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What does it mean to fear the Lord?
The fear of the Lord is the Bible’s name for wise, holy reverence — the beginning of knowledge and the atmosphere of worship.
Scripture context and classic commentary notes below. For a live, retrieval-grounded conversation, Ask Bible.
Wisdom’s first word
Proverbs opens by defining wisdom as the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). It is hatred of evil (8:13) and a fountain of life (14:27). The Psalms bless those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways (Psalm 128:1). This is not a mood; it is a posture toward the Holy One.
John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible · John Gill
Gill on Proverbs 1:7 treats the fear of the Lord as a gracious principle that includes love, not a merely legal dread of punishment.
New Testament continuity
The early church walks “in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31). Paul speaks of perfecting holiness “in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1) and of working out salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12–13) because God works in them. Holy fear and gospel comfort are not rivals.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary · Matthew Henry
Henry on Philippians 2 insists that fear and trembling are the humility of those who know God is at work, not despair of those who think he is absent.