Meaning of "fear of the LORD" in Isaiah 33:6?
What does "the fear of the LORD" mean in Isaiah 33:6?

The verse in focus

“He will be a sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)


Defining “fear” in Scripture

• Not terror that drives away, but reverent awe that draws near

• A conscious recognition of God’s absolute holiness, power, and authority

• A heart-level response that produces loving obedience (Exodus 20:20; Deuteronomy 10:12)


Key dimensions of the fear of the LORD

1. Worshipful Awe

– Seeing God as He really is: exalted, sovereign, unapproachable apart from grace (Isaiah 6:1-5).

2. Moral Hatred of Evil

– “To fear the LORD is to hate evil” (Proverbs 8:13).

3. Humble Trust

– Confidence in His promises because He cannot lie (Psalm 33:18).

4. Delighting Obedience

– Joyfully aligning life with His commands (Psalm 112:1; 128:1).


Why Isaiah calls it “Zion’s treasure”

• Jerusalem was facing siege, but its real wealth wasn’t gold—it was a people whose hearts trembled at God’s word (Isaiah 66:2).

• This inner treasure linked them to the “storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge” promised in the same verse.

• The fear of the LORD activates and unlocks those heavenly resources.


Old-Testament echoes

Proverbs 1:7—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”

Proverbs 9:10—“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

Psalm 25:14—“The LORD confides in those who fear Him.”

Isaiah 11:2-3—Messiah Himself “will delight in the fear of the LORD,” showing it is perfection, not paranoia.


New-Testament continuity

Acts 9:31—early churches “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 7:1—holiness is “perfected… in the fear of God.”

Revelation 14:7—eternal gospel begins, “Fear God and give Him glory.”


Practical outcomes for believers today

• Steadfastness in unstable times—He becomes “a sure foundation.”

• Clarity—wisdom and knowledge flourish where reverence rules.

• Protection from sin—holy awe crowds out casual compromise.

• Intimacy with God—He “confides” in those who fear Him.

• Unshakable hope—salvation is stored up for those who treasure Him above all.


Summary

In Isaiah 33:6, “the fear of the LORD” is a priceless, covenant-centered reverence that anchors the believer, opens the vault of divine salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, and turns a threatened city—or a modern life—into a fortress built on God Himself.

How can we apply 'wisdom and knowledge' as our 'stability' in daily life?
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