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Fear

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

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Concordances
Nave Topical Bible
• Fear of God
• Fear
Scofield Reference Index
• Fear of the Lord
Thompson Chain Reference
• Needless Fear
• Guilty Fear
• Godly Fear
•   (only first 3 shown)
The Topic Concordance
• Fear
Torrey Topical Textbook
• Fear, Unholy
• Fear, Godly
Dictionaries
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
• Fear
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
• Fear
Charles Buck Dictionary
• Fears
• Fear of God
• Fear of Death
•   (only first 3 shown)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Fear of the Lord the
Spurgeon's Illustration Collection
• Persecution: Not to Be Feared
• Fear of Sin
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Fear of Isaac
• Fear
Hastings' BibleDictionary
• Fearfulness
• Fear
Hastings' NT Dictionary
• Fear (2)
• Fear
King James Dictionary
• Fearfulness
• Fearful
• Feared
•   (only first 3 shown)
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Why, Impious Herod, Vainly Fear
• Fear
Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary
• Fear
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Fear, Fearful, Fearfulness
• Fear
Webster Dictionary
• Od-Fearing
• Fearing
• Fearfulness
•   (only first 3 shown)
Watson's Theological Dictionary
• Fear
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Fear
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Fear of God
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Fear
• Fear
The Jewish Encyclopedia
• Fear of God
• Fear of Man
Lexicons
• ܕ݁ܰܚܽܘܠܬ݂ܳܢܳܐ
• ܕ݁ܳܚܶܠ
• ܕ݁ܶܚܠܬ݂ܳܐ
•   (only first 3 shown)
• ἀφόβως
• δειλία
• δειλιάω
•   (only first 3 shown)
• אֵימָה , אֵמָה
• גוּרּ גוּרּ, , גוּרּ
• דְּאָגָה
•   (only first 3 shown)
Trench's NT Synonyms
• Fear

People naturally fears those people, influences, objects and events that they see as threatening, as being able to control, overpower or destroy them (Numbers 14:9; Psalms 2:11; Luke 21:26; Hebrews 2:15; Hebrews 10:27). In some cases this may be a cowardly fear (Proverbs 29:25; Galatians 2:12), but in others a very healthy fear, amounting to respect or reverence (Genesis 20:11; Leviticus 26:2; Romans 3:18; 1 Peter 2:18). In this latter sense people are to fear those who have authority over them (Leviticus 19:3; Proverbs 24:21; Romans 13:3; Romans 13:7; Ephesians 6:5), and particularly to fear God (Psalms 34:11; Isaiah 8:13-15; Acts 9:31; 1 Peter 2:17).

Sinners have good reason to fear God; because God’s punishment will one day fall upon them (Micah 7:16-17; Matthew 10:28). Believers also fear God, but theirs is a different sort of fear. Their fear of God is mixed with love for him (Deuteronomy 6:2; Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 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 (Deuteronomy 10:12; Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:17-18; 1 John 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 (2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:16-17).

Such an attitude guarantees God’s help in living a life that pleases him and benefits the believer personally (Psalms 147:11; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 10:27; Proverbs 14:26; Philippians 2:12-13). It also gives confidence not to fear the dangers and uncertainties of life (Psalms 46:2; Psalms 112:1; Psalms 112:7; Luke 12:4-5; 1 Peter 3:14-15).