What does it mean to fear God?

Fear is a strong emotion with a fairly negative connotation. It’s generally not a good thing. Psychology Today gives advice about how to overcome fear. Therefore, “fear God” could leave the secular thinker with a negative definition of a basic Scriptural tenant. And how can one fear God and also love God at the same time? The apostle John points this out in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

Looking at the Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) word for fear doesn’t really help. Look those up and you will find definitions like “alarm”, “dread”, “terror”. We can also find “revere” or “awe” – something relatable to God to be sure – but is fearing God more than just an emotional reaction?

How Scripture answers "What does it mean to fear God?"

To fear God means to revere Him^1,2,9,14, but ultimately to fear God is much more than raw emotion. It’s not a reaction^11,16, but a learned behavior^3,6,8,13,17 – a choice^{10,12,14,15,16} – that can be quantified and taught to others^3,7,8,15,17. Specifically, it means to obey^2,3,4,5,14 God’s words^3,6,7,13,15 in order not to sin^5,6,16,17.

Yes

<< Helpful? comment your thoughts >>

2

Job 1:8-9

And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? Then Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for no reason?

What does it say?

God said to Satan, “Have you thought about Job? That there is none like him on earth – righteous and without blame – fearing God and turning from evil? Satan answered, “Does Job fear God for no reason?”

What is the context?

The opening discourse of the book of Job between God and Satan, a fallen angel. Satan’s question back to God is rhetorical as he believes Job obeys God since God has materially blessed him (vs 10).

How does it apply here?

Job’s fear of God is manifested by the fact that he is “a blameless and upright man” that “turns away from evil”. He is, in other words, obedient to God’s commands.

3

Deuteronomy 4:9-10

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.

What does it say?

Be careful to not forget the things that you’ve seen or you will stray away. Teach to your children and their children how you stood before God at Horeb, when God told me to gather you together so that you would hear God’s words and learn to fear him for all their generations on earth.

What is the context?

The re-telling of the law of Moses to a new generation of people before entering into the Promised Land.

How does it apply here?

Hearing God’s words is how they would learn to obey God.

4

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?

What does it say?

Israel, hear what God requires: that you fear Him, walk in all His ways, love Him, serve Him with all your being and keep His commandments which you are hearing today for righteousness.

What is the context?

The re-telling of the law of Moses to a new generation of people before entering into the Promised Land. Throughout these several immediate chapters, Moses is reminding them that they must keep God’s commandments in order to enjoy the blessings of the land, including driving out the enemies and crops, children, etc.

How does it apply here?

Fearing God means to walk in all His ways.

6

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

What does it say?

When the king sits on his throne, he will write a personal copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. He shall keep it with him and read it all the days of his life. By doing this, he will learn to obey God by adhering to the words and doing them. It will also keep him humble, not thinking better of himself over others, keeping on the narrow path and living long in his kingdom.

What is the context?

Moses is re-telling the law to the people before they enter in to the Promised Land.

How does it apply here?

The king was to “learn to fear” God by reading and doing His word all of his life.

7

Deuteronomy 31:11-13

when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,

What does it say?

When everyone comes before God [to worship] at the place He will choose, you shall read this law for everyone to hear. Assemble all people – men, women, children, and the foreigner – that they may hear and learn to obey God, being careful to do all the words of this law.

What is the context?

Moses is re-telling the law of God to the people before entering the Promised Land. Here, he is giving this instruction of public reading to occur every seven years when they are together for the Feast of Booths.

How does it apply here?

The “fear of the Lord” is His word that we hear, learn and do.

8

2 Corinthians 5:10-11

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

What does it say?

We will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ in order to receive what is due from our works, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of God, we teach others. God knows those who are His, and I hope you also know.

What is the context?

Paul is speaking of the temporary state the Christian finds themself in – yearning to be “further clothed” but still in this “tent” in which we “groan” to be with Him (vss 1-4).

How does it apply here?

The “fear of the Lord” is something that is known and taught to others.

11

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love.

What does it say?

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear since fear is associated with punishment. If one fears punishment he has not been perfected in love.

What is the context?

John is arguing that Christians are to love each other since “God is love” (vs 15) and He “loved us first” (vs 19). He goes on to say that we know we love our brethren “whenever we love God and obey his commandments” (5:2).

How does it apply here?

John is speaking to the emotion of fear, contrasting it to the love we are to have for our brethren “whenever we love God and obey his commandments.” (aka “fear God”).

13

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

What does it say?

My son, if you do these things then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge [wisdom] of God: (a) receive my words and value my commandments with an attentive ear and a mind to learn them, (b) seek their insight and ask for understanding, (c) search for it as if you were searching for hidden, valuable treasure.

What is the context?

A collection of wise sayings primarily collected from Solomon, the wisest to live.

How does it apply here?

Fear of the Lord is an understanding one comes to through a desire and decision to diligently search for it.

14

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

What does it say?

By faith, Abraham obeyed the command to go out from where he was to receive an inheritance. He went not knowing where he was going. It was by faith that he went to live in the land of promise – a foreign land where he lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, his sons and heirs with him of the same promise.

What is the context?

The Hebrews writer accounting many of the “heroes of faith.” The account of Noah building the ark is from Genesis 6, where the last verse sums up his building, “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.”

How does it apply here?

Noah’s “reverent fear” led him to construct the ark exactly as God had instructed. Scripture tells us he obeyed “all that God commanded him”.

15 Haggai 1:12

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

What does it say?

As a result, Zerubbabel [the governor] and Joshua the high priest, along with all the remnant that had returned, obeyed God’s voice as expressed through His prophet Haggai. And so, the people feared God.

What is the context?

Haggai is prophesying to those that returned to the land from Babylonian captivity. Released by Cyrus the Great of Persia, they returned to their home [promised] land and had to rebuild their lives. Haggai [and Zechariah his contemporary] encouraged them in the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem – sometimes referred to by historians as “Zerubbabel’s temple” (verses “Solomon’s” prior and “Herod’s” later in the first century).

How does it apply here?

“Obeyed the voice of the Lord” and “feared the Lord” are synonymous in describing the changed behavior of the people after hearing God’s words (through Haggai).

17 Psalms 34:9-11

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

What does it say?

Godly people should fear God. Unlike babes in nature that can suffer want and starvation, God will provide all good things to those that fear Him by seeking after Him. Listen to me, for I can teach you to fear God.

What is the context?

A psalm of David.

How does it apply here?

Fearing God is the same as “seeking the Lord” and is something that is taught.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

David goes on to instruct that the fear of the Lord includes not speaking evil or deceit (vs 13) and turning away from evil to do good (vs 14).

end of scripture-blocks; go back to the answer

Leave your comment below…

…and if you’re wondering more about what we’re doing and why, here are some links we hope can help explain it (and maybe even get you excited about contributing):

the Bible Study Framework and scripture-blocks
our format and the anatomy of a question
our mission and the Bible study standard that we follow
our top four obstacles to letting scripture interpret scripture

what do you think?

connect with us

related to 'What does it mean to fear God?'

lend your own study to the discussion

PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY: While your email is required, it will not be posted publically.
All comments are vetted for potential spam before being published, but will not be restricted otherwise.

How Scripture answers "What does it mean to fear God?"

Leave your comment below…

what do you think?

related to 'What does it mean to fear God?'

lend your own study to the discussion

we’re really sorry about that…

that’s great to hear, THANK YOU!

Interested in a conversation on this question?