Reference: Fear
Hastings
In the OT 'the fear of the Lord' is frequently a definition of piety. The purpose of the giving of the Law is the implanting of this fear in the hearts of men (De 4:10); it is the sum of religious duty (De 6:13) and prompts to obedient and loving service (De 10:12). 'Fear cannot be appraised without reference to the worth of the objects feared' (Martinean, Types of Ethical Theory, ii. 184); hence it is on the revelation of the Divine nature as 'holy and to be feared' (Ps 111:9) that this fundamental principle of religion rests: those who know His name have learnt that to fear Him is true wisdom (Ps 111:10) and true blessedness (Ps 112:1). In the NT mention is made of a fear which has high moral quality and religious value. 'The fear of the Lord' was the rule by which the early Christians walked (Ac 9:31), and when an uncircumcised foreigner became a devout worshipper of the God of Israel he was known as 'one that feareth God' (Ac 10:2; cf. 2Co 7:1; Php 2:12; 1Pe 1:17; 2:17; Re 14:7; 15:4; 19:5). Although the usual Gr. word for 'fear' is not used in Heb 5:7, the reference to the 'godly fear' of the perfect Son emphasizes the contrast between reverent awe and slavish terror.
The fear which 'hath punishment' (1Jo 4:18) is the result of sin (Ge 3:10). The sinner, under condemnation of the Law, is in 'bondage unto fear' (Ro 8:15), and inasmuch as 'the sting of death is sin' (1Co 15:56), he is also through fear of death
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And he answered, "Thy voice I heard in the garden, but I was afraid because I was naked, and therefore hid myself."
The day that I stood before the LORD your God in Horeb - when he said unto me, 'Gather me the people together, that I may make them hear my words that they may learn to fear me as long as they live upon the earth and that they may teach their children' -
But fear the LORD thy God and serve him, and swear by his name,
And now, Israel, what is it that the LORD thy God requireth of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God and to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the LORD thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul,
{To the Chanter, of David the servant of the Lord} My heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
He sent redemption unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant forever. Holy and reverent is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do thereafter. The praise of it endureth forever.
{Praise the Everlasting} Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, and hath great delight in his commandments.
And therefore get thee soon into some rock, and hide thee in the ground for the fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty:
Men shall creep into holes of stone, and into caves of the earth, for the fear of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty: what time as he shall arise to shake the earth.
that he may the better creep into the caves and rocks, and into the cliffs of hard stones, from the sight of the fearful judge and from the glory of his Majesty.
And fear ye not them which kill the body, and be not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body into hell.
Then had the congregations rest, throughout all Jewry and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walked in the fear of the Lord; And multiplied by the comfort of the holy ghost.
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God always.
"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage to fear anymore, but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, "Abba father."
The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law.
Seeing, then, that we know how the Lord is to be feared, we fare fair with men. For we are known well enough unto God. I trust also that we are known in your consciences.
Seeing that we have such promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and grow up to full holiness in the fear of God.
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, as ye have always obeyed - not when I was present only, but now much more in mine absence - even so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
And that he might deliver them which, through fear of death, all their life time were in danger of bondage.
Let us fear, therefore, lest any of us forsaking the promise of entering into his rest, should seem to come behind.
Which in the days of his flesh, did offer up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death: and was also heard, because of his godliness.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out all fear, for fear hath painfulness. He therefore that feareth is not perfect in love.
and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate the filthy vesture of the flesh.
saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give honour to him, for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him, that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and fountains of water."
Who shall not fear, o Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy, and all gentiles shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest."
And a voice came out of the seat, saying, "Praise our Lord God all ye that are his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great."
Watsons
FEAR, a painful apprehension of danger. It is sometimes used for the object of fear; as, "the fear of Isaac," that is, the God whom Isaac feared, Ge 31:42. God says that he will send his fear before his people, to terrify and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan. Job speaks of the terrors of God, as set in array against him, Job 6:4; the Psalmist, that he had suffered the terrors of the Lord with a troubled mind, Ps 88:15. Fear is used, also, for reverence: "God is greatly to be feared" in the assembly of his saints. This kind of fear, being compatible with confidence and love, is sometimes called filial fear; while "the fear which hath torment," being the result of conscious guilt, and the anticipation of punishment, is removed by that "love" to God which results from a consciousness of our reconciliation to him.
The filial fear of God is a holy affection, or gracious habit, wrought in the soul by God, Jer 32:40, whereby it is inclined and enabled to obey all God's commandments, even the most difficult, Ge 22:12; Ec 12:13; and to hate and avoid evil, Ne 5:15; Pr 8:13; 15:6. Slavish fear is the consequence of guilt; it is a judicial impression from the sad thoughts of the provoked majesty of the heaven; it is an alarm within that disturbs the rest of a sinner. Fear is put for the whole worship of God: "I will teach you the fear of the Lord," Ps 34:11; I will teach you the true way of worshipping and serving God. It is likewise put for the law and word of God: "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever," Ps 19:9. The law is so called, because it is the object, the cause, and the rule of the grace of holy fear.
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And he said, "Lay not thy hands upon the child, neither do anything at all unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, in that thou hast not kept thine only son from me."
And except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the God whom Isaac feareth, had been with me: surely thou hadst sent me away now all empty. But God beheld my tribulation, and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesterday."
For the old captains that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty sicles of silver: yea and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God.
For the arrows of the almighty are in me, whose indignation hath drunk up my spirit, and the terrible fears of God fight against me.
The fear of the LORD is clean, and endureth forever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point to die; even from my youth up, thy terrors have I suffered with a troubled mind.
With me is the fear of the LORD, and the eschewing of evil. As for pride, disdain, and evil way, and a mouth that speaketh wicked things, I utterly abhor them.
In the house of the righteous are great riches; but the increase of the ungodly are nigh destruction.
Let us hear the conclusion of all things: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for that toucheth all men;
And I will set up an everlasting covenant with them; Namely: that I will never cease to do them good, and that I will put my fear in their hearts, so that they shall not run away from me.