In 2025 I wrote my dissertation on “Fear” and received my doctorate degree. My hypothesis was: Does the Bible really say “Fear Not” 365 times—one time for every day of the year? 

I found out there are many words, especially in Hebrew, that mean fear. My conclusion was yes—there are at least 365 instances of God telling His people not to fear, and even more when you consider the variations. 

Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines fear as “a painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or apprehension of impending danger.” Another definition is: “In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and His laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character...” 

One source I found from Jeff Benner, who has studied the ancient Hebrew (The Living Words Vol.1), said that it would appear that the word fear has two definitions. But he said that in Hebrew a word has only one meaning but different applications. He says the literal, concrete meaning of fear is “flowing from the gut,” which can be applied to fear or reverence. 

Pastor Loretta has taught us that the Hebrews think in terms of function instead of a concrete object. That helps us understand why the same word can describe both trembling fear and holy reverence.

Think about it. Have you ever felt fear down in your gut—your innermost being—when you were startled by a mad dog, snake, or a car wreck? That kind of fear is the kind Scripture tells us we must rebuke. Have you felt awe down in your gut—your innermost being—when watching a sunrise or sunset, or gazing at the stars at night, or sensing the presence of God? That is the beginning of reverence. 

The Bible speaks of Fear Not, Fear the Lord, Fear Hashem, and the Fear of the Lord. 

So let me touch on the Fear of the LORD. It is used 45 times in the Old Testament. Here fear is used as a noun, and when a noun precedes another noun, the two nouns are connected, forming one concept. So, the fear of the LORD is connected to the LORD. It belongs to the LORD. How can that be? 

Here are some things that belong to the LORD: the word of the LORD, the voice of the LORD, the name of the LORD, the eyes of the LORD, the angel of the LORD, the arm of the LORD, the law of the LORD. 

Here are some scriptures about the Fear of the LORD: 

• Psalm 19:9 – The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; 

• Psalms 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom... 

• Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge... 

• Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: 

• Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

• Proverbs 10:27 – The fear of the LORD prolongs days... 

• Proverbs 14:26 – In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. 

• Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. 

• Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility. 

• Proverbs 19:23 – The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. 

• Proverbs 22:4 – By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life. 

These things belong to God. They flow from His gut: wisdom, understanding, life, riches and honor, confidence, refuge, knowledge, instruction, judgments, safety, satisfaction, hatred of evil, long life. 

All these things are in God. That is who He is and what belongs to Him. That is His character. If these things are in God and Jesus, and we are in Jesus, then we have these things also. 

We who love and belong to God are not to fear. He has not given us the spirit of fear. This kind of fear is of the devil. But we who know God are to reverence and honor Him and give Him Glory. 

Let me complete that definition again from Noah’s 1828 dictionary. “In good men, the fear of God is a holy awe or reverence of God and His laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun everything that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience.”

SELAH