The Fear of Yehovah
By Ivan Labombarbe
Through out the Tanakh the Fear of Yehovah is used. Is it fear as we would understand the word
fear or can it have other meanings? In Proverbs (MISHLEI) 1:7, it states
“The Fear of Yehovah is the beginning of
Knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The word translated as Fear in this verse is 3374 that is a
noun femine (Hey-Aleph-Resh -Yod) and is pronounced (Yee – r’ah) and spelled
Yir’ah and listed in pg. 432 in the BDB.
It is related to 3373, which is on page 431 in the BDB and is an
adjective. It is (Aleph-Resh-Yod) and
spelled as Yara and pronounced (Yah-Reh’).
This same word is also a verb and listed under reference 3372.
First let look at how fear is used in the Tanakh.
Reference 3373 Afraid, Reverence (in Awe), Worship
1. Afraid –
Judges (SHOFTIM) 7:3
Now therefore make proclamation in
the ears of the people, saying: Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let
him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people
twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.
Genesis (BERESHIT) 32:12
Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the
hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come
and smite me, the mother with the children.
Deuteronomy (DEVARIM) 7:19
the great trials which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, whereby HaShem (Yehovah) thy G-d (Elohim) brought thee out; so shall HaShem (Yehovah) thy G-d (Elohim) do unto all the peoples of whom thou art afraid.
I Samuel (SHMUEL A) 23:3
And David's men said
unto him: 'Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we
go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?'
2 – Reverence (in awe)
I King (MELACHIM A) 18:3
And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. --Now Obadiah feared (Reverenced) HaShem (Yehovah) greatly;
II Kings (MELACHIM B) 4:1
Now there cried a certain woman of
the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying: 'Thy servant my
husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear (revered) HaShem
(Yehovah); and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be
bondmen.'
Ecclesiastes (KEHOLET) 8:12, 13
12 because a sinner doeth evil a hundred times, and prolongeth his days--though yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear (revere) G-d (Elohim), that fear (revere) before Him;
13 but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he feareth (revere) not before G-d.
Isaiah (YISHEYAH) 50:10
Who is among you that feareth (reveres) HaShem (Yehovah), that obeyeth the voice of His servant? though he walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of HaShem (Yehovah), and stay upon his G-d (Elohim).
3. Worship
Jonah (YONAH) 1:9
And he said unto them: 'I am an
Hebrew; and I fear (worship) HaShem (Yehovah), the G-d (Elohim) of heaven, who
hath made the sea and the dry land.'
II Kings (MELACHIM B) 17:32-33
32
So they feared (worshipped) HaShem (Yehovah), and made unto them from
among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the
houses of the high places.
33 They feared (Worshipped) HaShem (Yehovah),
and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they
had been carried away.
Reference 3372, Fear, Awe, Reverence
1. Afraid
Genesis (BERESHIT) 3:10
And he said: 'I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because
I was naked; and I hid myself.'
Genesis (BERESHIT)
18:15
Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'
2. In Awe
I Kings (MELACHIM A) 3:28
And all Israel heard of the
judgment which the king had judged; and they feared (in awe) the king; for they
saw that the wisdom of G-d was in him, to do justice.
Exodus (SHEMOT) 9:30
29 And Moses said unto him: 'As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread forth my hands unto HaShem; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is HaShem'S.
30 But as for thee and thy
servants, I know that ye will not yet fear (in awe) HaShem G-d.'
Psalms (TEHILIM) 33:8
Let all the earth fear (in Awe) HaShem; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
3. Reverence (Honor)
Leviticus (VAYIKRA) 19:3
Ye shall fear (Reverence) every man his mother, and his father, and ye shall keep My sabbaths: I am HaShem (Yehovah) your G-d (Elohim).
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 13:13
Whoso despiseth the word shall suffer thereby; but he that feareth (Reverence) the commandment shall be rewarded.
Joshua (YEHOSHUA)
4:14
On that day HaShem (Yehovah)
magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared (revered) him, as
they feared (revered) Moses, all the days of his life.
Reference 3374
1. Fear, Terror
Ezekiel (YECHEZCHIAL) 30:13
Thus saith the L-rd GOD: I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the
things of nought to cease from Noph; and there shall be no more a prince out of
the land of Egypt; and I will put a fear (terror) in the land of Egypt.
2. Reverence, Piety
Genesis (BERESHIT) 20:11
And Abraham said: 'Because I thought: Surely the fear
(Reverence) of G-d is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's
sake.
2 Samuel (SCHMUEL A) 23:3
The G-d (Elohim) of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'Ruler over men shall be the righteous, even he
that ruleth (Reverence) in the fear of G-d (Elohim),
2 Chronicles (DIVREI YAMIM B) 19:9
And he charged them, saying: 'Thus
shall ye do in the fear (Reverence) of HaShem, faithfully, and with a whole
heart.
In looking at the Phrase “Fear of Yehovah” is found 24 times
and the noun usage of Fear is used another 19 times.
Fear Him faithfully and with a whole heart.
2 Chronicles (DIVREI YAMIM B) 19:9
And he charged them, saying: 'Thus
shall ye do in the fear (Reverence) of HaShem (Yehovah), faithfully, and
with a whole heart.
Fear of Him is wisdom and understanding
Job (EYOB) 28:28
And unto man He said: 'Behold, the fear of the L-rd (Yehovah), that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
Psalms (TEHILIM) 111:10
The fear of HaShem (Yehovah) is the
beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; His
praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 1:7
The fear of HaShem
(Yehovah) is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and
discipline.
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 1:29
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of HaShem (Yehovah);
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 2:3-5
3 Yea, if thou call for
understanding, and lift up thy voice for discernment;
4 If thou seek her as silver, and
search for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shalt thou understand the
fear of HaShem, and find the knowledge of G-d.
6 For HaShem giveth wisdom, out of
His mouth cometh knowledge and discernment;
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 9:10
The fear of HaShem is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.
Serve with Fear, Joy and Purity
Psalms (TEHILIM) 2:11-12
11 Serve HaShem (Yehovah) with
fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage in purity, lest He be angry,
and ye perish in the way, when suddenly His wrath is kindled. Happy are all
they that take refuge in Him.
Psalms (TEHILIM) 19:10
The fear of HaShem (Yehovah) is
clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of HaShem (Yehovah) are true, they are
righteous altogether;
No Want
Psalms (TEHILIM) 34:10
O fear HaShem (Yehovah), ye His holy ones; for there
is no want to them that fear Him.
Hate Evil, Pride, Arrogance, Disobedient
Psalms (TEHILIM) 8:13
The fear of HaShem (Yehovah) is to
hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I
hate.
Extends our Life
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 10;27
The fear of HaShem (Yehovah)
prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 14:27
The fear of HaShem (Yehovah) is a
fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Builds Confidence and children a refuge
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 14:26
In the fear of HaShem (Yehovah) a
man hath strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Better than Great Treasure and Turmoil
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 15:16
Better is little with the fear of HaShem (Yehovah), than great treasure and turmoil therewith.
Reward Is Humility
Proverbs (MISHLEI) 22:4
The reward of
humility is the fear of HaShem (Yehovah), even riches, and honour, and life.