Fearfulness, as depicted in the Bible, is a state of being that can manifest as anxiety, dread, or apprehension. It is a condition that affects the human heart and mind, often leading individuals away from faith and trust in God. The Bible addresses fearfulness in various contexts, offering both caution against it and encouragement to overcome it through faith.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, fearfulness is often associated with a lack of trust in God. The Israelites, during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, frequently exhibited fearfulness despite witnessing God's miraculous interventions. In Numbers 13:31-33, the spies sent to Canaan report, "We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are." This fearfulness led to a lack of faith and disobedience, resulting in a prolonged wilderness experience.

The Psalms frequently address fearfulness, offering comfort and assurance of God's protection. Psalm 56:3-4 states, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Here, the psalmist acknowledges fear but counters it with trust in God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses fearfulness directly, often in the context of His disciples' experiences. In Matthew 8:26 , during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asks, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" before calming the storm. This incident highlights the connection between fearfulness and a lack of faith, emphasizing the power of Jesus over natural and spiritual forces.

The Apostle Paul also speaks to fearfulness, encouraging believers to rely on the Holy Spirit. In 2 Timothy 1:7 , Paul writes, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." This verse underscores the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in overcoming fearfulness.

Theological Implications

Fearfulness is often seen as a natural human response to uncertainty and danger. However, the Bible consistently calls believers to rise above fear through faith in God. Fearfulness can be a barrier to spiritual growth and obedience, as it may lead to doubt and hesitation in following God's will.

The biblical narrative encourages believers to replace fearfulness with trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. Isaiah 41:10 offers reassurance: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Practical Application

For Christians, overcoming fearfulness involves cultivating a deep and abiding trust in God. This can be achieved through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to confront fearfulness with the truth of God's promises and the reality of His presence.

In times of fear, Christians are reminded to seek God's peace, as described in Philippians 4:6-7 : "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Fearfulness, while a common human experience, is addressed throughout Scripture as an opportunity for believers to deepen their faith and reliance on God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of God's Word, Christians are equipped to overcome fearfulness and live in the confidence of God's love and provision.(n.) The state of being fearful.6427. pallatsuth -- a shuddering
... fearfulness, horror, trembling. From palats; affright -- fearfulness, horror, trembling.
see HEBREW palats. 6426, 6427. pallatsuth. 6428 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6427.htm - 6k

8606. tiphletseth -- a shuddering, horror
... Word Origin from palats Definition a shuddering, horror NASB Word Usage terror
(1). terrible. From palats; fearfulness -- terrible. see HEBREW palats. ...
/hebrew/8606.htm - 6k

8413. Tidal -- perhaps a Canaanite king
... Tadmor. Perhaps from dchal; fearfulness; Tidal, a Canaanite -- Tidal. see HEBREW
dchal. 8412, 8413. Tidal. 8414 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8413.htm - 6k

3375. Yiron -- a city in Naphtali
... Jiron, a place in Pal. From yare'; fearfulness; Jiron, a place in Pal: see HEBREW
yare'. 3374, 3375. Yiron. 3376 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3375.htm - 6k

3374. yirah -- a fear
... dreadful, exceedingly, fearfulness. Feminine of yare'; fear (also used as infinitive);
morally, reverence -- X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear(-fulness). ...
/hebrew/3374.htm - 6k

Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
... They meet it with the same fearfulness, with the same unbelief, with the same doubt. ...
That doubt and fearfulness that you have will only be a hindrance to you. ...
/.../naylor/heart talks/talk twenty-eight fighting the good.htm

The Sleeper.
... Death left his envenomed sting in the body of the great victim of Calvary.
It was thenceforward disarmed of its fearfulness! So ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/vi the sleeper.htm

The Weeping Saviour.
... of how soon and how wondrously their sorrow was to be turned into joy, the appalling
thought was alone present to them in all its fearfulness""Lazarus is dead ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xii the weeping saviour.htm

If Then to Sin, that Others May not Commit a Worse Sin...
... In short, if it were allowed us to inquire of them both, by asking them to tell
us why they did these things, the one might answer, "Fearfulness and trembling ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 21 if then to.htm

Vile Ingratitude!
... Did he picture to them the exceeding fearfulness and quaking of the leader of Israel's
host when he received that stony law in the midst of thunders and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/vile ingratitude.htm

Pardon and Peace
... disease and weakness;"disease of soul, in the way of conceit, pride, selfishness,
temper, obstinacy; weakness, in the way of laziness, fearfulness, and very ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxix pardon and peace.htm

The Courage of the Saviour
... who perhaps is terrified at every mouse and spider,"to see her bearing patiently
pain, and sorrow, and shame, in spite of all her fearfulness, because she ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xxv the courage of.htm

Thirty-First Day. Calmness in Death.
... In the death of Jesus, there were elements of fearfulness, which the believer can
know nothing of. It was with Him the execution of a penal sentence. ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/thirty-first day calmness in death.htm

Practical Observations.
... their children"also shared in and witnessed the long horrors of that siege of Jerusalem
which stands unparalleled in history for its unutterable fearfulness. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/practical observations 35.htm

That the Ruler Relax not his Care for the Things that are Within ...
... with surfeiting and drunkenness (Luke 21:34), forthwith added, Or with cares of
this life: and in the same place also, with design to add fearfulness to the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter vii that the ruler.htm

Fearfulness (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fearfulness (7 Occurrences). 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave
us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline. (ASV). ...
/f/fearfulness.htm - 8k

Fear (970 Occurrences)
... thy works (yare' "fearful "); the Septuagint, Peshitta, Vulgate (Jerome's Latin
Bible, 390-405 AD) have "Thou art fearfully wonderful." "Fearfulness" occurs In ...
/f/fear.htm - 50k

Horror (51 Occurrences)
... For "trembling" (Job 21:6) and for "fearfulness" (Isaiah 21:4) the Revised Version
(British and American) has "horror." "Horror" does not occur in the New ...
/h/horror.htm - 23k

Dismay (16 Occurrences)
... 16 Moreover he said to me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in
Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness; and they ...
/d/dismay.htm - 11k

Careful (130 Occurrences)
... Samuel 10:2). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (de'-aghah, "carefulness"
the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American ...
/c/careful.htm - 44k

Care (466 Occurrences)
... Samuel 10:2). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (de'-aghah, "carefulness"
the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American ...
/c/care.htm - 44k

Carefulness (6 Occurrences)
... Samuel 10:2). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (de'-aghah, "carefulness"
the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American ...
/c/carefulness.htm - 17k

Appalment (10 Occurrences)
... Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in
Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness; and they ...
/a/appalment.htm - 9k

Trembling (72 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT RSV NIV). Psalms 55:5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on
me. Horror has overwhelmed me. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/t/trembling.htm - 29k

Quaking (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 12:18 Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with
trembling and with fearfulness; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/q/quaking.htm - 8k

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