Fright, often understood as a sudden and intense fear, is a human emotion that is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings on how believers are to respond to fear and fright, emphasizing trust in God and His sovereignty.

Biblical Instances of Fright

1. Adam and Eve: The first instance of fright in the Bible occurs in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, they experienced fear for the first time. Genesis 3:10 records Adam's response to God: "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." This fear was a direct result of disobedience and the awareness of sin.

2. Jacob's Fear of Esau: In Genesis 32, Jacob experiences fright at the prospect of meeting his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years earlier. Jacob's fear leads him to pray earnestly for God's protection, demonstrating that turning to God in times of fear is a biblical response.

3. Israelites at the Red Sea: In Exodus 14, the Israelites are terrified as Pharaoh's army approaches them at the Red Sea. Their fright is met with Moses' assurance in Exodus 14:13-14: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

4. Gideon's Call: In Judges 6, Gideon is initially frightened when called by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Despite his fear, God reassures him, saying, "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die" (Judges 6:23). Gideon's account illustrates that God equips and strengthens those He calls, even when they are fearful.

5. Disciples in the Storm: In the New Testament, the disciples experience fright during a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus calms the storm and questions their fear, saying, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26). This account highlights the importance of faith in overcoming fear.

Teachings on Fear and Fright

1. Trust in God: The Bible consistently teaches that trust in God is the antidote to fear. 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?" This passage encourages believers to rely on God's promises and protection.

2. God's Presence: The assurance of God's presence is a recurring theme in Scripture as a remedy for fear. Isaiah 41:10 declares, "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."

3. Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: In 1 John 4:18, the apostle John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." This verse teaches that understanding and experiencing God's perfect love can dispel fear.

4. Fear of the Lord: While fright is often seen as negative, the Bible also speaks of the "fear of the Lord" as a positive and reverent awe of God. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." This fear is not about being frightened but about recognizing God's majesty and authority.

Conclusion

The Bible addresses the emotion of fright by providing examples of individuals who faced fear and by offering teachings that encourage trust in God. Through faith, prayer, and understanding of God's love and presence, believers are equipped to overcome fright and live with confidence in God's promises.1. (n.) A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.

2. (n.) Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion.

3. (n.) To alarm suddenly; to shock by causing sudden fear; to terrify; to scare.

5401. phobos -- panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror
... fear, terror. From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright -- be
afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror. (phoboi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5401.htm - 7k4035. megurah -- a storehouse, granary
... barn, fear. Feminine of magowr or of maguwr; a fright; also a granary -- barn, fear.
see HEBREW magowr. see HEBREW maguwr. 4034, 4035. megurah. 4036 . ...
/hebrew/4035.htm - 6k

367. emah -- terror, dread
... Or (shortened) remah {ay-maw'}; from the same as 'ayom; fright; concrete, an idol
(as a bugbear) -- dread, fear, horror, idol, terrible, terror. ...
/hebrew/367.htm - 6k

4032. magor -- fear, terror
... Or (Lam. 2:22) maguwr {maw-goor'}; from guwr in the sense of fearing; a fright
(objective or subjective) -- fear, terror. Compare Magowr mic-Cabiyb. ...
/hebrew/4032.htm - 6k

3420. yeraqon -- mildew, paleness, lividness
... greenish, yellow. From yereq; paleness, whether of persons (from fright), or of
plants (from drought) -- greenish, yellow. see HEBREW yereq. 3419, 3420. ...
/hebrew/3420.htm - 6k

Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
... impossible, but the passionate screams of the feminine by-standers might fright
her into fits, that bore the appearance of death; otherwise, why did Jesus turn ...
/.../section vi answer to mr.htm

Israel at the Red Sea
... Pharoah hears of it; he comes upon them, to overcome them; and they stand in terrible
fright and jeopardy of them, to overcome them; and they stand in terrible ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/israel at the red sea.htm

On Extreme Unction and Holy Orders
... If, however, these persons were so frightened that there was danger of
their dying from the fright, they could then be anointed. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 25 on extreme unction.htm

Hymns of Wales.
... since the "Battle of the Hallelujahs""near Chirk on the border, nine miles from
Wrexham"when the invading Danes were driven from the field in fright by the ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xi hymns of wales.htm

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... The destruction did not so much as give time for fright; for, at one and the same
instant, the noise, the shock, and the ruin were perceived. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 129 the cause and.htm

The Arrest
... So the fright of their Master's arrest, coming so suddenly on the prayerless and
unprepared disciples, undid, for the time, what their years of intercourse ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter i the arrest.htm

Yea, Though I Walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will ...
... The timid, terrified animals become wild with fright, and are scattered, running
this way and that, until the shepherd calls and bids them collect together. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/vii yea though i walk.htm

The Rich Man and Lazarus
... whether in the body or out of the body, can bring one soul "from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God." It might very possibly fright him to ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 112 the rich man.htm

Troubles in Paris
... Du Corneau [sic] avowed afterwards that he was quaking with fright; but Vincent,
though wet to the skin, scarcely seemed to notice that all was not as usual ...
/.../forbes/life of st vincent de paul/chapter 10 troubles in paris.htm

Of Detraction.
... The finer his line is spun, the less shadow it casts, and is less apt to fright
us from the hook: and though there be much odds between a talent of lead and a ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section iv of detraction.htm

Fright (3 Occurrences)
...Fright (3 Occurrences). ... through the fright of thy heart wherewith thou shalt be in
terror, and through the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. (DBY). ...
/f/fright.htm - 7k

Panic (22 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Extreme or sudden and causeless; unreasonable; -- said of fear
or fright; as, panic fear, terror, alarm. 3. (n.) A sudden ...
/p/panic.htm - 12k

Frighten (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm
or fright; to affright; to terrify. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/f/frighten.htm - 10k

Terror (137 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Extreme fear; fear that agitates body
and mind; violent dread; fright. 2. (n.) That which excites ...
/t/terror.htm - 37k

Scare (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To frighten; to strike with sudden fear; to alarm. 2. (n.) Fright; esp.,
sudden fright produced by a trifling cause, or originating in mistake. ...
/s/scare.htm - 7k

Friendship (13 Occurrences)

/f/friendship.htm - 13k

Upset (9 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To disturb the self-possession of; to disorder the nerves of; to
make ill; as, the fright upset her. 6. (vi) To become upset. ...
/u/upset.htm - 9k

Westerns (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Westerns (1 Occurrence). Job 18:20 At this day westerns
have been astonished And easterns have taken fright. (YLT). ...
/w/westerns.htm - 6k

Idol (56 Occurrences)
... (3.) `Emah, "terror," in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jeremiah 50:38).
(4.) Miphletzeth, "a fright;" "horror" (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16). ...
/i/idol.htm - 29k

Frightful (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Full of that which causes fright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking;
as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance. ...
/f/frightful.htm - 7k

Fright: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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