What Does It Mean to Fear God? (Reverence, Not Terror)
2 August 2025 · 2 min read · Understanding the Bible
The Bible repeatedly tells us to 'fear God' and calls the fear of the Lord 'the beginning of wisdom.' But that language confuses many people — are we supposed to be afraid of God? Understanding what it really means changes everything. Here's a clear look.
Not terror, but reverence
The 'fear of the Lord' isn't cowering terror of an angry God. It's a deep reverence, awe, and respect for who God is — His greatness, holiness, power, and majesty. It's the appropriate response of a small creature before an infinite, holy Creator. Think awe and honour more than dread.
Taking God seriously
To fear God is to take Him seriously — to recognise He is God and you are not, and to order your life accordingly. It means caring more about His opinion than anyone else's, honouring Him, and living in light of the fact that He is real, holy, and worthy. It's the opposite of treating God casually or ignoring Him.
The beginning of wisdom
'The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.' Why? Because until you rightly recognise who God is, you can't see reality clearly. All true wisdom starts with reverence for God as the reference point for everything. A life built on the fear of the Lord is built on solid ground.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
It drives out other fears
Paradoxically, rightly fearing God frees you from lesser fears. When God is big in your eyes — worthy of awe and utterly in control — the things that scare you shrink in comparison. The fear of the Lord doesn't make you more anxious; it makes you less afraid of everything else.
Fear and love together
Biblical fear of God isn't opposed to loving Him — the two go together. You can be in awe of God's greatness and secure in His love at the same time, like a child who deeply respects and dearly loves a good father. Reverence and intimacy coexist.
To fear God means to hold Him in deep reverence and awe, to take Him seriously, and to order your life around who He is. It's the beginning of wisdom, it frees you from lesser fears, and it goes hand in hand with loving Him. The fear of the Lord isn't bad news — it's the foundation of a wise, grounded, God-centered life.