What Does the Bible Mean by 'Fear of the Lord'?
What Does the Bible Mean by 'Fear of the Lord'? The fear of the Lord is not terror but reverent awe — a deep respect for God's holiness, power, and authority that is the foundation of true wisdom.
Key verse: Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
The fear of the Lord is not terror but reverent awe — a deep respect for God's holiness, power, and authority that is the foundation of true wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is not terror but reverent awe — a deep respect for God's holiness, power, and authority that is the foundation of true wisdom.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
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The Biblical Answer
The 'fear of the Lord' appears over 300 times in Scripture and is foundational to biblical spirituality. Proverbs 9:10 declares, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' This fear is not the cringing terror of a slave but the reverent awe of a child who knows their father is both loving and powerful. It combines worship, respect, submission, and wonder. Moses told Israel, 'fear 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' (Deuteronomy 10:12) — notice that fear and love are linked, not opposed. The fear of the Lord produces practical benefits: it is 'the beginning of knowledge' (Proverbs 1:7), it leads people away from evil (Proverbs 16:6), it 'prolongeth days' (Proverbs 10:27), and provides 'strong confidence' and 'a fountain of life' (Proverbs 14:26-27). When Isaiah saw God's holiness (Isaiah 6), he was undone yet drawn in. That is the essence of the fear of the Lord — overwhelmed by God's majesty yet invited into His love.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
What the Bible teaches about worship, praise, and honoring God with our whole lives.
Key Scripture References
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
"And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear 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."
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does the Bible Say About Wisdom?
Biblical wisdom is the practical application of God's truth to daily life, beginning with reverence for God and found primarily through Scripture and the Holy Spirit.
What Does the Bible Say About Worship?
Worship is the heart's response of adoration, praise, and surrender to God — expressed through prayer, singing, giving, obedience, and all of life.
What Does the Bible Say About Holiness?
God is holy and calls His people to be holy — set apart from sin and consecrated to His purposes.
Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
The Bible presents the resurrection as historical fact, supported by eyewitness testimony, an empty tomb, and transformed lives.
Is Jesus God?
Yes — the Bible teaches that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the second person of the Trinity.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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The answer above sits inside Proverbs. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Proverbs on day 159 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
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