What Does the Bible Mean by 'Fear of the Lord' — Meaning Explained
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)
What "What Does the Bible Mean by 'Fear of the Lord'?" Actually Means
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.
Anchor Verses (KJV)
Proverbs 9:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
Deuteronomy 10:12
"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."
Proverbs 14:27
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
Explore this question from another angle
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
What Is the Lord's Day?
Theology & Doctrine
What Is the Doctrine of Election?
Theology & Doctrine
What Is Covenant Theology?
Theology & Doctrine
The Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
The prayer Jesus taught His disciples — a model for all Christian prayer.
The Lord's Supper Bible Quiz
This do in remembrance of me — the bread, the cup, and the communion of the body
The Lord's Prayer Bible Quiz
The model prayer Christ gave His disciples — Our Father which art in heaven.
Keep Going
Continue Exploring Scripture
You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.
Today's Verse
Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.
Verses by Topic
Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.
Bible Miracles
Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.
Angels & Spiritual Warfare
Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.
Bible Genealogies & Family Trees
Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.
Women of the Bible
Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.