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What does the Bible say about fear?
Scripture names both craven fear and holy fear. It does not deny danger; it relocates trust.
Scripture context and classic commentary notes below. For a live, retrieval-grounded conversation, Ask Bible.
Do not be afraid — and why
Angelic greetings and prophetic oracles often begin “Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:13, 30; 2:10; Isaiah 41:10). The ground is God’s presence and purpose, not the absence of threat. Jesus tells the Twelve not to fear those who kill the body, and to fear God who is just (Matthew 10:28–31). The Psalms model bringing fear into speech: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3).
Matthew Henry’s Commentary · Matthew Henry
Henry on Isaiah 41:10 ties the prohibition of fear to God’s covenant “I am with you,” not to a promise that trouble will vanish.
The fear of the Lord
A different use of “fear” is reverence: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10; Psalm 111:10). This is not terror that flees God but awe that stays. The two fears are related: those who fear God rightly are freed from lesser tyrannies.
For a close reading of trembling before the Lord as worship rather than panic, Ask Bible can retrieve the relevant Psalms and commentary together.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary · JFB
JFB on Proverbs 1 and 9 distinguish slavish dread from filial fear that hates evil and loves wisdom.