Bible Verses About Reverence: 20 Verses on the Fear of God

“Fear of God” sounds like fear to many. The Bible means something else: awe, wonder, respect for the greatness of God—and it is precisely from this that trust grows. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about awe of God.

The beginning of wisdom

Awe as a foundation.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and to know the holy ones is understanding.

Proverbs 9,10Wisdom Proverbs of Solomon
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. The reckless despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1,7Knowledge Proverbs of Solomon
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. This is a fine prudence, who does according to it, the praise remains forever.

Psalm 111,10Wisdom
And he spoke to the people: Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to shun evil, that is understanding.

Job 28,28
Let us hear the chief sum of all teaching: Fear God and keep his commandments; for that belongs to all people.

Ecclesiastes 12,13
Who fears the LORD, he has a secure fortress, and his children will also be protected. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one shuns the cords of death.

Proverbs 14,26-27
The fear of the LORD promotes to life, and will remain full, that no evil will befall them.

Proverbs 19,23
Let all the world fear the LORD; and before him shall shrink all that dwells on the ground.

Psalm 33,8
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling!

Psalm 2,11

Awe and trust

Fear of God leads into the nearness of God.

The secret of the LORD is among those who fear him; and he lets them know his covenant.

Psalm 25,14
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones! for those who fear him, have no lack.

Psalm 34,10
For as high the heaven is above the earth, so he lets his grace rule over those who fear him.

Psalm 103,11
But the grace of the LORD endures from eternity to eternity over those who fear him, and his righteousness unto every child.

Psalm 103,17Family Grandparents
He does what the godly desire, and hears their cry and helps them.

Psalm 145,19
And his mercy endures forever and ever with those who fear him.

Luke 1,50
Therefore, because we have received an immovable kingdom, we have grace, through which we shall serve God, to please him, with discipline and fear; for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12,28-29
So, my beloved, as you have always been obedient, not only in my presence, but also now much more in my absence, strive that you become saved, with fear and trembling.

Philippians 2,12
My hand has made everything that is, says the LORD. But I look at the afflicted and the broken spirit, and he who fears my word.

Isaiah 66,2
But to you, who fear my name, shall rise the sun of righteousness and healing under its wings; and you shall go out and come in and leap like the fat calves.

Malachi 3,20Advent Healing
Who should not fear you, LORD, and praise your name? For you alone are holy. For all the heathen shall come and worship before you; for your judgments have become manifest.

Revelation 15,4Holiness

Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to today's spelling.

This goes well with it

Awe begins with the name of God. The JHWH poster and the Adonai poster place God's name in the center.

YHWH - Names of God Poster by Good-Natured

YHWH - Names of God PosterPoster about the name of God JHWH – “I will be, who I will be.”€12

Adonai - Names of God Poster by Good-Natured

Adonai - Names of God PosterPoster about the name of God Adonai – the Lord.€12

Elohim - Names of God Poster by Good-Natured

Elohim - Names of God PosterPoster about the name of God Elohim – the Creator from Genesis 1,1.€12

Alpha & Omega - PosterPoster about Revelation 22,13: I am the A and the O, the beginning and the end.€10

What is fear of God?

The Hebrew word jir’ah can mean both fear and awe. When the Bible speaks of the “fear of the LORD,” it usually means awe: the wonder of a person who understands how great God is. This awe is “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9,10), because it correctly places the person—not as the center of the world, but as a creature. Fear of God is not the opposite of love: “Fear is not in love” (1 John 4,18) means the paralyzing fear, not the wondering awe.

Awe that brings near

Surprisingly often, the Bible connects fear of God with nearness and care: “The secret of the LORD is among those who fear him” (Psalm 25,14). “For as high the heaven is above the earth, so he lets his grace rule over those who fear him” (Psalm 103,11). Who takes God seriously no longer needs to have ultimate fear of anything else. Mary sings: “And his mercy endures forever and ever with those who fear him” (Luke 1,50). More about this at Bible verses about holiness, Bible verses about wisdom and Bible verses about worship.