The Hebrew verb yare means to fear, be afraid, revere, or stand in awe. It occurs over 300 times in the Old Testament and carries a dual meaning: natural fear or dread in the face of danger, and reverential awe before God's holiness and majesty. The "fear of the LORD" (yirat YHWH) built from this root is one of the most important theological concepts in the Old Testament.
Yare sits at the heart of Old Testament piety. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10) and "the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). This fear is not cringing terror but reverent awe — the recognition of who God is that transforms how one lives. Paradoxically, God repeatedly says "Do not fear" to His people, using the same verb to distinguish between the paralyzing fear of circumstances and the liberating fear of God. Those who fear God need fear nothing else.