Overview
The Bible addresses fear of god across 31 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Hebrews, Exodus and Psalms. Closely related themes include Law of Moses, the, Righteousness, Vision and Trumpet. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Jesus and Abel.
Key Bible verses about fear of god
Old Testament
Exodus
And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:
There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. trumpet: or, cornet
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
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.
Deuteronomy
Psalms
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. dwell: Heb. lodge in goodness
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. and: or, and his covenant to make them know it
Proverbs
Isaiah
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. of the earth: Heb. of the dust
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; his idols of silver: Heb. the idols of his silver, etc each: or, for him
To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Jeremiah
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: for ever: Heb. all days
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. from them: Heb. from after them
Micah
The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee. worms: or, creeping things
New Testament
Hebrews
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, written: or, enrolled
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. covenant: or, testament
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: let: or, let us hold fast
For our God is a consuming fire.
1 John
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. our love: Gr. love with us
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.1161 He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
People in the Bible and fear of god
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying fear of god for yourself
- Begin with Exodus 19:12, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Hebrews, Exodus and Psalms each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Moses, Jesus and Abel and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Law of Moses, the, Righteousness, Vision and Trumpet.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about fear of god?
The Bible addresses fear of god across 31 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Hebrews, Exodus and Psalms. Closely related themes include Law of Moses, the, Righteousness, Vision and Trumpet. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Jesus and Abel.
How many Bible verses are about fear of god?
The Bible references fear of god in 31 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention fear of god?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 19:12: “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:”
Which people in the Bible are associated with fear of god?
Moses, Jesus and Abel.
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