The fear of the Lord is reverent awe of God that leads to trust and obedience. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10), and "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever" (Psalm 19:9). It is not terror: at Sinai Moses told the people, "Fear not", and in the same breath that God's fear should keep them from sin (Exodus 20:20).
Few Bible phrases are as misunderstood as the fear of the Lord. Some hear it as a call to be scared of an angry God; others quietly skip it as an Old Testament leftover. But Scripture treats it as a treasure: the starting point of wisdom, a fountain of life, and a delight even for the Messiah (Isaiah 11:3). People look up fear of the Lord verses for a Proverbs study, a youth lesson, a sermon series, or because they sense their faith has become casual and want to recover a sense of wonder. These twelve King James verses explain what the fear of the Lord is, the blessings Scripture attaches to it, and how to grow in it. For the wisdom it leads to, see wisdom; for worship, see worship.
What the fear of the Lord is
1. Psalms 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."
The famous line also opens the book of Proverbs: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). Beginning means both the first step and the foundation. Wisdom does not start with cleverness but with knowing who God is and who you are not. Notice the second half: real understanding shows up in people that do his commandments. It is a lived wisdom, not just an idea.
2. Job 28:28
"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."
Job 28 is a poem about miners digging deep for silver and gold, and asking where wisdom can be found. Not in the mines, not in the sea, and not for sale. God alone knows the way to it, and He tells humanity: wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and understanding is turning from evil. It is the conclusion of a man who had lost everything and still would not curse God.
3. Psalms 19:9
"The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether."
Psalm 19 moves from the glory of God in the sky to the goodness of God in His word. Here the fear of the LORD stands alongside His law, testimony, statutes and commandments, as part of what God gives His people. It is clean, pure and wholesome, not a fear that poisons the soul. And it is enduring for ever: it did not expire with the Old Testament.
4. Exodus 20:20
"And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not."
The people of Israel had just heard God's voice from the mountain, with thunder and smoke, and they were terrified (Exodus 20:18-19). Moses says Fear not, and then explains that God wants his fear to be before them so they would not sin. This one verse separates two kinds of fear: the panic that runs away from God, and the reverent awe that draws near and takes Him seriously. The first is cured by the second.
The life and blessing it brings
5. Proverbs 14:27
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."
In the dry land of Israel a fountain meant life. The fear of the LORD is pictured as a spring that keeps flowing, giving life and helping people depart from the snares of death, the hidden traps of sin that look harmless at first. The verse before says, "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence" (Proverbs 14:26). Reverence for God does not make you timid; it makes you secure.
6. Proverbs 19:23
"The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil."
Tendeth to life means it leads toward life. Three blessings follow: life, satisfaction and protection. Abide satisfied is the opposite of restless craving. People who stand in awe of God are less driven by the need to impress others or chase the next thing. This is a general pattern in Proverbs, not a promise that believers never suffer, but it is a pattern worth building a life on.
7. Psalms 33:18-19
"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine."
Look at who God watches: them that fear him and them that hope in his mercy. The two phrases describe the same people. Fearing God and hoping in His mercy belong together. The verses around it say a king is not saved by a big army, nor a warrior by his strength (Psalm 33:16-17). Those who revere God lean on Him instead of on their own resources, and He keeps His eye on them.
8. Psalms 34:7
"The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."
David wrote Psalm 34 after a frightening escape from the Philistine king of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10-15). The angel of the LORD surrounds those who fear Him like an army camped around a city. It recalls Elisha's servant, who saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17). The person who fears God has less reason to fear anything else. See protection.
Growing in the fear of the Lord
9. Proverbs 16:6
"By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil."
Two things are named here. Sin is atoned for by mercy and truth: God's own steadfast love and faithfulness, finally shown at the cross. And sin is avoided by the fear of the LORD. Reverence for God gives you a reason to say no that is bigger than fear of getting caught. It is the difference between a child who obeys only when watched and one who loves and respects their father.
10. Psalms 34:11
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD."
The fear of the LORD can be taught, and David invites children to learn it. It is passed on less by lectures than by example: children notice whether adults pray, whether they speak of God with respect, and whether they keep their word. For parents and teachers, the next verses offer a starter lesson: guard your tongue, turn from evil, do good, seek peace (Psalm 34:13-14). See parenting.
11. Malachi 3:16
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name."
Malachi wrote when many in Israel had grown cynical and said serving God was pointless (Malachi 3:14). But a group that feared the LORD kept talking together about Him, and God listened and had their names written in a book of remembrance. The fear of the Lord grows in company. Conversations with other believers that honour God are noticed in heaven. See community and church.
12. 2 Corinthians 7:1
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
The fear of God is not only an Old Testament theme. Paul tells the church in Corinth, a city full of temptations, to cleanse themselves and keep growing in holiness in the fear of God. The motive is these promises: God has promised to live among His people and be a Father to them (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). Awe and love work together. Elsewhere Paul says, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).
A short prayer
Holy God, You are greater than I can imagine and closer than I deserve. Forgive me for treating You casually, and free me from the wrong kind of fear that hides from You. Give me the clean fear that loves You, trusts You and takes Your word seriously. Let it be the beginning of wisdom in my choices, a fountain of life in my home, and something I pass on to the children who watch me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Work through Proverbs one verse at a time with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Copy a fear of the Lord verse each day with our free Scripture writing plan · Teach your children Psalm 111:10 with Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does the fear of the Lord mean?
It means reverent awe of God: recognising His holiness, power and goodness, and responding with worship, trust and obedience. The Hebrew word yirah can mean fright, but when Scripture speaks of the fear of the LORD it usually means deep respect joined with love. Exodus 20:20 shows the difference: Moses tells the people not to be terrified, yet says God's fear should keep them from sin.
Should Christians be afraid of God?
Believers do not need to live in dread of God's rejection: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18). But the New Testament still speaks of fearing God with reverence. Jesus Himself said, "fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28), and the early church walked "in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 9:31). Awe and comfort go together.
Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?
Because wisdom is seeing life as it really is, and the most important reality is God. Someone who leaves God out of the picture can be very clever and still build a life on the wrong foundation. Once you take God seriously, everything else (money, relationships, success, suffering) falls into its proper place. See wisdom and knowledge.
How can I grow in the fear of the Lord?
Read about God's character slowly, especially passages like Isaiah 6, Job 38 to 41 and Revelation 4. Spend time in creation and let its size humble you. Worship with others, confess sin honestly, and keep your word even when it costs you. Proverbs 2:1-5 says that if you search for wisdom like hidden treasure, then you will "understand the fear of the LORD" (Proverbs 2:5). It grows as you get to know Him.
The fear of the Lord is never a reason for anyone to control, threaten or shame you in God's name. If a leader or family member uses fear of God to manipulate or abuse you, talk with someone you trust outside that situation.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
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