Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 13:16 Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, ¶ "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 13:16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand, he said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen! |
Bible Question:
What does fear God really mean? At my church they explain the biblical meaning as "to be in awe of" and not fear as we commonly define it today. Is this some sort of creeping humanism or the correct interpetation |
Bible Answer: Hi Wak, To Fear God, or the Fear of the Lord certainly has to do with "awe" but it also encompasses the "fear" as we use it today. It can be defined as, but not limited to: awe, reverence, respect, and to fear morally or reverential respect. Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 2 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Fear of the Lord, as in the above verses (Yirah) is only found in the Old Testament Fear the Lord (Yare) is also only found in the Old Testament as in Proverbs 3:7 "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Ps 145:6 “Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.” The word awesome also comes from (Yare) which in the KJV is “terrible” and the Amplified version also uses “tremendous”. To Fear God as it's used in the New Testament would be (phobeo) which is from phobos; from phebomai) (Phobos) to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be ( sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence. Luke 7:16 ”Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!” (Phobeo) from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:--be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror. Luke 23:40 ”But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?” Please correct me if I am mistaken here. Hope this helps bgg |