Biblical Answer

The fear of the Lord is a response of our entire being, not just an intellectual understanding. It is a genuine reverence for God and his sovereignty, foundational to other characteristics. The concept is well-developed in the Bible, with the Hebrew word having overtones of respect and awe. Fear in the Bible means to be overwhelmed, to be controlled by something. To fear the Lord is to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God.

A biblical understanding of the fear of the Lord is a response to the divine Father's holiness. It is a reaction one should have in response to God's holiness, a reverent obedience to prophetic commands. The fear of the Lord is knowing that we live before God, under his watchful eye. When we have a tolerance for sin in our lives, it is due in part to a lack of reverence for God. A fuller definition of the fear of the Lord is knowing that we live coram deo, before God, in a reverent obedience to his commands.

The fear of the Lord is foundational for a godly character and is a moral category that involves the rejection of arrogance and evil actions. It is a response that reflects both a confidence in the saving grace of God and a solemn respect for God as judge. The fear of the Lord is knowing that we live before God, under his watchful eye, and is a response to the divine Father's holiness. It is a reverent obedience to prophetic commands, and is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. The fear of the Lord is a response that will control our lives, and will involve the rejection of arrogance and evil actions.