The Fear of the LORD
Not cringing terror but reverent awe — taking God so seriously that it reorders how you live. Proverbs calls it "the beginning of knowledge."
Overview
The fear of the LORD is the foundational posture of biblical wisdom: a reverence and awe before God that produces trust, humility, and obedience rather than fright. It is "the beginning of wisdom" (Prov 9:10) because all true knowledge starts by rightly relating to the Maker. Scripture holds together both awe ("fear") and intimacy — those who fear the LORD also take refuge in him (Ps 34).
Where it appears
- Proverbs 1:7
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The book's motto and the foundation of wisdom.
Resources, by level
Lay
The best short answer to "is this terror or reverence?" — start here on the fear of the LORD.
Pastoral
- ★ Start hereBookKnowing GodJ. I. Packer · ~290 pp · Paid · reformed
If you read one book on who God is and what the fear and knowledge of him mean, this is it.
Henry on the fear of the LORD and the purpose of Proverbs.