'Fear' in the Bible

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance."

"Do not harm the boy!" the angel said. "Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me."

On the third day Joseph said to them, "Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God.

Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, "As you travel don't be overcome with fear."

But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God."

Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again.

Fear and dread will fall on them; by the greatness of your arm they will be as still as stone until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people whom you have bought pass by.

All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking -- and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance.

Moses said to the people, "Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin."

You must not curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block in front of a blind person. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

"'You must keep my Sabbaths and fear my sanctuary. I am the Lord.

You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder, and fear your God. I am the Lord.

No one is to oppress his fellow citizen, but you must fear your God, because I am the Lord your God.

Do not take interest or profit from him, but you must fear your God and your brother must live with you.

You must not rule over him harshly, but you must fear your God.

Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection has turned aside from them, but the Lord is with us. Do not fear them!"

And the Lord said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand. You will do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.

And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites were sick with fear because of the Israelites.

If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever.

you must not fear them. You must carefully recall what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt,

the great judgments you saw, the signs and wonders, the strength and power by which he brought you out -- thus the Lord your God will do to all the people you fear.

Nobody will be able to resist you; the Lord your God will spread the fear and terror of you over the whole land on which you walk, just as he promised you.

whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him."

"Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them,

"If you refuse to obey all the words of this law, the things written in this scroll, and refuse to fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God,

In the morning you will say, 'If only it were evening!' And in the evening you will say, 'I wish it were morning!' because of the things you will fear and the things you will see.

Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!"

Gather the people -- men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages -- so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the words of this law.

Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the Lord your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

But I fear the reaction of their enemies, for their adversaries would misunderstand and say, "Our power is great, and the Lord has not done all this!"'

When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below!

When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites.

Now, announce to the men, 'Whoever is shaking with fear may turn around and leave Mount Gilead.'" Twenty-two thousand men went home; ten thousand remained.

If you fear the Lord, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the Lord your God, all will be well.

However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!

Then fear overwhelmed those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God.

David went to Ahimelech the priest in Nob. Ahimelech was shaking with fear when he met David, and said to him, "Why are you by yourself with no one accompanying you?"

Absalom instructed his servants, "Look! When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' kill him then and there. Don't fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!"

Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,

So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.

The Lord put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat.

Then I said, "The thing that you are doing is wrong! Should you not conduct yourselves in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies?

But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king's edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples pretended to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.

"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.

Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you?

Fear the sword yourselves, for wrath brings the punishment by the sword, so that you may know that there is judgment."

Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you,

And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you.

Therefore people fear him, for he does not regard all the wise in heart."

It laughs at fear and is not dismayed; it does not shy away from the sword.

The likes of it is not on earth, a creature without fear.

Serve the Lord in fear! Repent in terror!

Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)

foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.

The commands to fear the Lord are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy and absolutely just.

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

By David. The Lord delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The Lord protects my life! I am afraid of no one!

Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear. Even when war is imminent, I remain confident.

Let the whole earth fear the Lord! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!

Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.

For the music director; written by the Lord's servant, David; an oracle. An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God,

For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,

They are absolutely terrified, even by things that do not normally cause fear. For God annihilates those who attack you. You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them.

Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me.

God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago, will hear and humiliate them. (Selah) They refuse to change, and do not fear God.

and all people will fear. They will proclaim what God has done, and reflect on his deeds.

Say to God: "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you.

People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky, for generation after generation.

When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure." (Selah)

The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and trembled. Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.

(May those who hate the Lord cower in fear before him! May they be permanently humiliated!)

Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger? Your raging fury causes people to fear you.

You need not fear the terrors of the night, the arrow that flies by day,

He does not fear bad news. He is confident; he trusts in the Lord.

His resolve is firm; he will not succumb to fear before he looks in triumph on his enemies.

My body trembles because I fear you; I am afraid of your judgments.

Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the Lord,

then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.

Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.

The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.

The fear of the Lord is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth and turmoil with it.

The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility.

Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,

The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!

Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people -- for they stand in fear before him.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate.