Fear

VIEW:60 DATA:01-04-2020
FEAR.—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 (Deu_4:10); it is the sum of religious duty (Deu_6:13) and prompts to obedient and loving service (Deu_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’ (Psa_111:9) that this fundamental principle of religion rests: those who know His name have learnt that to fear Him is true wisdom (Psa_111:10) and true blessedness (Psa_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 (Act_9:31), and when an uncircumcised foreigner became a devout worshipper of the God of Israel he was known as ‘one that feareth God’ (Act_10:2; cf. 2Co_7:1, Php_2:12, 1Pe_1:17; 1Pe_2:17, Rev_14:7; Rev_15:4; Rev_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’ (1Jn_4:18) is the result of sin (Gen_3:10). The sinner, under condemnation of the Law, is in ‘bondage unto fear’ (Rom_8:15), and inasmuch as ‘the sting of death is sin’ (1Co_15:56), he is also through fear of death … subject to bondage’ (Heb_2:15). Transgression may so completely deceive him that he has ‘no terror of God’ (Psa_36:1); the climax of human wickedness is the loss of any dread of God’s judgments, though the Gr. and Eng. translations of the Heb. word for ‘terror’ (pachadh, cf. Isa_2:10; Isa_2:19; Isa_2:21 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) fail to bring out this thought in St. Paul’s quotation of this verse (Rom_3:18). To rouse men from this callous indifference to God’s threatenings is the purpose of the appeal to fear, which is a primary and self-regarding emotion and a powerful spring of human action. This appeal is warranted by our Lord’s words (Mat_10:28) as well as by Apostolic example (Heb_4:1; Heb_10:31, 1Ti_5:20, Jud_1:23). The spirit in which this appeal should be made is that which inspired St. Paul, when he declares that, ‘knowing the fear of the Lord,’ before whose judgment-seat all must be made manifest, he is constrained by the love of Christ to persuade men to be ‘reconciled to God’ (2Co_5:11 ff.).
J. G. Tasker.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909


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, Gen_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, Psa_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, Gen_22:12; Ecc_12:13; and to hate and avoid evil, Neh_5:15; Pro_8:13; Pro_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,”
Psa_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,” Psa_19:9. The law is so called, because it is the object, the cause, and the rule of the grace of holy fear.
Biblical and Theological Dictionary by Richard Watson
PRINTER 1849.


People naturally fears those people, influences, objects and events that they see as threatening, as being able to control, overpower or destroy them (Num_14:9; Psa_2:11; Luk_21:26; Heb_2:15; Heb_10:27). In some cases this may be a cowardly fear (Pro_29:25; Gal_2:12), but in others a very healthy fear, amounting to respect or reverence (Gen_20:11; Lev_26:2; Rom_3:18; 1Pe_2:18). In this latter sense people are to fear those who have authority over them (Lev_19:3; Pro_24:21; Rom_13:3; Rom_13:7; Eph_6:5), and particularly to fear God (Psa_34:11; Isa_8:13-15; Act_9:31; 1Pe_2:17).
Sinners have good reason to fear God; because God’s punishment will one day fall upon them (Mic_7:16-17; Mat_10:28). Believers also fear God, but theirs is a different sort of fear. Their fear of God is mixed with love for him (Deu_6:2; Deu_6:5; 1Pe_1:8; 1Pe_3:15). If believers obey God solely because they fear his punishment, such obedience displays an immature love. They should obey God because they love him (Deu_10:12; Rom_8:15; 1Jn_4:17-18; 1Jn_5:3).
Nevertheless, believers’ love for God is not a substitute for reverence, nor does it excuse them from judgment. God still requires obedience and holiness. He is the almighty judge as well as the loving Father. Therefore, believers must have a healthy fear of him as well as a warm love for him (2Co_7:1; 1Pe_1:16-17).
Such an attitude guarantees God’s help in living a life that pleases him and benefits the believer personally (Psa_147:11; Pro_1:7; Pro_8:13; Pro_9:10; Pro_10:27; Pro_14:26; Php_2:12-13). It also gives confidence not to fear the dangers and uncertainties of life (Psa_46:2; Psa_112:1; Psa_112:7; Luk_12:4-5; 1Pe_3:14-15).
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.


fēr (יראה, yir'āh, ירא, yārē'; φόβος, phóbos, φοβέω, phobéō):
Terms, Etc
?Fear? is the translation of many words in the Old Testament; the chief are: yir'āh, ?fear,? ?terror,? ?reverence,? ?awe,? most often ?the fear of God,? ?fear of Yahweh? (Gen_20:11; 2Ch_19:9, etc.); also of ?fear? generally (Job_22:4; Isa_7:25; Eze_30:13, etc.); yārē', ?to be afraid,? ?to fear,? ?to reverence? (Gen_15:1; Lev_19:3, Lev_19:14; Deu_6:2, etc.); paḥadh, ?fear,? ?terror,? ?dread? (Gen_31:42, Gen_31:53; Deu_11:25; 1Sa_11:7 the King James Version; Job_4:14; Isa_2:10 the King James Version, etc.).
?Fearful? (timid) is the translation of yārē' (Deu_20:8; Jdg_7:3); ?to be feared,? yārē' (Exo_15:11; Deu_28:58; compare Psa_130:4); in Isa_35:4, it is the translation of māhar, ?hasty,? ?them that are of a fearful heart,? margin ?Hebrew hasty?; perhaps, ready to flee (for fear).
?Fearfully? (Psa_139:14): yārē', ?I am fearfully (and) wonderfully made,? so the Revised Version (British and American); ?and? is not in the text, so that ?fearfully? may be equivalent to ?extremely,? to an awesome degree; compare Psa_65:5, ?by terrible things ... in righteousness?; Psa_66:3, ?How terrible are thy works (yārē' ?fearful?); the Septuagint, Peshitta, Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 ad) have ?Thou art fearfully wonderful.?
?Fearfulness? occurs In Psa_55:5 (yir'āh); Isa_21:4 (pallācūth), the Revised Version (British and American) ?horror?; Isa_33:14 (re‛ādhāh, ?trembling?), ?Fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?Trembling hath seized the godless ones.?
In the New Testament the chief words are phobos, ?fear,? ?terror,? ?affright? (Mat_14:26; Mat_28:4, Mat_28:8; Luk_21:26; 1Jo_4:18, etc.), and phobeō, ?to put in fear? (both used of ordinary fear) (Mat_1:20; Mat_10:26; Mat_28:5; 2Co_12:20, etc.); of the fear of God, the noun (Rom_3:18; 2Co_7:1), the verb (Luk_18:4; Luk_23:40, etc.); deilı́a, ?timidity,? ?fear,? occurs in 2Ti_1:7, ?God hath not given us the spirit of fear,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?a spirit of fearfulness?; ékphobos, ?frightened out (of one's senses),? ?greatly terrified? (Heb_12:21; compare Deu_9:19; The Wisdom of Solomon 17:9 the King James Version); apó tḗs eulabeı́as is translated (Heb_5:7) ?(of Christ) who was heard in that he feared,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?having been heard for his godly fear?; so all the Greek commentators; eulábeia, properly, ?caution,? ?circumspection,? is used in the New Testament for godly fear (Heb_12:28, the Revised Version (British and American) ?reverence and awe,? margin as the King James Version); compare eulabēs (Luk_2:25; Act_2:5; Act_8:2); eulabéomai, ?to act with caution? (Act_23:10). Deilós, ?fearful,? ?timid,? occurs in Mat_8:26; Mar_4:40; Rev_21:8, ?Their part shall be ... the second death?; phoberós, ?fearful,? ?terrible? (Heb_10:27, Heb_10:31); phóbētron, ?something fearful,? ?a terrible sign or portent? (Luk_21:11, Revised Version (British and American) ?terrors?).
Fear is a natural and, in its purpose, beneficent feeling, arising in the presence or anticipation of danger, and moving to its avoidance; it is also awakened in the presence of superiors and of striking manifestations of power, etc., taking the form of awe or reverence. Fear has been said to be the source of religion, but religion can never have originated from fear alone, since men are impelled to draw nigh with expectation to the object of worship.
?Fear? is certainly a prominent element in Old Testament religion; the ?fear of God? or of Yahweh, ?the fear of the Lord,? is indeed synonymous with religion itself (Psa_34:11; Pro_1:7; Isa_11:2, Isa_11:3; Jer_2:19; Ecc_12:13, ?the whole duty of man,? the Revised Version, margin ?the duty of all men?). But although the element of dread, or of ?fear? in its lower sense, is not always absent and is sometimes prominent in the earlier stages especially, though not exclusively (Exo_23:27, 'ēmāh; 1Sa_11:7; 2Ch_20:29; Psa_119:120; Isa_2:10, Isa_2:19, Isa_2:21), it is more the feeling of reverent regard for their God, tempered with awe and fear of the punishment of disobedience. As such it is a sentiment commanded and to be cherished toward Yahweh (Exo_20:20; Deu_6:13; Jos_4:24; 1Sa_12:24; Job_6:14; Psa_33:8; Psa_34:9; Pro_23:17; Ecc_5:7, etc.). It is an essential element in the worship and service of Yahweh (2 Ki 17 often; Psa_2:11, etc.); it is a Divine qualification of the Messiah (Isa_11:2, Isa_11:3). This ?fear of Yahweh? is manifested in keeping God's commandments, walking in His ways, doing His will, avoiding sin, etc. (Exo_20:20; Deu_6:13, Deu_6:14; 2Sa_23:3; Psa_34:4, Psa_34:9 parallel Pro_8:13; Pro_16:6). It is the true wisdom (Job_28:28; Psa_25:14; Pro_1:7; Pro_15:33); it gives life (Pro_10:27, etc.), blessedness (Psa_128:1, Psa_128:4), sufficiency (Psa_34:9), Divine friendship (Psa_25:14), protection (Psa_34:7), deliverance (Psa_85:9), forgiveness (Psa_130:4). In Psa_90:11 the King James Version has ?According to thy fear so is thy wrath,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?and thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?; the meaning probably is ?thy wrath is in proportion to thy fear.?
The ?fear of the Lord? is a frequent phrase in Apocrypha, and is highly exalted, e.g. Ecclesiasticus 1:11-30; the idea of it became gradually more and more elevated; in 2:15, 16 it is joined with the love of God.
?Fear? is the natural consequence of sin (Gen_3:10; Gen_4:13, Gen_4:14; Pro_28:1); it comes as a punishment (Deu_28:25, Deu_28:28). The fear of man and of evils are dangers to be avoided, from which the fear of God delivers (Num_14:9; Num_21:34; Psa_23:4; Psa_31:14, etc.).
?Fear? sometimes stands for the object of fear (Pro_10:24; Isa_66:4); for the object of worship (Gen_31:42, Gen_31:53, ?the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac,? paḥadh).
In the New Testament dread, or fear of God in the lower sense, is removed; He is revealed as the loving and forgiving Father, who gives to men the spirit of sonship (Rom_8:15; 2Ti_1:7; 1Jo_4:18); we are invited even to come ?with boldness unto the throne of grace,? with confidence, assurance (parrhēsı́a), which, however, may have its literal meaning of free ?utterance? (Heb_4:16; Heb_10:19); but there remains a filial fear and sense of awe and of the greatness of the issues involved (Rom_11:20; Eph_5:21, the Revised Version (British and American) ?of Christ?; 1Ti_5:20; Heb_4:1); all other fears should be dismissed (Mat_8:26; Mat_10:26-28, Mat_10:31; Luk_12:32); in Mat_10:28; Luk_12:5, ?fear? is used in the sense of ?stand in awe of,? so perhaps Luk_23:40; to ?fear God? is sometimes used in the New Testament as equivalent to religion (Luk_18:4; Act_10:2, Act_10:35; Act_13:16, Act_13:26, used of proselytes); in Heb_10:27, it is said that if Christ be willfully rejected, nothing remains but ?a fearful looking for (the Revised Version (British and American) ?expectation?) of judgment,? and Heb_10:31, ?It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God,? in which places ?fearful? means ?terrible,? something well to be feared. the Revised Version (British and American) gives frequently a more literal rendering of the words translated ?fear.?

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.





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