Fear of God According to the Torah

The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Proverbs, 19:23)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs, 3:7-8)

He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress... The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life ... (Proverbs, 14:26-27)

... Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil. (Proverbs, 16:6)

... Always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. (Proverbs, 23:17-18)

... What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy, 10:12-13)

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. (Deuteronomy, 13:4)

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. (Psalms, 19:9)

Moses said to the people "... God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." (Exodus, 20:20)

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. (Isaiah, 33:6)

If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God—the Lord will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses. (Deuteronomy, 28:58-59)

The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs, 15:33)

Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. (Joshua, 24:14)

The Lord Almighty is the One you are to regard as holy, He is the One you are to fear, He is the One you are to dread. (Isaiah, 8:13)

Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. (Deuteronomy, 10:20)

Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and revering Him. (Deuteronomy, 8:6)

... so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. (Deuteronomy, 6:2)

Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands. (Psalms, 112:1)

You who fear the Lord, praise Him! (Psalms, 22:23)

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared. He is more awesome than all who surround Him. (Psalms, 89:7)

To fear the Lord is to hate evil... (Proverbs, 8:13)

I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who follow Your precepts. (Psalms, 119:63)

Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all My commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! (Deuteronomy, 5:29)

The midwives, however, feared God... and because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own. (Exodus, 1:17, 21)

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job, 1:1)

The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it. (Nahum, 1:5)

I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel... (Daniel, 6:26)

Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity... (Psalms, 25:12-14)

... You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. (2 Chronicles, 19:9)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... (Proverbs, 1:7)

Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus, 25:17)

If you fear the Lord and serve and obey Him and do not rebel against His commands... But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. (1 Samuel, 12:14, 24)

Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law... [They must] learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land... (Deuteronomy, 31:12-13)

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him... (Psalms, 145:18-19)

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. (Psalms, 33:8-9)

Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. (Deuteronomy, 6:13-14)

Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:14)

... Show respect for the elderly and you will fear the Lord your God. I am the Lord. (Leviticus, 19:32)

My son, if you accept My words and store up My commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom... (Proverbs, 2:1-6)

Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One [God] is understanding. (Proverbs, 9:9-10)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious... so great is His love for those who fear Him... so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. (Psalms, 103:8, 11,13)

The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. (Proverbs, 10:27)

He whose walk is upright fears the Lord... (Proverbs, 14:2)

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them... Fear the Lord... for those who fear Him lack nothing. (Psalms, 34:7-9)

For You are great and do marvelous deeds; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. (Psalms, 86:10-11)

You who fear Him, trust in the Lord—He is their help and shield [protector]... He will bless those who fear the Lord small and great alike. (Psalms, 115:11-13)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever... Let those who fear the Lord say: "His love endures forever." (Psalms, 118:1-4)

... You who fear Him, praise the Lord. (Psalms, 135:20)

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. (Psalms, 147:11)

A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil... (Proverbs, 14:16)

Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. (Proverbs, 15:16)

Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. (Proverbs, 22:4)

He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart... honors those who fear the Lord... (Psalms, 15:2-4)

Then the Lord said... "Have you considered My servant Job? ... He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil..." (Job, 2:3)

How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You... (Psalms, 31:19)

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. (Psalms, 33:18)

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalms, 34:11-14)

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He [God] has done for me. (Psalms, 66:16)

Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain... (Exodus, 18:20-21)

May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You... and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. (Psalms, 67:5-7)

If your brother becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would a stranger or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your brother may continue to live among you... Do not rule over them with rigor, but fear your God. (Leviticus, 25:35-36, 43)

You [My Lord] alone are to be feared... (Psalms, 76:7)

He promises peace to His people, His saints—but let them not return to folly. Surely His salvation is near those who fear Him... (Psalms, 85:8-9)

... The people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant. (Exodus, 14:31)

It [a copy of this law] is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. (Deuteronomy, 17:19-20)

For the fear of God kept me back, and because of His power I might not do such things. (Job, 31:23)

Is not your fear of God your confidence, you're your upright way of life your hope? (Job, 4:6)

The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper... (Deuteronomy, 6:24)

But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people... Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But I did not so because of the fear of God. (Nehemiah, 5:15)

Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery... Jehoshaphat... gave them these orders: "You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 19:7-9)

Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them... (Ecclesiastes, 8:12-13)

Listen!... to fear Your [God's] name is wisdom... (Micah, 6:9)

Did He not fear the Lord and seek his favor?... (Jeremiah, 26:19)

You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear You... (Jeremiah, 10:6-7)

... so that they will fear You and walk in Your ways all the time they live... so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You... (2 Chronicles, 6:31-33)