What does the biblical phrase “fear of the Lord” truly mean?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the fear of the Lord is a loving, reverent awe. It is the feeling you get when you stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon or look up at the vastness of the cosmos, but directed toward the Creator of all those things (Question 90). It is the proper response to knowing that God is infinitely powerful, perfectly holy (Question 64), and completely just (Question 115).
It’s not the fear of a slave terrified of a cruel master; it is the awe of a child standing before a perfectly powerful, perfectly good Father (Question 97). This awe, when genuine, leads directly to humble submission and eager obedience to God’s will.
The Simple Answer
The phrase "fear of the Lord" (Hebrew: yir’ah) is the spiritual foundation for all wisdom and knowledge. It is a combination of two elements:
Awe and Reverence: A recognition of God's immense holiness, power, and majesty. It means holding God in the highest possible esteem and honor.
Moral Seriousness: A healthy, sober realization of the consequences of sin and the certainty of God's judgment (Question 123). This realization motivates us to turn from evil.
The simple biblical definition is found in the book of Proverbs:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” — Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
The Deeper Dive: Wisdom, Obedience, and Love
The "fear of the Lord" is never presented in the Bible as incompatible with the love of the Lord; rather, it is the necessary foundation for true love and worship.
1. The Starting Point of Wisdom
The biblical Wisdom literature asserts that you cannot attain true understanding about life until you first adopt the right posture toward God. If you do not recognize God's absolute greatness and authority, you will rely on your own flawed judgment (Question 108), which the Bible calls folly. Fearing God is acknowledging His rightful place in the universe.
2. The Link to Obedience
The fear of the Lord is the primary motivation for obedience (Question 120). It creates a powerful desire to avoid dishonoring the One who is worthy of all glory.
Proverbs 8:13: "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
Action: This fear moves beyond mere feeling; it is the active choice to depart from sin (Question 107) and live according to God's standards (Question 116).
3. Fear and Love
For the Christian, fear is transformed but not eliminated. Because we are forgiven through Christ, the terror of judgment is gone (Question 49). However, the awe remains. Our fear is rooted in love: we are motivated by a deep desire not to disappoint the God who has done everything for us. Our respect for His holiness compels us toward purity.
God's Assurance
God assures you that for those who fear Him—those who worship Him and obey Him—He promises incredible intimacy and protection.
“The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” — Psalm 25:14 (NIV)
You are assured that the reverent fear of God is not a roadblock to closeness but the very path to understanding His deepest truths.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not try to banish the idea of "fear" from your relationship with God; embrace it as awe. Start your prayer (Question 119) and your Bible study by humbling yourself before the Creator. That sense of reverence is the starting place for all spiritual growth. Ask God: “Father, help me to see you as you truly are, so I may fear you and follow you.”
