serve the LORD with fear yir-ah, and rejoice with trembling rah-ad. Ps 2:11
And Moses said unto the people, Fear yare not: for God is come to prove you, and
that his fear yir-ah may be before your faces, that ye sin not. Ex 20:20

The meanings of the words are fairly well shown by their usage in these passages. Pa-
chad is rendered “stand in awe.” Yareh is paralleled with obeying God when living in
darkness, or when things appear hopeless. Phobos modifies the Christian walk and is
apparently undiminished by Godly “comfort.” The Sinai sight so shocked the senses that
it was phoberos, fear causing. As a result Moses said “I do[stand]” ekphobos, literally
“scared out.”

David said that we should serve the Lord with yir-ah. At the same time we could
“rejoice.” The two do not cancel each other. But the rejoicing, rather than being giddy or
light, would be with rah-ad, trembling or fear.

Eleven other words in the passages below highlight what an appropriate fear of God does
and does not mean.

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the
LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit,
and trembleth chared at my word. Isa 66:2
The fear charadah of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD
shall be safe. Pr 29:25
And David was afraid yare of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the
LORD come to me? 2Sa 6:9
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear eymah terrify me: Job 9:34
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy; neither fear yare ye their fear mowra, nor be afraid arats. Sanctify the
LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear mowra, and let him be your dread
arats
. Isa 8:12-13
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and
was heard in that he feared eulabia Heb 5:7
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear eulabia: Heb
12:28
Fear yare ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble khool at my presence, which
have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot
 pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail;
though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? Jer 5:22
Ye that fear yare the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and
fear guwr him, all ye the seed of Israel. Ps 22:23
Wherefore now let the fear pachad of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it:
for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking
of gifts. 2Ch 19:7
And his mercy is on them that fear phobeo him from generation to generation. Lu
1:50
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:
know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken
the LORD thy God, and that my fear pachdah is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of
hosts. Jer 2:19

The Mighty God promises to give attention to the man that is poor and contrite and
chared “at my word.” Neither men nor other gods should cause us to charadah.

Yare described David when, stunned by the judgment on Uzza, he dared not move the ark
further. Isaiah warned that we should neither yare nor arats the mowra of those that seek
comfort in confederacies.

But before we limit these words to a negative usage only, he adds “let [Jehovah] be your
mowra and let him be your arats.”

Job wished to be free from God’s eymah—terrifying. This word and yare in the story of
David apparently describe a fear of judgment that that unreasonably seizes the righteous
in the face of tragic judgments. Fear of this nature is assuaged by God’s promise. See the
section on “Fear Not.”

The Greeks had a word that meant “good fear”-Eulabia. We are to serve God with such
fear and reverence. Jesus modeled eulabia while on earth when he cried with strong tears
and surrendered to God’s will. These two verses in Hebrews are the only usages of this
word in the Bible. Logically, our duty to eulabia God is established in Hebrews 12 from
the experience of Moses’ ekphobos. See the passage.

Jeremiah and David use two other words in parallel with yare. God asks “will you not
khool at my presence?” And he invites his church to quwr him. These words as used in
these verses emphasize the awe-inspired pulse-quickening nature of godly fear. Jeremiah
also records God’s lamentation that his people do not pachdah Him.

Jehoshaphat used pach-ad (not pachad, see appendix) when exhorting the judges to
honor God in their work with godly fear. And God shows mercy to those that phobeo him
in Luke’s gospel.

Other passages provide more defining frameworks for what it means to “fear God”
generally and we will not comment on which Greek or Hebrew word is employed.
Hints at the Fear of God

Happy is the man that feareth pa–chad alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall
fall into mischief. Pr 28:14

So the fear of God is so far from an antonym of happiness as it could be. The fear-God
man is happy. But there is a condition—that he fear God always. Apparently spasmodic
fear of God has no such salutary effects.

And what is the opposite of the fear of God in the contrasting statement of the wise man?
Hardening one’s heart. By extension, the fear of God would be manifest is non-resistance
to God’s counsels.

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and
David their king; and shall fear pa–chad the LORD and his goodness in the latter
days. Ho 3:5

Notice what the revived ones fear about God—His goodness. And when will it be that
they will fear His goodness? “In the latter days.” Hosea prophesied that those living in
the times of the three angel’s messages would fear the goodness of God.

Pa-chad, rendered “standing in awe” above in Psalm 119 means just that. The latter-day
saints would be in awe of God’s mercy. They would be happy in their awe of the same if
they kept it before them continually. It would prevent them from growing cold and hard-
hearted in a time when iniquity abounded.

When do they feel this awe? Job, a symbol of our time, felt it when he considered, when
he contemplated being in God’s presence. And his statement shows that the awe was not
entirely removed from troubling feelings. While pa-chad is consistent with happiness, it
is not less consistent with induced solemnity.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid pa–chad of him.

Job 23:15

The poetry and parallelism of David and Solomon bring out various hues from the Fear
of the Lord.

Here are some characteristics of those that fear the Lord:

They walk in uprightness Pr 14:2

Their worship is characterized by their fear Ps 5:7
They will be mindful of God’s mercy in His house of worship Ps 5:7

And here are some passages that appear to be partial definitions of the fear of God:
 The fear yir-ah of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
and the froward mouth, do I hate. Pr. 8:13
In the fear yir-ah of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a
place of refuge. Pr 14:26
The fear yir-ah of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is
humility. Pr 15:33

Then there are the three “beginning of wisdom” passages that are so well known.
Together with Pr 15:33 they say more than they do apart.

The fear yir-ah of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have
all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Ps 111:10
The fear yir-ah of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise
wisdom and instruction. Pr 1:7
The fear yir-ah of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the
holy is understanding. Pr 9:10
The fear yir-ah of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is
humility. Pr 15:33

We might synthesize these statements: The fear of the Lord is the first step in the
education process. It is the key to discerning holiness in God and His Law. Such
discernment can truly be called understanding if it leads to obedience. Reverence for God
teaches a man how to receive such knowledge. His heart is subdued and ready to receive
instruction.

Putting these with the defining verses above them we might write: When a man keeps
ever in mind the eternal power and holiness of God and submits to be taught by the all-
knowing one, he will come to hate evil and to see the blackness in pride. His
consciousness of God’s presence fortifies him with strong confidence in the face of any
obstacle.

And adding to these the characterizing verses we would have: An ever-fruitful sense of
God’s presence, His love for me and His hatred of my sin, would correct my life. I would
walk with integrity. Church is a practice place for such a sense.

There I am reminded of God’s mercy and the power of His love. There I am conscious of
Him. My worship should reflect that abiding sense if it will serve the purpose it was
intended to serve. Oh, how hollow the worship that speaks of God’s mercy, holiness and
majesty while conducted in a way that promotes forgetfulness of the fear of God!

Example
If we would rather understand the Fear of the Lord by observation than to discern its
meaning in print, the Bible provides several stories to meet our needs. The test of
Abraham seems to have a direct bearing on our subject.
When his son lay bound on the altar this relevance was not at all clear. At that point the
voice of God intervened.

And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:
for now I know that thou fearest yareh God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,
thine only son from me. Ge 22:12

What message does the story of Abraham communicate about the relation of the fear of
God to our cherished relations? Are we willing to give even our dearest to Him at his
command?

Two other stories show the relation of the Fear of God to the primary agent of human
authority—a fear of death or reprisal. The ladies required by Pharaoh to kill male babies
showed by their disobedience that they valued the life of the infants above their own.

But the midwives feared yare God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded
them, but saved the men children alive. Ex 1:17

Centuries later, Obadiah showed his willingness to risk the monarch’s disfavor if that is
what it would take to protect God’s prophets. Of particular interest is his distaste for
dying as expressed to Elijah. Though he valued his life, he risked it. That is the fear of
God.

And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah
feared yareh the LORD greatly: [He had protected God’s prophets. After he met
Elijah Obadiah said “And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee,
that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I
come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant
fear yare the LORD from my youth.” 1Ki 18:3, 12.

God honored Job before the heavenly intelligences as a man who specially had the “fear
of God.”

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was
perfect and upright, and one that feared yareh God, and eschewed evil. Job 1:1
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is
none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth yareh God,
and escheweth evil? Job 1:8 and again in Job 2:3

Egyptians witnessing the power of God and choosing to submit to the rites of the
Passover were honored as fearers of God. Moses showed a slightly different fear when
God appeared to him in the bush. How was it manifest? He hid his face. Ex. 9:20; 3:6.

The men of Israel that followed Zerubbabel and the prophets in the restoration of the
temple showed their fear of God by “obeying the voice of the Lord.” Hag. 1:12.
Hezekiah modeled his fear by treating message of rebuke with humble repentance.

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear
yareh
the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil
which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against
our souls. Jer 26:19

Through Mercy
If some readers question how, practically, the fear of God could or should impact their
daily routine, Leveticus answers that the fear of God is the basis of community kindness,
racial harmony, and social reforms.

In the following verses the Fear of the Lord enforces our duty to the deaf, the blind, the
aged, the poor, the slave, the employer, the king and all men generally.

Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt
fear yare thy God, I am the LORD. . . .Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and
honour the face of the old man, and fear yare thy God, I am the LORD. Le 19:14,
32
Ye shall not therefore oppress one another, but thou shalt fear yare thy God, for I
am the LORD your God. . . .Take thou no usury of him, or increase, but fear yare
thy God, that thy brother may live with thee. Le 25:17, 36
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour, but shalt fear yare thy God. Le 25:43
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing phobeo God: Col 3:22
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear phobeo God. Honour the king. 1Pe 2:17
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear phobos of God. Eph 5:21

Where mercy, inspired by the fear of God, was not shown, judgment will be.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those
that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn
aside the stranger from his right, and fear yare not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:5

This was, in fact, the source of the devastating judgments on Amelek. The feeble, the
tired, those that could not keep up the pace of the marching Israelites, were attacked by
Amelek’s soldiers. God refused to forget this affront on his weak ones. He prefaced his
command to destroy the nation with a reminder:

How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were
feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared yareh not God.
De 25:18
Concomitant Duties

Those that fear the Lord are directed to offer other services. They are to:

Trust in the Lord Ps 115:11

Turn to God Ps 119:79
Praise God Re 19:5; Ps 22:23; Ps 135:20
Glorify God Ps 22:23
Tell of His enduring mercy Ps 118:4

As all of these are harmonious, yeah, perfectly consistent, with deep affection for the
Lord, it is apparent that godly fear is no detractor from the same. The fear moves men, no
doubt, but it is a fear that displaces no warmth.

Other Commands
God’s right to reverence is opposed by alternate gods. Proliferations of words and dreams
draw due attention from Him who inspired the dreams of Bible writers. Settled security in
one’s place among the chosen people frees men from the restraint of godly fear.

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared yare above all
gods. Ps 96:4
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but
fear yare thou God. Ec 5:7
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not
highminded, but fear phobeo: Ro 11:20

As many calls to fear God rest upon His very qualities, and as His qualities are the same
every where and always, the calls to fear are several times worded in universal terms.
“Let all the earth fear yare the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe guwr of
him.” Ps 33:8. Tremble at His presence “thou earth.” Ps 114:7. See also 1Ch 16:30; Ps
96:9.

In a special sense, we are called to hold the same respect for the sanctuary—the place of
God’s dwelling—as for the Lord. The word “reverence” in the two passages below (they
say the same thing, word for word) is the same translated “fear” in most of the Old
Testament commands to fear God. Both of these connect Sabbath keeping with this fear.

Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence yare my sanctuary, I am the LORD. Le

19:30; 26:2

Isaiah 8, rather than saying “fear God,” identifies God as our fear. We are to “let Him”
take the position of being the source of our solemn considerations. We must permit Him
to take that hollowed place in our life, the place He alone can well fill, of being our
“dread.”
In other words, nothing and no-one ought to be able to fill us with uneasiness. If we are
troubled about the future, let it only be because we have yet to seek His pardon.

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear mowra, and let him be
your dread arats. Isa 8:13

Appropriate Fear other than Fear of God

Those endeavoring to ascertain the meaning of the Fear of God will be glad to find that
“fear” of authorities other than God is enjoined in scripture. By picture and illustration
we might understand something more of the word.

Respect for other Authorities or Personages

Men were to “fear” their parents. This is, naturally, reminiscent of the 5th commandment
—to “honor” them.

Ye shall fear yare every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths, I am
the LORD your God. Le 19:3
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence entrepo: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live? Heb 12:9

Messengers of God, speaking for Him, were due great respect. God worked to establish
this respect in the case of Joshua, Moses and Solomon.

On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they feared
yare
him, as they feared yare Moses, all the days of his life. Jos 4:14
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared
yare
the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment. 1Ki
3:28

The authority of the state, says Paul, is also that of a “minister of God.” This is why we
pay taxes, obey laws. Government is due “honor” and “fear”.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be
afraid phobeo of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the
same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is
evil, be afraid phobeo; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of
God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. . . . Render therefore
to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear
phobos
to whom fear phobos; honour to whom honour. Ro 13:3, 4, 7.

Family government is not less enforced in scripture than civil order. And the verses that
characterize the ideal relationship in terms of fear have doubtless been twisted (as in the
case of Vashti, Es. 1:20) to justify wicked family administration. Still, uncorrupted as
they are found in scripture, they carry authority.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. . . . Let
every one of you [husbands] in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the
wife see that she reverence phobeo her husband. Eph 5:22, 33

Peter draws on the illustration of Sarah as the mother of the faithful. He qualifies the
command by saying that obedience is only doing “well” when their fear is not “with any
terror.” NKJV. He buttresses the command against perversion by calling husbands to
return due honor to their wives as “weaker” vessels.

[Have] your chaste conversation coupled with fear. . . .Let it be the hidden man of
the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old
time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in
subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him
lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid phobeowith
any terror [NKJV] ptoesis Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being
heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1Pe 3:2-7

The order of society, in societies that permit it, encompasses the relation between
servants and their masters. Here too the apostle applies the touch of reverential fear. And
here, too, it is a figure of the obedience we owe “unto Christ.”

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with
fear phobos and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Eph 6:5
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear phobos; not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the froward. 1Pe 2:18

Fear for the Wellbeing of Others

Paul and Moses, the same two men that expressed willingness to die eternally for their
flocks (see Ex 32:32; Ro 9:3), also had “fear” for their wellbeing. Ex. 2:14; 2Co 7:5. In
the case of Moses we know “he feared” for the success of his mission, for Hebrews is
very clear that he did not fear “the wrath of the king” when he fled Egypt (Heb. 11:27).

If we question regarding the nature of Paul’s fear his words answer that he feared that
Satan would succeed in confusing the believers with complex arguments. He feared that
his hopes for the church would be disappointed through the destructive power of
interpersonal conflicts.

But I fear phobeo, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:3
 For I fear phobeo, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I
shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings,
wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: 2Co 12:20

He feared that his own work for the believers would be overthrown through these
combined forces.

I am afraid phobeo of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Ga 4:11

Fear for our own Spiritual Wellbeing

Contrary to some religious pundits, there is a valid place for “fear” in personal
spirituality. Not that the character of our Savior troubles our sleep, but our own character
should concern us. Will we neglect to take advantage of the promises? Will our pride or
other character defect interfere with our efforts to represent our faith? Will we be worthy
of reproach?

Let us therefore fear phobeo, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it. Heb 4:1
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear phobos
and trembling. Php 2:12
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer
to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness
and fear phobos: 1Pe 3:15
Turn away my reproach which I fear yagor . for thy judgments are good. Ps 119:39

Will we neglect to give proper respect to God’s representatives? Jacob showed respect
even to the place where God was present. His fear of God produced a corresponding
reverence when he sensed God’s presence.

And he was afraid yare, and said, How dreadful yare is this place ! this is none other
but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. Ge 28:17

The Corinthians, filled with godly sorrow for their sins, were moved to have a similar
godly fear. They guarded their own response to God’s speakers.

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what
carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what
indignation, yea, what fear phobos, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea,
what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
. . . And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth
the obedience of you all, how with fear phobos and trembling ye received him. 2Co
7:11, 15

Fear of Men; Fear of Death – the Worldly Fear

Recently a minister with whom I am conducting a church plant commented that there are
“only two fears in the Bible, the fear of God and the fear of death.”2

His observation is well grounded. The fear of man—ranging from a fear of torture to a
fear of rejection or reproach—forms the larger part of this mysterious force in our life.
Such worldly fear competes vigorously with conscience. Many men have wanted to do
right but have opted to do wrong for fear of being made a laughingstock.

Not a few would-be martyrs have renounced their faith at the last hour when threatened
with inhuman tortures. If only they had understood the fear of God! If they had only
observed that worldly fear prompted the basest acts of the saints and tainted their holy
lives with crime!

Isaac lied for he “feared to say ‘She is my wife’.” Gen. 26:7. For this low act he had the
example of the “father of the faithful.” Abraham had done the same, justifying his
prevarication on the lack of Godly fear among the heathen by observing that “there is no
fear of God before their faces.”!

Israel rejected the courage of Joshua and Caleb who preached “rebel not ye against the
LORD, neither fear yare ye the people of the land, for they are bread for us: their defence is
departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear yare them not.” Num. 14:9. They feared
nonetheless. And so began their 40 year wilderness march.

Samuel, when young, “feared to shew Eli the vision.” When older he faced a shameful
king desperately confessing “I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and
thy words, because I feared yare the people, and obeyed their voice.”

The valiant successor of that king fled from him before his coronation. And while hiding
with enemies of God he heard them recite the powerful way God had worked through
him. And being “sore afraid” that Achish would have him executed, he feigned insanity.
1Sa 3:15; 15:24; 21:11-13.

This was the same man who later wrote “I will not be afraid yare of ten thousands of
people, that have set themselves against me round about.” Ps. 3:6. “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 pa–chad?” Ps 27:1. The fear of men need not be terminal in those willing to
be rid of it.

David’s son knew his father’s folies. He wrote “The fear charadah of man bringeth a snare:
but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Pr 29:25

Just as men are exhorted to fear the Lord, they are warned against the fear of men.

Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my
law; fear yare ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. . .
2
Michael Wood, extemporaneous talk on the fear of God January 25, 2005 in Arkadelphia, AR.
 .I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid
yare
of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass. Isa
51:7, 12.

The Pharisees feared men. They were paralyzed by the thought of stoning. Many times
their murderous plans were dismissed in the face of Christ’s popularity. Among
themselves they were willing to admit why. “We fear phobeo the people.” Matt. 21:26. In
both cases it was the multitude’s respect for a prophet that retarded their plans. See Mr
11:32. They, and others, feared being stoned. See also Acts 5:26.

The Pharisees even had a misguided fear of God. They feared Jesus “because all the
people was astonished at his doctrine.” Mr. 11:18. This was really a fear of “the
multitude” as was shown by their willingness to kill Jesus if the multitude could be
moved to support them. Matt. 21:46; Mr. 12:12; Lu 20:19; 22:2.

Their fear of man guided their policies in controlling men. They designed plans that
would dissuade men such as themselves. They had “agreed already, that if any man did
confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.” The plan worked on
persons like the parents of the healed blind man. They neglected to ascribe honor to Jesus
for their son’s healing “because they feared phobeo the Jews.” Joh 9:22.

Perhaps the saddest cases of worldly fear in the Bible are those that dampened brotherly
love and doused the fires of companionship. Peter and Barnabas, fearing a class of
legalists from Jerusalem, “withdrew and separated” themselves from baby converts. Paul
rebuked them. He too, when a baby Christian, had felt the sting of fear-induced cold
shoulders. Gal. 2:12-18; Ac 9:26.

Would God we could say that the fear of men had only served to repress the plans of
God’s enemies. But in truth, God’s believing children are often hushed by their fears.
“Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear phobos of the Jews.” Joh 7:13.

After Christ’s bleeding, Joseph took courage enough to care for the body—but not openly
befriend Christ’s cause. He asked for the body “secretly for fear of the Jews.” A week
later the disciples were still meeting secretly. The doors “were shut” “for fear of the
Jews.” John 19:38; 20:19.

To confess these instances is not to defend them. The apostles and Joseph could never
accomplish their work for Christ until their worldly fear had been displaced by the fear of
God. Isaiah was commanded to condemn the fear of confederated evil. Is. 8:12-13.

Until this worldly fear raked the soul no longer men were still subject to bondage and
needing to be delivered. Deliverance of this nature Jesus offers. He came to “deliver them
who through fear phobos of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Heb. 2:15.
Fear Not3
The fear of God may at times be confused with the fear of death—when a man is afraid
of dying at the hand of God. This fear is legitimate for the unconsecrated. A healthy fear
of judgment belongs appropriately to that class that have spurned heaven’s offer of peace.

But it has no place in the lives of those who are victorious over death, those who have
been delivered from the “fear of death” and from the bondage to which it subjected them.
Heb. 2:15. An abject dread of God’s ferocity betrays the presence of the counterfeit fear
of God. This fear is no reverential submission. It produces no fruits of holiness.

Rather, it constrains the frightened one, cowers him into forms and voluntary humility.
When God has appeared to his people, the glory of the scene has often produced a twinge
or more of the faulty fear (See Re 1:17). When God has punished his enemies or
demonstrated his power over life and nature even conscientious men have trembled at the
thought of their own future at His hand.

And in both cases the words from the Spirit to the faithful have been “Fear not.” The
Comforter has proffered, especially through the prophet Isaiah, the sweetest offers of
freedom from fear.

Not only God’s power, but things terrestrial have made drafts on men’s adrenaline.
Heaven comforts the faithful in the midst of all their difficulties.

To Abraham the Lord has said “I am thy shield and they exceeding great reward.” To his
expelled handmaiden, feeling rejected by her master’s God as well as by him, he
promised that he was attentive to her son’s prayers. To Abraham’s pestered son, retreating
from precious wells of water dug by his own servants for the sake of peace, God
promised to bless him still.

When five kings of the Amorites threatened Joshua’s servants God said not one of them
would stand. When a multinational force “as the sand of the sea” sought to avenge their
death, God’s word was that they would be “delivered up slain.”

And to each of these, from Abraham to Joshua, the Spirit added the words “Fear not.”
Gen. 15:1; 21:17; 26:24; Jos. 10:8, 25; 11:6.

The Jews trapped by the Egyptians at the shore of the Red sea were told to stand still and
see the salvation of the Lord. The story serves to illustrate the relation between the fear of
death and the fear of God. Only one will predominate. Note the how faith and godly fear
followed on the heel of the marvelous deliverance.

Ex 14:13, 31 And Moses said unto the people, Fear yare ye not, stand still, and see
the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day, for the Egyptians

3
“Fear Not” references are included as a way of illustrating by contrasts what “Fear God” means. They are
not, however, listed exhaustively. “Fear Not” is one of the favorite messages of the prophets and the Spirit
who inspired them.
 whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. . . .And
Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the
people feared yare the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

When their fear of God became mixed with unfounded terror God used Moses to separate
the two fears, to alleviate the terror while promoting reverence-inspired obedience. “And
Moses said unto the people, Fear yare not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear
yir-ah
may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Ex. 20:20. See Jud 6:23.

The writings of Peter, John, and Paul all exhorted men to have courage in the face of
persecution and opposition. “Happy are ye” said Peter. “God has not given us the spirit of
fear” chimed Paul. “Fear none of those things which you shall suffer,” added Jesus
through the Revelation. We are raised above death by the hope of the resurrection. 1Pe
3:14; 2Ti 1:7; Re 2:10.

Isaiah certainly is the gospel prophet in the realm of “fear not.” Seven times God spoke
through him precious promises as reasons God’s people should not fear. “I am with thee;”
“I am thy God”; “I will strengthen thee”; “I will uphold thee”; “I will hold thy right
hand”; “I will help thee”; “I have redeemed thee”; “I have called thee by name; thou art
mine”; “I will . . .gather” thy scattered children; “I have chosen [you]”; “You will not be
put to shame”; “thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth”; “thou shalt not remember the
reproach of thy widowhood.”

And with all these promises Jehovah soothed “Fear thou not.” Isa 41:10, 13, 14; 43:1, 5;
44:2; 54:4.

Jesus articulated reasons for letting go of our fear. He explained that God is so acquainted
with the minutia of our life as to have numbered our hairs! “Many sparrows” said he, are
insufficient to equal your value in His sight to cares for each of them. “Little flock,” he
consoles, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Believing ones,
“behold, your King cometh.”

“Fear Not.” Lu. 12:7, 32. Jo 12:15.

It was left to John to state these reasons most succinctly. Why should we not fear? On
what basis can we rest secure? Because God loves us and we love Him. His constant care
calms the torment stirred up by worry. Where worry reigns, where fear of death controls,
the soul is still under construction. Love has not completed his4 work.

1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear
hath torment. He that feareth phobeo is not made perfect in love.

Inappropriate

4
Would you rather a “her” or an “its”? I chose “his” to shrink the disconnect between love and God, a
being viewed always by masculine pronouns in the New Testament.
From sermons heard in many congregations one might suppose that the fear of God is a
negative result of not knowing Him. In defense of these speeches one could point to the
passages in this section. It is certainly true that being afraid of God is spoken of in
negative terms in scripture.

On the other hand, passages illustrating inappropriate fear are few. They are the overly-
worn other side of the “fear not” coin.

As a simple example, take the case of the servant that hid his master’s talent in the earth.

For I feared phobeo thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou
layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. Lu 19:21

The passage demonstrates that a distrust of God’s kindness is fatal to effort. Even Peter
became speechless under its influence. Mr 9:6. Such fear is a type of unbelief. Where it is
sowed only ill can be reaped. This is the fear that is cast out by a comprehension of God’s
love.

There is no fear phobos in love; but perfect love casteth out fear phobos: because fear
phobos
hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1Jo 4:18

Job, struggling to resist temptation, could sense base fear creeping over him. He asked
that God’s judgments, for so they seemed, be removed before his confidence would
erode. Even nightmares threatened to rob him of his peace. Job 7:14; 9:34, 35; 13:11, 21.

A inscrutable case presents itself in the story of Jonah. Did he fear God?

And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear yareh JEHOVAH, the God of
heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Jon 1:9

His bold claim is not well verified by his choice to be on the ship to Tarshish. On the
other hand, it seems to be supported by his suggestion of capital punishment—directed
against himself.

Fear of Judgment / Superstitious Fear of God

At least one case of a righteous man fearing the judgment of God can be drawn from
scripture. Moses did.

For I was afraid yagor of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was
wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time
also. De 9:19

His fear stands apart from the others under this heading for its unselfishness. To be afraid
of the judgments coming on the guilty that we love—this is a godlike attribute.
But fear of Judgment in the Bible is generally a quality of the transgressors themselves.
Their fear, while justified, does not justify them. There is no positive reward for
recognition that justice is coming your direction.

Such existed in the Egyptians when Israel was escaping and waters were rushing in on
them from all sides. It existed superstitiously in the Philistines when they heard that the
Ark of the Covenant had been brought into the Israelite camp. Saul felt its terrors when a
masquerading demon told him he would soon die. Pilate felt it increase when his
conscience confirmed that Jesus was the Son of God. Jer. 32:21; 1Sa 4:7; 28:20; Joh 19:8.

Paul described the fear and its cause for existence.

But a certain fearful phoberos looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which
shall devour the adversaries. It is a fearful thing phoberos to fall into the hands of the
living God. Heb. 10:27, 31.

This fear may have a saving quality if it can motivate a soul to seek safety in Jesus.

And others save with fear phobos, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the
garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:23
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear phobos. 1Ti 5:20

But its final manifestation will come too late. When men call for rocks to fall on them—it
will be for fear of the Lord.

Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear pachad of the LORD, and for
the glory of his majesty. . . .And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into
the caves of the earth, for fear pachad of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty,
when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. . . To go into the clefts of the rocks,
and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear pachad of the LORD, and for the glory
of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Isa 2:10, 19, 21.
They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like
worms of the earth: they shall be afraid pa–chad of the LORD our God, and shall fear
yare
because of thee. Mic 7:17

Samuel’s sermon on the Fear of the Lord, 1 Sam. 12:14-24, came when there was still
hope. The passage is interesting for its use of the same word, yare, for both the positive
aspects (v. 14, 24) and the negative aspects (18, 20) of fearing God. He discouraged the
guilty fear of the people and sought to replace it with an obedient fear. Perhaps we all
should do the same.

If ye will fear yare the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel
against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that
reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God, . . . So Samuel called
unto the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people
greatly feared yare the LORD and Samuel. . . .And Samuel said unto the people,
 Fear yare not: ye have done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following
the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart, . . .Only fear yare the LORD,
and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things he hath
done for you. 1Sa 12:14, 18, 20, 24.

Unlike the rebellious Israelites and the cowardly Pilate, many of those fearing God’s
judgments in scripture are men we expect to see in heaven. The first was Adam.

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid yare, because I was
naked, and I hid myself. Ge 3:10

David feared Divine justice especially after witnessing it. Uzzah’s death and that of
thousands of Israel paralyzed him. He would neither move the Ark nor travel to seek
counsel of God. 1Ch 13:12; 2Sa 6:9; 1Ch 21:30.

While the latter might be seen as a kindness to those suffering the plague, it is still true
that the plague was caused by his personal misconduct.

The same can be said of Uzzah’s death where David had failed to follow Divine
directives regarding transporting the Ark. There was a reason he could write:

My flesh trembleth for fear pachad of thee; and I am afraid yare of thy judgments. Ps
119:120

Our frailties and failures are cause for such fear. So thought Peter and Job.

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to
every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear phobos: 1Pe 1:17
Shall not his excellency make you afraid baath? and his dread pachad fall upon you?
Job 13:11. See 31:23.

Sarah, one of the few women in the hall of faith, was gripped by a strange fear that led
her to disobey—to deny God’s accusation. The wicked suffer under condemnation. May
the multitude described by David find the peace that later came to Sarah.

Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid yare. And he said, Nay,
but thou didst laugh. Ge 18:15
There were [the wicked] in great fear pa–chad: for God is in the generation of the
righteous. Ps 14:5

The promise of the prophet, in reference to Jesus was just this, that the Babe would grow
and delivered the nation from fear of judgment.

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear phobos*, Lu 1:74
Ec 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

-------------
Appendix
The Method of the Study
This portion of the study is technical. It endeavors to give evidence of its thoroughness
and to make upfront declarations of the limits that were used in the research. It is a
presentation of the data.

The technical section discusses the relation of the 30 plus Hebrew and Greek words
translated into a form of the word fear in the King James Bible. In short, it shows that
many of these words are made nearly synonymous by poetical parallelism and usage
parallelism.

And it observes how the Fear of God is so broad and far-reaching that various prophets
put 21 of these words to use in positive phrases relevant to the study. Most of them are
used in phrases behooving us to Fear the Lord.

The Data
This study contains every reference, except as omitted by human error, where one of 21
Hebrew or Greek words is used in a phrase relevant to the term “Fear God” whether or
not the phrase contained a form of the word ‘fear’.5

The graph below shows the correlation of these words to each other. Using the 12
passages below the chart one can quickly show how interchangeable any of the following
eleven Hebrew words are. If you look at row F and column E you will see the value 5Y.
That means that using the two passages 5 and Y (Ec 8:12 and Mic 7:17) you can show
that the words E and F (Yareh and Yir-ah) are used in parallelism.

A
B 8
C 2[7] 2[7]
D [7] [7] 2
E 5[7] 5[7] 25 5
F Y[7] 9Z 2Y Y 5Y
G 2[7] 2[7] 2 2 52 2Y
H 3[7] 3[7] 24 3 53 3Y 4
I X[7] X[7] 2X X 5X YX 2X 3X
J 98 9 26 6 56 Z 26 36 6X
K 1Y[7] 1Y[7] 12Y 1Y 15Y 1 12Y 13Y 1XY 1Z

5
The other words translated “fear” in the King James Bible were examined. It was concluded that no
incidences of these words had a direct bearing on the subject. See the Appendix for a list of the 21 words
and their corresponding Strong’s number. In this study a transliteration of the words appears in superscript
attached to the translated word or phrase.
 A B C D E F G H I J K

1 Yir-ah Rah-ad Ps 2:11

2 Mowra Yare Chathah Mal 2:5
3 Arats Yare Ps 89:7
4 Mowra Arats [Yare] Is 8:12-13
5 Yareh Yare Ec 8:12
6 Pachad Yare Ps 119:120
7 Eymah Baath Yare Job 9:34-35 [negative sense]
8 Eymah Baath Job 13:21
9 Baath Pachad Job 13:11
X Pa-chad Yare Mic 7:17
Y Yare Yir-ah Jer 32:39-40
Z Pachad Yir-ah 2Ch 19:7, 9
* Yare Guwr Ps 33:8

A 0367 – Eymah
B 01204 – Baath
C 02865 – Chathath
D 03372 – Yare
E 03373 – Yareh
F 03374 – Yir-ah
G 04172 – Mowra
H 06206 – Arats
I 06342 – Pa-chad
J 06343 – Pachad
K 07461 – Rah-ad

The point I hope to make in this comparison is that the Fear of God is broad in scope. No
one word was sufficient to encompass it. The means of a dozen words did not exhaust it.
It is not simply a feeling of awe. Nor is it uniquely reverence. It is consistent with a wide
range of emotions.

The two columns below show the Strong’s Lexicon numbers associated with each of the
transliterated words appearing textually in this study.

0367 – Eymah 03373 – Yareh

01204 – Baath 03374 – Yir-ah
01481 – Guwr 04172 – Mowra
02342 – Khool [The Biblical usages in this article 06206 – Arats
are atypical] 06342 – Pa-chad [divided to distinguish from 06343]
02373 – Chared 06343 – Pachad
02731 – Charadah 06345 – Pachdah
02865 – Chathath 07461 – Rah-ad
03025 – Yagor
03372 – Yare
830 – Phobos*6
1630 – Ekphobos
1788 -- Entrepo
2124 – Eulabia
4423 -- Ptoesis
5398 – Phoberos, Adjective form of 5401.
5399 – Phobeo
5401 – Phobos, Noun form of 5399. See Rom. 13:4-7 for their
relation.

6
Strong’s 830 is Aphobos. The “a” is a particle
indicating antonym, the opposite. Aphobos is
“without fear.” It is translated usually as two
words, one of which is usually a form of the
word “fear.” Since the word ‘fear’ is derived
from the latter part of the word, it is
transliterated “phobos” in the text with an
asterisk to indicate its compounding with a
negative.
David Armstrong “Running Blind in Dangerfield” – no map, impressed no need before
trying at chamber of com. Dropped Melvin—needed four books pronto. “Setting camp
here.” Rahab prayed for touching experiences. Lady cried “God sent you” when her
grandma was very sick. Prayed at 10 houses, had a desire to minister. Two places I prayed
with people that wanted no books, they took five books between two of them.” Police
said “go” we almost went, then quit when we were kicked out after finishing. Stigney:
couple in their late 50’s, got a GC, HT. Turns out they were Catholic. But her relatives
some are SDA. They were cute, driving in scooters—very nice, had a prayer. Blessed by
them and they brightened by day. He said he was studying a Catholic cardinal from the
14th century.

Jim Dukane 262-337-1963 the only canvasser in WI (in Hartman).

Bryan and Penny Gallant 423-396-6901 [cell 423-368-2343] [elder from Wisconsin
sponsored 903-665-9306; 903-742-9113 Philip [master electrician] and Gloria Price, John
Taylor (pastor) takes them down (with AR-LA) conference to wire churches in Mexico—
busy preaching on weekends—highly recommended] [pastor is 9305] lost his children
(Hannah and Elijah). His wife was in coma, but is now with us. They adopted an Elijah
and gave birth to another Hannah]
www.Enochspassion.com
brian@enochspassion.com

Mr. Austin gave out 1000 DVD’s at Mardi Gras.

Electrician is not a circuitician.

Persecuted in Harlenton, people warned them about Peter and Joseph, got a HD to
another man.
Story of Elijah

The Fear of God is inspired most by the sense of his presence.

Content Areas
AIntroduction NFear God – How and What Else
BThe Method of the Study OConcomitant Duties
CThe Data PThrough Mercy
DHow may a Man Fear God? QWhy
ECause ROther Commands
Fear of Men; Fear of Death – The Worldly Fear SShould Be
GFear Not TLacking
HExample UInappropriate
IDefinition/Illustration VFear of Judgment / Superstitious Fear of God
JHints at the Fear of God WAppropriate Fear other than Fear of God
KSocietal XRespect for other Authorities
LEffects YFear for the Wellbeing of Others
List~~~~ ZFear for our own Spiritual Wellbeing
MExhortations

A Introduction
L A Consideration of Motives for Fearing God
List~~~~~
Q Why
T A Consideration of our Lack of Godly Fear
M A Consideration of Heaven’s Invitations to Fear God
Direct
S Indirect: Should Be
K Societal
DE How Might we Acquire Godly Fear?
N How Might We Fear God?
I What is Godly Fear?
J Hints at the Fear of God
H Where Might we Find Examples?
P Through Mercy
O What Duties Accompany the Fear of God?
R Other Commands
W Appropriate Fear other than the Fear of God
X Respect for Authority
Y Fear for Needs of Others
Z Fear for Our Selves
Why Don’t we Fear God?
Fe Fear of Men; Fear of Death
G Inappropriate Fears – Fear Not
U Inappropriate Fear
V Fear of Judgment / Superstitious Fear of God

Appendix
B The Method of the Study
C The Data

-- verses not used yet –

Ge 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: