5401. phobos
Lexicon
phobos: Fear, terror, reverence, respect

Original Word: φόβος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: phobos
Pronunciation: FOH-bos
Phonetic Spelling: (fob'-os)
Definition: Fear, terror, reverence, respect
Meaning: (a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fear, terror.

From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright -- be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.

HELPS Word-studies

5401 phóbos (from phebomai, "to flee, withdraw") – fear (from Homer about 900 bc on) 5401 (phóbos) meant withdrawal, fleeing because feeling inadequate (without sufficient resources, Abbott-Smith).

Fear (5401 /phóbos) is commonly used in Scripture – sometimes positively (in relation to God) but more often negatively of withdrawing from the Lord (His will).

[Fundamentally, 5401 /phóbos ("fear") means withdraw (separate from), i.e. flee (remove oneself) and hence to avoid because of dread (fright).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from phebomai (to be put to flight)
Definition
panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror
NASB Translation
cause of fear (1), fear (37), fearful (1), fears (1), intimidation (1), respect (1), respectful (1), reverence (1), sense of awe (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5401: φόβος

φόβος, φοβοῦ, (φέβομαι; like φόρος, τρόμος, πόνος, from φέρω, τρέμω, πένομαι), from Homer down, the Sept. for יִרְאָה, פַּחַד, אֵימָה (terror), חִתִּית (terror);

1. fear, dread, terror; in a subjective sense (οὐδέν ἐστι φόβος εἰ μή προδοσία τῶν ἀπό λογισμοῦ βοηθημάτων, Wis. 17:11; προσδοκίαν λέγω κακοῦ τοῦτο, εἴτε φόβον, εἴτε δέος καλεῖτε, Plato, Protag., p. 358 d.): universally, 1 John 4:18; φόβος ἐπί τινα πίπτει (Acts 19:17 L Tr); Revelation 11:11 Rec.; ἐπιπίπτει, Luke 1:12; Acts 19:17 (R G T WH; Revelation 11:11 L T Tr WH); ἐγένετο, Luke 1:65; Acts 5:5, 11; λαμβάνει τινα, Luke 7:16 (Homer Iliad 11, 402); γίνεται τίνι, Acts 2:43; πλησθῆναι φοβοῦ, Luke 5:26; συνέχεσθαι φόβῳ, Luke 8:37; ἔχειν φόβον, 1 Timothy 5:20 (Herodotus 8, 12); κατεργάζεσθαι; τίνι φόβον, 2 Corinthians 7:11; φοβεῖσθαι φόβον (see φοβέω, 2), Mark 9:41; Luke 2:9; with a genitive of the object added, 1 Peter 3:14 (so Winer's Grammar, § 32, 2; others subject. genitive); ἀπό φοβοῦ, for fear, Luke 21:26; ἀπό τοῦ φοβοῦ, for the fear, with which they were struck, Matthew 14:26; with a genitive of the object added, Matthew 28:4; εἰς φόβον, unto (that ye may) fear, Romans 8:15; μετά φοβοῦ, Matthew 28:8; with καί τρόμου added, 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5; Philippians 2:12; ἐν φόβῳ καί ἐν τρόμῳ (see τρόμος), 1 Corinthians 2:3; τινα ἐν φόβῳ σῴζειν (Rec.), ἐλεαν (L T Tr WH), with anxious heed lest ye be defiled by the wickedness of those whom ye are rescuing, Jude 1:23; plural φόβοι, feelings of fear, fears (Winer's Grammar, 176 (166)), 2 Corinthians 7:5; φόβος τίνος, genitive of the object (our fear of one): τῶν Ἰουδαίων, John 7:13; John 19:38; John 20:19; βασανισμοῦ, Revelation 18:10, 15; θανάτου, Hebrews 2:15 (Xenophon, mem. l, 4, 7). In an objective sense, that which strikes terror: φόβος ἀγαθῶν ἔργων, or more correctly (with L T Tr WH) τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ, a terror to (or for), Romans 13:3.

2. reverence, respect (for authority, rank, dignity): Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 Peter 3:16 (15); ἐν φόβῳ ἀναστροφή, behavior coupled with (cf. ἐν, I. 5 e.) reverence for one's husband, 1 Peter 3:2; φόβος with a genitive of the object: τοῦ κυρίου, Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Χριστοῦ, Ephesians 5:21 (not Rec.); Θεοῦ, Romans 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; (Ephesians 5:21 Rec.); Θεοῦ is omitted as suggested by the context, 1 Peter 1:17; (often in the O. T. יְהוָה יִרְאַת and אֱלֹהִים יִרְאַת). (Synonyms: see δειλία, δέος, at the end; cf. φοβέω.)

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb φοβέω (phobeo), meaning "to frighten" or "to be afraid."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: Strong's Hebrew 3372: יָרֵא (yare) • to fear, revere, be afraid
Strong's Hebrew 3373: יָרֵא (yare) • fearing, reverent
Strong's Hebrew 3374: יִרְאָה (yirah) • fear, reverence, piety

These Hebrew terms similarly reflect the dual concept of fear as both terror and reverence, often used in the context of fearing the Lord, which is foundational to wisdom and understanding in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: • The term "φόβος" is used in the New Testament to describe both the fear or terror that one might feel in the face of danger or the unknown, as well as a reverential awe or respect, particularly in relation to God.

Context: • The Greek word "φόβος" appears in various contexts throughout the New Testament, reflecting a range of meanings from literal fear to profound reverence. In passages such as Matthew 14:26, "When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost!' they said, and cried out in fear," φόβος is used to describe the disciples' terror. In contrast, in passages like Acts 9:31, "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers," φόβος conveys a sense of reverential awe and respect for God.
• The dual usage of φόβος highlights the complexity of the human response to the divine and the unknown. In a spiritual context, φόβος often denotes a healthy respect and acknowledgment of God's power and majesty, which is foundational to wisdom and understanding (Proverbs 9:10). This reverential fear is not about being afraid of God in a negative sense but recognizing His authority and holiness.
• The New Testament encourages believers to cultivate a φόβος that leads to obedience and worship, as seen in Philippians 2:12, "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Here, φόβος is associated with a serious and respectful approach to one's faith and salvation.

Forms and Transliterations
φοβοι φόβοι φοβον φόβον φοβος φόβος φοβου φόβου φοβω φόβω φόβῳ phobo phobō phoboi phóboi phóbōi phobon phóbon phobos phóbos phobou phóbou
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 14:26 N-GMS
GRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν
NAS: And they cried out in fear.
KJV: they cried out for fear.
INT: in fear they cried out

Matthew 28:4 N-GMS
GRK: δὲ τοῦ φόβου αὐτοῦ ἐσείσθησαν
NAS: shook for fear of him and became
KJV: And for fear of him the keepers
INT: moreover the fear of him trembled

Matthew 28:8 N-GMS
GRK: μνημείου μετὰ φόβου καὶ χαρᾶς
NAS: quickly with fear and great
KJV: the sepulchre with fear and great
INT: tomb with fear and joy

Mark 4:41 N-AMS
GRK: καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν καὶ
KJV: And they feared exceedingly, and said
INT: And they feared [with] fear great and

Luke 1:12 N-NMS
GRK: ἰδών καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ'
NAS: when he saw [the angel], and fear gripped
KJV: and fear fell
INT: having seen [him] and fear fell upon

Luke 1:65 N-NMS
GRK: ἐπὶ πάντας φόβος τοὺς περιοικοῦντας
NAS: Fear came on all
KJV: And fear came on
INT: upon all fear those who dwelt around

Luke 2:9 N-AMS
GRK: καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν
INT: and they feared [with] fear great

Luke 5:26 N-GMS
GRK: καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν φόβου λέγοντες ὅτι
NAS: and they were filled with fear, saying,
KJV: and were filled with fear, saying,
INT: and were filled with fear saying

Luke 7:16 N-NMS
GRK: Ἔλαβεν δὲ φόβος πάντας καὶ
NAS: Fear gripped them all,
KJV: And there came a fear on all: and
INT: Seized moreover fear all and

Luke 8:37 N-DMS
GRK: αὐτῶν ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο
NAS: with great fear; and He got
KJV: with great fear: and
INT: them for with fear great they were seized

Luke 21:26 N-GMS
GRK: ἀνθρώπων ἀπὸ φόβου καὶ προσδοκίας
NAS: fainting from fear and the expectation
KJV: for fear, and
INT: men from fear and expectation

John 7:13 N-AMS
GRK: διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων
NAS: openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
KJV: him for fear of the Jews.
INT: because of the fear of the Jews

John 19:38 N-AMS
GRK: διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων
NAS: but a secret [one] for fear of the Jews,
KJV: for fear of the Jews,
INT: through the fear of the Jews

John 20:19 N-AMS
GRK: διὰ τὸν φόβον τῶν Ἰουδαίων
NAS: the disciples were, for fear of the Jews,
KJV: assembled for fear of the Jews, came
INT: through the fear of the Jews

Acts 2:43 N-NMS
GRK: πάσῃ ψυχῇ φόβος πολλὰ τε
NAS: kept feeling a sense of awe; and many
KJV: And fear came upon every
INT: upon every soul awe many and with

Acts 5:5 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο φόβος μέγας ἐπὶ
NAS: and great fear came
KJV: and great fear came on
INT: And came fear great upon

Acts 5:11 N-NMS
GRK: Καὶ ἐγένετο φόβος μέγας ἐφ'
NAS: And great fear came over
KJV: And great fear came upon
INT: And came fear great upon

Acts 9:31 N-DMS
GRK: πορευομένη τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ κυρίου
NAS: up; and going on in the fear of the Lord
KJV: walking in the fear of the Lord,
INT: going on in the fear of the Lord

Acts 19:17 N-NMS
GRK: καὶ ἐπέπεσεν φόβος ἐπὶ πάντας
NAS: in Ephesus; and fear fell
KJV: at Ephesus; and fear fell on
INT: and fell fear upon all

Romans 3:18 N-NMS
GRK: οὐκ ἔστιν φόβος θεοῦ ἀπέναντι
NAS: THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE
KJV: There is no fear of God before
INT: not there is fear of God before

Romans 8:15 N-AMS
GRK: πάλιν εἰς φόβον ἀλλὰ ἐλάβετε
NAS: leading to fear again,
KJV: again to fear; but ye have received
INT: again unto fear but you received

Romans 13:3 N-NMS
GRK: οὐκ εἰσὶν φόβος τῷ ἀγαθῷ
NAS: For rulers are not a cause of fear for good
KJV: are not a terror to good works,
INT: not are a terror to good

Romans 13:7 N-AMS
GRK: τῷ τὸν φόβον τὸν φόβον
NAS: to whom custom; fear to whom fear;
KJV: to whom custom; fear to whom fear;
INT: to whom the respect the respect

Romans 13:7 N-AMS
GRK: φόβον τὸν φόβον τῷ τὴν
NAS: fear to whom fear; honor to whom
KJV: fear to whom fear; honour to whom
INT: respect the respect to whom the

1 Corinthians 2:3 N-DMS
GRK: καὶ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν
NAS: I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much
KJV: and in fear, and in
INT: and in fear and in

Strong's Greek 5401
47 Occurrences


φόβῳ — 10 Occ.
φόβοι — 1 Occ.
φόβον — 15 Occ.
φόβος — 12 Occ.
φόβου — 9 Occ.















5400
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