Lexical Summary phobos: Fear, terror, reverence, respect Original Word: φόβος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fear, terror. From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright -- be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror. HELPS Word-studies 5401 phóbos (from phebomai, "to flee, withdraw") – fear (from Homer about 900 Fear (5401 /phóbos) is commonly used in Scripture – sometimes positively (in relation to God) but more often negatively of withdrawing from the Lord (His will). [Fundamentally, 5401 /phóbos ("fear") means withdraw (separate from), i.e. flee (remove oneself) and hence to avoid because of dread (fright).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom phebomai (to be put to flight) Definition panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror NASB Translation cause of fear (1), fear (37), fearful (1), fears (1), intimidation (1), respect (1), respectful (1), reverence (1), sense of awe (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5401: φόβοςφόβος, φοβοῦ, ὁ (φέβομαι; like φόρος, τρόμος, πόνος, from φέρω, τρέμω, πένομαι), from Homer down, the Sept. for יִרְאָה, פַּחַד, אֵימָה (terror), חִתִּית (terror); 1. fear, dread, terror; in a subjective sense (οὐδέν ἐστι φόβος εἰ μή προδοσία τῶν ἀπό λογισμοῦ βοηθημάτων, Wis. 17:11; προσδοκίαν λέγω κακοῦ τοῦτο, εἴτε φόβον, εἴτε δέος καλεῖτε, Plato, Protag., p. 358 d.): universally, 1 John 4:18; φόβος ἐπί τινα πίπτει (Acts 19:17 L Tr); Revelation 11:11 Rec.; ἐπιπίπτει, Luke 1:12; Acts 19:17 (R G T WH; Revelation 11:11 L T Tr WH); ἐγένετο, Luke 1:65; Acts 5:5, 11; λαμβάνει τινα, Luke 7:16 (Homer Iliad 11, 402); γίνεται τίνι, Acts 2:43; πλησθῆναι φοβοῦ, Luke 5:26; συνέχεσθαι φόβῳ, Luke 8:37; ἔχειν φόβον, 1 Timothy 5:20 (Herodotus 8, 12); κατεργάζεσθαι; τίνι φόβον, 2 Corinthians 7:11; φοβεῖσθαι φόβον (see φοβέω, 2), Mark 9:41; Luke 2:9; with a genitive of the object added, 1 Peter 3:14 (so Winer's Grammar, § 32, 2; others subject. genitive); ἀπό φοβοῦ, for fear, Luke 21:26; ἀπό τοῦ φοβοῦ, for the fear, with which they were struck, Matthew 14:26; with a genitive of the object added, Matthew 28:4; εἰς φόβον, unto (that ye may) fear, Romans 8:15; μετά φοβοῦ, Matthew 28:8; with καί τρόμου added, 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5; Philippians 2:12; ἐν φόβῳ καί ἐν τρόμῳ (see τρόμος), 1 Corinthians 2:3; τινα ἐν φόβῳ σῴζειν (Rec.), ἐλεαν (L T Tr WH), with anxious heed lest ye be defiled by the wickedness of those whom ye are rescuing, Jude 1:23; plural φόβοι, feelings of fear, fears (Winer's Grammar, 176 (166)), 2 Corinthians 7:5; φόβος τίνος, genitive of the object (our fear of one): τῶν Ἰουδαίων, John 7:13; John 19:38; John 20:19; βασανισμοῦ, Revelation 18:10, 15; θανάτου, Hebrews 2:15 (Xenophon, mem. l, 4, 7). In an objective sense, that which strikes terror: φόβος ἀγαθῶν ἔργων, or more correctly (with L T Tr WH) τῷ ἀγαθῷ ἔργῳ, a terror to (or for), Romans 13:3. 2. reverence, respect (for authority, rank, dignity): Romans 13:7; 1 Peter 2:18; 1 Peter 3:16 (15); ἡ ἐν φόβῳ ἀναστροφή, behavior coupled with (cf. ἐν, I. 5 e.) reverence for one's husband, 1 Peter 3:2; φόβος with a genitive of the object: τοῦ κυρίου, Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Χριστοῦ, Ephesians 5:21 (not Rec.); Θεοῦ, Romans 3:18; 2 Corinthians 7:1; (Ephesians 5:21 Rec.); Θεοῦ is omitted as suggested by the context, 1 Peter 1:17; (often in the O. T. יְהוָה יִרְאַת and אֱלֹהִים יִרְאַת). (Synonyms: see δειλία, δέος, at the end; cf. φοβέω.) Φόβος spans a spectrum from holy awe to paralysing dread. Context determines whether the emphasis is reverence that honours God or anxiety that cripples faith. The New Testament never treats genuine reverential fear as negative; rather, it is the beginning of wisdom. By contrast, servile fear springs from unbelief and is overcome by the gospel. Reverence Before God “Conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners” (1 Peter 1:17). Such godly fear expresses humility, gratitude for redemption, and readiness to obey. In Philippians 2:12 believers are to “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling,” indicating earnest seriousness, not insecurity about justification. This reverence fuels worship (Acts 2:43), prayer, and ethical living (2 Corinthians 7:1). Fear as a Response to Divine Manifestations Whenever heaven breaks into human experience, fear initially overtakes observers. Zechariah (Luke 1:12), shepherds (Luke 2:9), the disciples during the stilling of the storm (Mark 4:41), and the women at the empty tomb (Matthew 28:8) are all seized with φόβος, yet each scene quickly shifts toward faith, witness, and worship. Fear acknowledges the gulf between Creator and creature, paving the way for revelation. Fear in the Early Church Luke records that “a sense of awe came over everyone” (Acts 2:43) and again that “fear came upon the whole church” after Ananias and Sapphira’s death (Acts 5:11). This atmosphere of holy seriousness protected purity and accelerated witness: “So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace … being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31). Reverent fear and Spirit-comfort existed side by side. Fear and Discipleship Paul arrived at Corinth “in weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), yet the result was Spirit-demonstrated power. For Paul, personal fear drove deeper dependence on grace. He later urges the Corinthians to perfect holiness “in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1) and testifies how their repentance produced “godly fear” (2 Corinthians 7:11). In 2 Corinthians 5:11 the apostle’s evangelistic urgency flows from “the fear of the Lord.” Fear in Pastoral Counsel Household codes exhort mutual submission “out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), and servants must obey earthly masters “with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart” (Ephesians 6:5). Peter instructs slaves to submit “with all respect” (1 Peter 2:18) and wives to display pure conduct “accompanied by fear” (1 Peter 3:2). Such teaching frames ordinary relationships within conscious accountability to God. Fear and Civil Authority “Rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad” (Romans 13:3). Government wields the sword so that evildoers may “fear” punishment (Romans 13:4). Hence believers are to “render… fear to whom fear is due” (Romans 13:7). Civil fear is functional, restraining sin and preserving social order. Fear in Eschatological Scenes John depicts merchants “standing at a distance for fear of her torment” when Babylon falls (Revelation 18:10). Humanity will faint “from fear and expectation of what is coming upon the world” (Luke 21:26). In stark contrast, resurrected witnesses in Revelation 11:11 cause “great fear” among onlookers, underscoring the inevitability of divine judgment. Perfect Love Casts Out Fear “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment” (1 John 4:18). The gospel liberates from slavery to death (Hebrews 2:15) and from the “spirit of fear” (Romans 8:15). Assurance of God’s love expels terror while intensifying reverence. Practical Ministry Applications • Cultivate reverence: corporate worship should retain awe. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 14:26 N-GMSGRK: ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν NAS: And they cried out in fear. KJV: they cried out for fear. INT: in fear they cried out Matthew 28:4 N-GMS Matthew 28:8 N-GMS Mark 4:41 N-AMS Luke 1:12 N-NMS Luke 1:65 N-NMS Luke 2:9 N-AMS Luke 5:26 N-GMS Luke 7:16 N-NMS Luke 8:37 N-DMS Luke 21:26 N-GMS John 7:13 N-AMS John 19:38 N-AMS John 20:19 N-AMS Acts 2:43 N-NMS Acts 5:5 N-NMS Acts 5:11 N-NMS Acts 9:31 N-DMS Acts 19:17 N-NMS Romans 3:18 N-NMS Romans 8:15 N-AMS Romans 13:3 N-NMS Romans 13:7 N-AMS Romans 13:7 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 2:3 N-DMS Strong's Greek 5401 |
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