It is written that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, meaning it is crucial that believers understand key Bible verses on the topic.
The “fear of the Lord” refers to reverence for God, acknowledging His righteousness and supernatural power. It is not simply fear in the sense of being afraid, but rather a sincere respect that recognizes God’s holiness. This fear is based on the recognition of who God is and an understanding of our position in relation to Him.
The fear of the Lord is introduced in the Old Testament as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. See Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” This verse underscores the importance of fearing God as a foundational step in understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Fear of the Lord Bible Verses
Proverbs 9:10 reinforces this concept, declaring, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” This passage links the fear of the Lord directly with wisdom and highlights that understanding God’s holy nature is integral to understanding His word.
Psalm 111:10 reiterates this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” The fear of the Lord is not only the starting point of wisdom. Obedience to His commandments is a manifestation of understanding God’s ways.
That said, there are in fact many verses where “fear of the Lord” is used exclusively, and provides context to further enhance one’s reading of the Scriptures betons the narrative we’ve offered above. See those additional verses below:
- Job 28:28: “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
- Proverbs 15:33: “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”
As it is written, the fear of the Lord is an integral aspect of the Christian faith. This fear is quite literally the foundation of wisdom. Through these teachings, believers are encouraged to cultivate a fear of the Lord in their hearts, which ultimately draws them closer to God and fosters a life that glorifies Him first.
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