THE FEAR OF THE LORD
A) INTRODUCTION.
B) THE OLD TESTAMENTS USE OF FEAR.
C) THE NEW TESTAMENTS USE OF FEAR.
D) THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
A) INTRODUCTION
In the English the word “fear” does not actually become specific as to what kind of “fear” is being referred to. One must discover that by the context. By contrast, the Hebrew has 17 different verbs, and one meaning in the Aramaic for “fear.”
B) THE OLD TESTAMENTS USE OF FEAR
It is generally thought of as “respect” or “reverence; veneration; adoration;” or outright “awesomeness.” See Psalm 22:23, where the first “fear” is the Hebrew “H3373; yare,” and the second “fear” is the Hebrew “H1481; gur or goor.” The first leans more towards “revere” and “standing awe of.” Whereas the second leans more towards “to dread; be afraid.”
In Genesis 26:7 & Exodus 3:6 & Deuteronomy 5:5, The Hebrew for “feared” is, “H3372; yah-re,” meaning, “to be in fear of losing one’s life.” It can also denote the “trembling in the presence of God” as in Psalm 119:120. See its usage in Habakkuk 3:2, where one hopes to temper God’s wrath with mercy. In Deuteronomy 2:25, “yah-re” is used in conjunction with the Hebrew word “H7264; ragaz,” translated correctly as “tremble,” to the point of “quivering.” Thus again, a “trembling” type of “fear.” And the Hebrew for “anguish” (same verse) is “H2342; chool,” emphasizing “to twist; whirl; writhe; tremble; travail; be in anguish; in pain” of “fear.” On the opposite side of this, “yah-re” is used as a positive sense of worship and reverential awe in Psalm 33:8; 34:9; 86:11; 112:1; 119:63; Ecclesiastes 3:14. Thus, this is the only word in the Hebrew that is flexible, just as the word “fear” in English is.
In Exodus 15:16, the Hebrew for “fear” is “H367; eymah,” meaning, “to be frightened by something to the point of terror.” In Genesis 15:12 and Psalm 55:4, it is used to describe the terror of darkness or death. See Job 9:34.
In Deuteronomy 28:66, the Hebrew for “fear” is “H6342; pachad,” meaning, “to be in constant fear; fearful apprehension.” In Second Chronicles 20:29, this word is used as “things which come unexpectedly upon oneself; a danger which keeps the mind in suspense; something that startles oneself.” In an interesting twist, in Genesis 31:42 & 53, “pachad” is used as a Name of God, i.e., “God of Isaac” and “God of Jecob.” So, one of the Names for God is “fear.” Compare this to Exodus 23:27, where it states, “I will send My fear before thee.” Thinking spiritually, we could/should translate this as, “I will send My God [or better, Myself] before thee.”
In First Chronicles 16:30, Psalm 96:9; 114:7, and Jeremiah 5:22, the Hebrew for “fear” is “H2342; chul or chiyl,” literally meaning, “to tremble.” It can also mean (in other places), “to twist; writhe,” or “dance” in fear.
In Psalm 89:7, we learn that God is to be “greatly to be feared,” the Hebrew being “H6206; arats,” meaning “to tremble in dread of.”
In Isaiah 8:13, the Hebrew for “fear” is “H4172; mowra,” which leans towards the meaning of “terror.”
In Daniel 5:19 & 6:26, the Hebrew is “H1763; dochal,” meaning “stark terror.” Here, one can make themselves afraid.
Notice that most of these Hebrew words have substance to them. They are not as passive as some might have come to the conclusion in our modern English Bibles and New Age softening down of “The fear of God.”
C) THE NEW TESTAMENTS USE OF FEAR
Here, only two words are standouts and translated as “fear.” The Greek is “G5401; phobos” and “G5399; phobeo.”
“Phobos” can mean “fear; dread; terror; that which strikes terror,” and even “reverence for one’s husband.” It is used for “fear” 41 times, “terror” 3 times, and miscellaneously 3 times.
“Phobeo” can mean, “to put to flight by terrifying (scare away); to fear; be afraid; struck with fear; alarm; startled; struck with amazement; reverence; venerate.” This word is very flexible. More towards the English usage of the word “fear.” It translated “fear 62 times, “be afraid” 23 times, “be afraid of” 5 times, “reverence” once, and miscellaneous usage 2 times. 93 times in all. A plurality usage of this word is found in Hebrews 10:31, “G5398; phoberos,” implying a “terrible, formidable rear.”
Another hidden gem is found in Second Timothy 1:7, where the Greek is “G1167; deilia,” meaning “timidity; fearfulness; cowardice.”
But beware of Revelation 21:8, where the Greek is “G1169; deilos,” and I’ll let you decide which side you are on.
D) THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Of course, when researching this subject, we should start at the “beginning.” And that “beginning” is that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 9:10. Also notice that Proverbs 1:7 states it as “the beginning of knowledge.” Thus, the key to gaining more “wisdom/knowledge” is to first (begin with) “fearing” God.
The doctrine of “grace” has softened the “fear” of God. I am not against that. What I believe has been lost is the “majesty” of our God. See Daniel 5:19. The only reason the Christian is not in “terror” of God is because of what he/she knows to be the forgiveness found in the blood of Christ.
Scholefield defines the word “fear” as “reverential trust.” Agreed! But that would only apply to the believer. Otherwise, the meaning is different. We approach God with permission, as did Moses. He is not our buddy. He is our Creator. . . . and whatever other words you want to use that keeps the thought of “reverence” in mind. Let His “majesty” reign. We approach the Father through Christ. But don’t let God’s “awe” leave your senses. Let us be free of “presumption (of His grace; taking it to lightly)” and “ingratitude” is my prayer.