📖 Biblical Definition
The Fear of the LORD is the reverent awe of God that Scripture names by many superlatives. It is "the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10; Psalm 111:10) and "the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). It is "clean, enduring for ever" (Psalm 19:9). It is the saint’s strong confidence: "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:26). It is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It is not slavish terror that drives one from God; it is reverent submission that draws one to Him — the right disposition of a creature before the Holy God. The man without it may be religious; he is not yet wise.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Reverent awe of God; the beginning of wisdom and knowledge; the saint's settled disposition.
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Distinct from fear of man (which traps, Prov 29:25) and worldly fear (which has torment, 1 Jn 4:18). The fear of the LORD pushes out lesser fears.
The Old Testament uses the phrase ~30 times in Wisdom literature alone. Christ's ministry begins it (Lk 1:50, the Magnificat); the early church walks in it (Acts 9:31).
📖 Key Scripture
Proverbs 1:7 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."
Proverbs 9:10 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."
Psalm 111:10 — "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments."
Psalm 19:9 — "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often soft-pedals the fear of the LORD; Scripture insists it is the beginning — without which knowledge and wisdom are impossible.
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Proverbs 1:7 is the foundation: knowledge has a starting point, and that starting point is reverent awe of the LORD. The household that begins elsewhere reasons in the wrong direction.
Acts 9:31's description of the early church is striking: walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Fear and comfort together; reverence and joy together; the LORD's growth-conditions for His people.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew yirat YHWH.
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Hebrew yirah — fear, reverence; yare, the related verb.
Note: pairs with shalom, chesed, emunah as the foundational Old Testament covenant words.
Usage
"The beginning of wisdom and knowledge."
"Fear and comfort together; reverence and joy together."
"Pushes out lesser fears."