An attitude of anxiety or distress, caused by concern over a threat to one's future. Scripture provides numerous examples of situations in which fear is experienced. It declares, however, that God alone is to be feared, and moments of human fear can be opportunities for deepening faith in him.

Proverbs 1:7

Reverent fear of God commended

See also

Deuteronomy 6:13; 31:12-13
Joshua 4:24; 24:14
1 Samuel 12:24
Psalms 2:11; 34:7-9
Proverbs 15:33
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Isaiah 33:6
Revelation 14:7
Psalms 91:5

Fear of natural phenomena

Jonah 1:4-5

See also

Genesis 19:30
Job 5:22
Ecclesiastes 12:5
Isaiah 7:25
Matthew 8:26
Revelation 11:13
Daniel 4:5

Fear of the unnatural

Acts 10:4

Fear of thoughts and visions

See also

1 Samuel 3:15
Job 4:13-15
Isaiah 21:4
Daniel 8:17; 10:11-12
Matthew 1:20; 28:4
Luke 1:12-13,29-30; 2:9-10
Matthew 14:26-27

Fear of the unknown or the abnormal

Acts 5:5

pp Mk 6:50

See also

pp Jn 6:19-20

Exodus 20:18; 34:30
Deuteronomy 5:5
1 Samuel 4:7

The radiance of Moses' face reflected God's glory and made the Israelites afraid

Nehemiah 6:16
Jeremiah 10:2
Daniel 5:9
Jonah 1:10
Matthew 17:6

Belshazzar's fear at the writing on the wall

Matthew 27:54
Mark 5:33; 9:32; 16:8

the fear of the disciples at the transfiguration

Luke 5:10; 8:37
Luke 9:34
John 19:8

Fear seized the people when the Gerasene demoniac was healed

Acts 19:17
Genesis 3:10

Fear of embarrassment or shame

See also

Isaiah 54:4
John 3:20
2 Corinthians 12:20
Jeremiah 51:46

Fear of the future

See also

Isaiah 41:23
Mark 10:32
Luke 12:32
Acts 27:24
Ezra 4:4

Fear of persecution

John 12:42-43

See also

1 Kings 19:3
John 7:13; 9:22; 20:19
1 Peter 3:14
Revelation 2:10
Hebrews 2:14-15

Fear of death

See also

Psalms 55:4-5
Mark 5:36
Acts 23:10

pp Lk 8:50

Exodus 14:10

Fear of people

1 Samuel 7:7

Of enemies

See also

Numbers 22:3
Judges 7:3
1 Samuel 17:24,11
2 Samuel 10:19
2 Chronicles 12:5
Psalms 27:1-3; 56:1-4
Isaiah 20:5; 41:5
Jeremiah 22:25; 41:18
Obadiah 1:9
Genesis 32:11; 45:3
Judges 9:21

Of one's own family

See also

Genesis 31:31; 32:7; 42:4; 50:19
Judges 6:27
1 Samuel 15:24
1 Corinthians 2:3

Of particular people

See also

Genesis 26:7
Exodus 2:14
Deuteronomy 2:4
1 Samuel 18:15
2 Samuel 3:11
Nehemiah 2:2

Saul's fear of David

Esther 7:6
Jeremiah 26:21; 38:19

Nehemiah's fear before the king

Matthew 2:22
Mark 12:12
Luke 19:21
Acts 9:26
1 Corinthians 16:10
2 Corinthians 7:15

the disciples fear of Paul, not believing his conversion

Galatians 2:12
Proverbs 29:25

See also

Of human beings in general

Deuteronomy 1:17
Isaiah 51:7
Ezekiel 11:8

Fear of judgment

Acts 24:25

See also

1 Samuel 28:20
1 Chronicles 21:30
Isaiah 33:14
Jeremiah 17:18; 30:5; 42:15-16
Ezekiel 12:18; 27:35
Zechariah 9:5
1 John 4:18
Revelation 18:10,15

Christians, assured of God's love, no longer fear judgment

Romans 13:4

Fear as a deterrent

See also

Deuteronomy 13:11; 17:13; 19:20; 21:21
Job 19:28-29
Deuteronomy 1:21

Fear as an opportunity for faith

Psalms 23:4
Proverbs 3:25-26
Matthew 10:29-31

See also

Exodus 14:13
Deuteronomy 1:29; 7:18-21; 31:6
Joshua 11:6
Nehemiah 4:14
Psalms 3:6; 34:4; 49:5; 56:3
Isaiah 10:24; 35:3-4; 41:14; 43:5; 44:8; 51:12
Jeremiah 1:8,17; 30:10; 42:11; 46:27
Ezekiel 2:6; 3:9
Daniel 10:19
Matthew 8:26
Mark 6:49-51

pp Mk 4:40

John 14:27

pp Lk 8:25

See also

5482 punishment
5820 criticism
8020 faith
8030 trust
8221 courage, strength from God
8336 reverence & obedience
8361 wisdom
8726 doubters
8727 enemies
8830 suspicion
9210 judgment, God's