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    In Context

    What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord — In Biblical Context

    The fear of the Lord is reverent awe and deep respect for God's holiness, power, and authority — it is the beginning of wisdom and the foundation of a righteous life.

    Quick Answer

    The fear of the Lord is reverent awe and deep respect for God's holiness, power, and authority — it is the beginning of wisdom and the foundation of a righteous life.

    "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

    The Biblical Context

    Proverbs 9:10 declares, 'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.' This fear is not terror but profound reverence. It recognizes who God is — infinitely holy, all-powerful, and perfectly just. 'The fear of the LORD is to hate evil' (Proverbs 8:13). It produces obedience: 'Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man' (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It brings blessing: 'In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge' (Proverbs 14:26). 'The fear of the LORD tendeth to life' (Proverbs 19:23). The early church 'walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost' (Acts 9:31) — showing that fear and comfort coexist. Moses told Israel, 'God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not' (Exodus 20:20). The fear of the Lord is not incompatible with love — it is love's proper response to encountering the Almighty.

    Where It Sits in Scripture

    The core passage for this question, Proverbs 9:10, sits inside Proverbs 9. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.

    "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."
    — Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

    Supporting Passages

    Ecclesiastes 12:13
    "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."
    Proverbs 14:26
    "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence."

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