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109 Bible Verses about Fear of God
I want you to know that God doesn't want you to be afraid of Him. He wants you to come close, to feel comfortable in His presence. When we talk about "fearing" God, it's really about encouraging you to live a life that honors Him – following His word and commandments out of respect and love.
This kind of "fear" comes from within. It guides you to do what's good and right simply because you love Him. It's different from being scared. Fear makes you avoid doing bad things only because you're worried about being punished, not because you love God.
Truly fearing God goes way beyond just being terrified. It's about surrendering your heart to Him, worshipping Him, and honoring His name. It's about having a relationship with Him so deep that you wouldn't want to hurt someone you love so much.
God doesn't want us to be foolish. He wants us to be wise and intelligent, making the best choices for our lives. Proverbs 8:131 says, "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." When you know God and experience His goodness, you naturally want to please Him and let go of anything that doesn't align with His heart.
It's through the Holy Spirit that we can straighten out the crooked parts of ourselves and guard our hearts against sin. It's a daily process of becoming more like Him. As Ecclesiastes 12:131 reminds us, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of everyone."
Be not wise in thine own eyes;\par\tab Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
It will be health to thy navel,\par\tab And marrow to thy bones.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge;\par\tab {\i But} the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him,\par\tab Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;
The reward of humility {\i and} the fear of Jehovah\par\tab {\i Is} riches, and honor, and life.
And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure.\par
{\b A Song of Ascents.}\par\par\tab Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah,\par\tab That walketh in his ways.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil:\par\tab Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,\par\tab And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah,\par\tab Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
{\i This is} the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole {\i duty} of man.
The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life,\par\tab That one may depart from the snares of death.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.\par
The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom;\par\tab And before honor {\i goeth} humility.\par
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;\par\tab And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever:\par\tab The ordinances of Jehovah are true, {\i and} righteous altogether.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;\par\tab A good understanding have all they that do {\i his commandments}:\par\tab His praise endureth for ever.
And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him;\par\tab And he will show them his covenant.
Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,\par\tab And his righteousness unto children's children;
And thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
And Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Jehovah our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day.
Praise ye Jehovah.\par\tab Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah,\par\tab That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him,\par\tab In those that hope in his lovingkindness.
The fear of Jehovah {\i tendeth} to life;\par\tab And he {\i that hath it} shall abide satisfied;\par\tab He shall not be visited with evil.
And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.
Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him,\par\tab Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;
To deliver their soul from death,\par\tab And to keep them alive in famine.
And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him,\par\tab And delivereth them.
And unto man he said,\par\tab Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;\par\tab And to depart from evil is understanding.\par
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him,\par\tab That glory may dwell in our land.
Be still, and know that I am God:\par\tab I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;
and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.
Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:
for our God is a consuming fire.\par
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.
{\i Let} the high praises of God {\i be} in their mouth,\par\tab And a two-edged sword in their hand;
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for;\par\tab And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.
For all these things hath my hand made, and {\i so} all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.
Let all the earth fear Jehovah:\par\tab Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
who {\b will render to every man according to his works}:
to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:
but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, {\i shall be} wrath and indignation,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words,\par\tab And lay up my commandments with thee;
So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom,\par\tab And apply thy heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou cry after discernment,\par\tab And lift up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seek her as silver,\par\tab And search for her as for hid treasures:
Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah,\par\tab And find the knowledge of God.
There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever:\par\tab The ordinances of Jehovah are true, {\i and} righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;\par\tab Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.
What man is he that feareth Jehovah?\par\tab Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease;\par\tab And his seed shall inherit the land.
{\b For the Chief Musician. {\i A Psalm} of David the servant of Jehovah.}\par\par\tab The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,\par\tab There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.
The fear of man bringeth a snare;\par\tab But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.
And he said unto him, {\cf6 {\b Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.}
For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days;\par\tab But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his {\i days}, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:
but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong {\i his} days, {\i which are} as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.\par
Stand in awe, and sin not:\par\tab Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. {\i Selah\par
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:\par\tab His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,\par\tab Until he see {\i his desire} upon his adversaries.
And Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Jehovah our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day.
And it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as he hath commanded us.
In God (I will praise his word),\par\tab In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid;\par\tab What can flesh do unto me?
fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
{\b {\i A Psalm} of David.}\par\par\tab Jehovah is my light and my salvation;\par\tab Whom shall I fear?\par\tab Jehovah is the strength of my life;\par\tab Of whom shall I be afraid?
My soul, wait thou in silence for God only;\par\tab For my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation:\par\tab {\i He is} my high tower;\par\tab I shall not be moved.
And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, {\cf6 All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
For that they hated knowledge,\par\tab And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:
They would none of my counsel;\par\tab They despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,\par\tab And be filled with their own devices.
Jehovah of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Great peace have they that love thy law;\par\tab And they have no occasion of stumbling.
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:
Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked;\par\tab Preserve me from the violent man:\par\tab Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, {\i even} Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.
Teach me to do thy will;\par\tab For thou art my God:\par\tab Thy Spirit is good;\par\tab Lead me in the land of uprightness.
O God, {\i thou art} terrible out of thy holy places:\par\tab The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto {\i his} people.\par\tab Blessed be God.\par
Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him; Worship Jehovah in holy array.
Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens;\par\tab Thy faithfulness {\i reacheth} unto the skies.
Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God;\par\tab Thy judgments are a great deep:\par\tab O Jehovah, thou preservest man and beast.
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.
So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth.
For it is written, {\b As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.}
So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.\par
Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Confirm unto thy servant thy word,\par\tab Which {\i is in order} unto the fear of thee.
Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him;\par\tab All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him;\par\tab And stand in awe of him, all ye the seed of Israel.
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,\par\tab But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah;\par\tab He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;
Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth:\par\tab Unite my heart to fear thy name.
For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
{\b For the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David, a Song.}\par\par\tab Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered;\par\tab Let them also that hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away:\par\tab As wax melteth before the fire,\par\tab So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king;\par\tab {\i And} company not with them that are given to change:
Princes also sat and talked against me;\par\tab {\i But} thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.
but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: {\i being} ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:
For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.\par
Oh how great is thy goodness,\par\tab Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee,\par\tab Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee,\par\tab Before the sons of men!
In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence;\par\tab And his children shall have a place of refuge.
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
Thou hast commanded {\i us} thy precepts,\par\tab That we should observe them diligently.
Oh that my ways were established\par\tab To observe thy statutes!
Who knoweth the power of thine anger,\par\tab And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live;\par\tab For thy law is my delight.
For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people:\par\tab He will beautify the meek with salvation.
{\b A Song of Ascents.}\par\par\tab Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah,\par\tab That walketh in his ways.
For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands:\par\tab Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
What man is he that feareth Jehovah?\par\tab Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease;\par\tab And his seed shall inherit the land.
The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him;\par\tab And he will show them his covenant.
But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,\par\tab And his righteousness unto children's children;
To such as keep his covenant,\par\tab And to those that remember his precepts to do them.
But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.