THE COMMAND TO FEAR (or Revere) GOD

Found in 36 verses from our list

Only the "fear" part of the verses is listed. Many of the commands are connected with concepts such as service, love, obedience, etc. Some of the commands contrast fear of God (which we must have) to some type of sin (which we must avoid). However, our purpose at this point is simply to demonstrate the obligation we have to fear God, not to demonstrate its compatibility with other godly character traits, or its incompatibility with sinful conduct. Unless stated, the recipients of the command are people who belong to God, or who at least claim to.

In a few verses, the obligation is stated indirectly, or is implied in the form of a rhetorical question.

Since the concept of "fear" can be translated several ways (including words such as "afraid" and "reverence"), it is put in italics, where present in the verses listed below.

1. "Do it. (A basic command.)

Leviticus 19:14 - Fear your God.

Leviticus 19:32 - Revere your God.

Leviticus 25:17 - Fear your God.

Leviticus 25:36 - Fear your God.

Leviticus 25:43 - Fear your God.

Deuteronomy 6:13 - Fear the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 10:20 - Fear the Lord your God.

Joshua 24:14 - Now fear the Lord.

Psalm 34:9 - Fear the Lord.

Proverbs 24:21 - Fear the Lord.

Proverbs 3:7 - Fear the Lord.

1 Peter 2:17 - Fear God.

Revelation 14:7 - Fear God.

2. It's our obligation to fear. (More details given than in the previous section.)

Deuteronomy 10:12 - All that the Lord your God asks of you: fear the Lord your God (etc.).

Deuteronomy 6:24 - The Lord commanded us ... to fear the Lord our God.

1 Samuel 12:24 - Be sure to fear the Lord.

Psalm 90:11 - Your wrath (over sin) is as great as the fear that is due you.

Jeremiah 5:22 - "Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord.

3. Who should we fear? (Specific emphasis: The God of the Bible is the one we must fear.)

Deuteronomy 13:4 - It is the Lord your God you must ... revere.

1 Chronicles 16:25 - The Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96:4 - The Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.

Isaiah 8:13 - The Lord Almighty ... is the one you are to fear.

Daniel 6:26 - Decree by Nebuchadnezzar: People must fear ... the God of Daniel.

Matthew 10:28 - Be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (i.e., more than you fear humans, who can only kill your body).

Luke 12:5 - Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

4. Who should do the fearing? (Not just "believers.")

Deuteronomy 31:13 - Children must ... learn to fear the Lord your God.

Psalm 33:8 - Let all the earth (its inhabitants) fear the Lord.

5. It must influence our worship and service to God.

Psalm 2:11 - Serve the Lord with fear.

Hebrews 12:28 - Let us ... worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. [These two words are not the same as the word "fear" seen in the other New Testament verses. They have a slightly different emphasis.]

6. It must influence our attitude about salvation.

Romans 11:20 - Do not be arrogant (because you have been offered salvation and others haven't), but be afraid. (God doesn't have to give you this offer.)

Philippians 2:12 - Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling (since God is the one who gives you both the desire and the ability to do so - v. 13).

7. It must influence the way we live.

2 Chronicles 19:7 - Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. (Context: promoting justice; avoiding injustice.)

2 Chronicles 19:9 - To the leaders: You must serve ... in the fear of the Lord.

Nehemiah 5:9 - Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God? (Context: not taking advantage of others.)

Proverbs 23:17 - Always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

1 Peter 1:17 - Live your lives as strangers here (in this world) in reverent fear.


Passages used: Leviticus 19:14, 32; 25:17, 36, 43; Deut. 6:13, 24; 10:12, 20; 13:4; 31:13; Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:24; 1 Chron. 16:25; 2 Chron. 19:7, 9; Neh. 5:9; Psalm 2:11; 33:8; 34:9; 90:11; 96:4; Proverbs 3:7; 23:17; 24:21; Isaiah 8:13; Jeremiah 5:22; Daniel 6:26; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Romans 11:20; Philip. 2:12; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; Rev. 14:7.