What does "fear of the Lord" mean in Job 28:28? Fear of the Lord (Job 28:28) Text “And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:28) Immediate Context in Job 28 Job 28 is a poetic interlude contrasting humanity’s mastery of earth’s hidden resources (vv 1-11) with its inability to mine true wisdom (vv 12-22). Only God knows the way to wisdom (vv 23-27). Verse 28 gives God’s verdict: wisdom is not a commodity but a relationship marked by fear of the Lord and moral turning. Thus, “fear” and “turning from evil” function as parallel members, the second clause defining the first. Canonical Harmony • Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Psalm 111:10 echo the identical formula, establishing a wisdom motif running through Scripture. • Isaiah 33:6 links “treasure” with “fear of the Lord,” reinforcing Job 28’s mining imagery. • Ecclesiastes 12:13 culminates its search with “Fear God and keep His commandments.” The consistency across genres and centuries, confirmed by Dead Sea Scroll copies (e.g., 4QProv, 11QPs^a), attests textual stability and unified revelation. Theme within Wisdom Literature Fear of the Lord is the epistemological foundation of biblical wisdom. Unlike pagan Near-Eastern sapiential texts that emphasize pragmatic skill, biblical wisdom is relational—rooted in covenant loyalty to the Creator. It orients intellect, emotions, and will toward God’s moral order, reflecting the designed universe (cf. Psalm 19:1-11). Theological Dimensions 1. Revelation of God’s character: Holiness (Isaiah 6:3), justice (Psalm 97:2), love (Hosea 11:9). 2. Human posture: humble submission, trust, and obedience (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). 3. Eschatological significance: Fear anticipates final judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10) yet is transformed by perfect love in Christ (1 John 4:18), not abolished. Reverential Awe vs. Terror Biblical “fear” is not craven dread but profound respect that recognizes God’s infinite greatness and one’s own contingency. Terror is reserved for the unrepentant (Hebrews 10:27). For the righteous, fear coexists with joy, producing worship (Psalm 2:11). Covenantal Implications Fear is covenantal glue. In Exodus 20:20 God tests Israel “so that the fear of Him will keep you from sinning.” This protective dynamic carries into the New Covenant where the Spirit writes God’s law on the heart (Jeremiah 32:40). Moral and Ethical Dimensions “Turning from evil” (סוּר מֵרָע, sûr mē-rāʿ) is more than avoidance; it is active rejection and reversal of wrong paths. Fear births repentance (Proverbs 16:6) and ethical coherence—key for individual and societal flourishing, as validated by longitudinal sociological studies linking intrinsic religiosity with lower deviance rates. Psychological and Behavioral Considerations Cognitive-behavioral research shows that deeply held transcendent beliefs shape moral decision-making frameworks. Reverential fear calibrates conscience, reduces impulsivity, and fosters pro-social behavior. Neuroimaging indicates that contemplation of divine attributes activates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, associated with value integration, supporting scriptural claims that fear of the Lord rewires moral cognition. Christological Fulfillment Christ embodies and perfects “fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2-3). He delights in reverence toward the Father and, through His atonement and resurrection, enables believers to share that posture (Hebrews 5:7-9). The fear of the Lord thus becomes Christ-centered wisdom (Colossians 2:3). Practical Application • Worship: cultivate daily awe through Scripture, prayer, and creation observation. • Ethics: evaluate choices by whether they honor God and shun evil. • Evangelism: present fear of the Lord as gateway to grace—He “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). • Suffering: like Job, anchor endurance in reverent trust rather than demand full explanation. Historical and Early Church Witness Patristic writers—e.g., Augustine (Enarr. in Psalm 111) and Chrysostom (Hom. on Proverbs 1)—treated fear as filial awe leading to virtuous life. Their expositions mirror Masoretic and Septuagint readings, demonstrating doctrinal continuity. Comparative Passages Ps 25:14, Proverbs 14:27, Malachi 3:16; NT parallels: Luke 1:50, Acts 9:31, 1 Peter 1:17. Together they reveal fear as abiding New-Covenant principle. Conclusion In Job 28:28 “fear of the Lord” denotes a wholehearted, reverent submission to Yahweh that produces moral departure from evil. It is both the starting point and substance of true wisdom, harmonizing intellectual insight, ethical action, and worshipful relationship with the Creator-Redeemer. |
    |