What does it mean to fear God?
To fear God means to hold him in deep reverence and awe — taking him seriously as God — rather than being terrified of him. It is the respect and trust that rightly shapes how we live before our Maker.
Biblical “fear of the LORD” is closer to awe and reverence than to dread. It means recognizing who God is — holy, powerful, good — and responding with humility and trust.
Scripture calls it “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10): living wisely starts with taking God seriously. For those who belong to him, this reverence is mixed with love, not fright.
The fear of God frees us from lesser fears — when God is rightly big in our eyes, other threats shrink to their proper size.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.