Some of these passages are statements about people fearing God and (at the same time) doing certain other things. Some are commands in which several things are to be done at the same time. Whatever the nature of the statement (or command), one or more things are mentioned as occurring, existing, or required at the same time as fear of God.

This does not necessarily imply a direct cause-effect relationship between the items mentioned. (The context of each passage should be examined to determine what relationship exists.) Even so, certain things have a constant tendency to be associated with fear of God, while certain other things (normally the opposites) tend to not be associated with it. This should be instructive, and should influence our attitude toward fear of God, as well as toward the other things mentioned in the context.

In these passages, the concept of "fear" has various meanings, depending on the context. One passage may focus on a reverent fear that a follower of God will have, while another may focus on the terror that God's enemies will have. Take this into consideration when evaluating this concept. Consider this outline a worksheet that can be used to help develop one's "fear concept," rather than the final conclusion.

Since the concept of "fear" can be translated several ways (including words such as "afraid" and "reverence"), it is put in italics, where present in the verses listed below. Verses are summarized; check the Bible for a better understanding of the context.

1. AWARENESS OF GOD - his attributes and what he does.

a. Who God is / knowledge of God.

1 Kings 8:43 - ... that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you.

2 Chron. 6:33 - ... that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you.

Proverbs 2:5 - You will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord ... and knowledge of the Holy One ...

b. God's greatness (above all else).

1 Chron. 16:25 - The Lord is great and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 89:6-8 - Who (even among the angels) can compare with the Lord? God is greatly feared. He is... awesome... mighty... surrounded by faithfulness.

Psalm 96:4 - The Lord is great and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

c. What God has done / his power.

Psalm 64:9 - All mankind will fear (when they see the judgment against the wicked); they will talk about God's works and think about what he has done.

d. God's holiness.

Isaiah 8:13 - You are to regard the Lord Almighty as holy, you are to fear him, you are to dread him.

e. God's anger against sin.

Deut. 9:19 - I was afraid of God's anger and wrath. He was angry enough with you to destroy you.

f. Fear of God and fear of his judgments/ordinances.

Psalm 119:120 - My flesh trembles in fear of you. I stand in fear of your judgments.

g. God's blessings given to us (others will fear God).

Psalm 67:7 - God will bless us; all the ends of the earth will fear him.

h. (Old Testament) God's name (presence) associated with his house (the temple).

1 Kings 8:43 - (that they may...) fear you ... and know that this house (temple) bears your Name.

2 Chron. 6:33 - (that they may...) fear you ... and know that this house (temple) bears your Name.

2. RESPONSE toward God.

a. Trusting God.

Exodus 14:31 - The Israelites ... feared the Lord and put their trust in him.

b. Taking refuge in God.

Psalm 31:19 - ... those who fear you, ... (=) those who take refuge in you.

c. Loyalty / holding fast to God.

Deut. 10:20 - Fear the Lord your God ... hold fast to him.

Deut. 13:4 - You must follow and fear the Lord your God. ... Hold fast to him.

Acts 10:2 - Cornelius, a devout and God-fearing man ...

d. Serving only God.

Deut. 6:13 - Fear the Lord your God, serve him only.

Deut. 10:12 - What the Lord your God asks of you: fear the Lord your God, ... and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deut. 10:20 - Fear the Lord your God and serve him.

Deut. 13:4 - You must fear the Lord your God. ... Serve him.

Joshua 24:14 - Fear the Lord and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. ... Serve the Lord.

1 Samuel 12:14 - If you fear the Lord and serve him ... good!

1 Samuel 12:24 - Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.

Psalm 2:11 - Serve the Lord with fear.

e. Honor / glory / respect for God.

Isaiah 25:3 - ... peoples will honor (glorify) you; cities ... will revere you.

Malachi 3:16 - ...those who feared the Lord and had respect for his name.

Rev. 14:7 - The angel said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory..."

Rev. 15:4 - Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name?

f. Praying.

Acts 10:2 - Cornelius (and his household) ... who feared God ... and prayed to God regularly.

g. Worship.

Psalm 5:7 - At your holy temple I will bow in reverence for you.

Hebrews 12:28 - Let us be thankful, and (in doing this) worship God in an acceptable way: with reverence and awe.

Rev. 14:7 - The angel said with a loud voice, "Fear God, ... and worship him (who created everything)."

Rev. 15:4 - Who will not fear you, O Lord ... and worship before you?

h. Thankfulness.

Hebrews 12:28 - Let us be thankful, and (in doing this) worship God in an acceptable way: with reverence and awe.

i. Seeking God's favor.

Jeremiah 26:19 - Hezekiah feared the Lord and sought his favor.

j. Loving God.

Deut. 10:12 - What the Lord your God asks of you: fear the Lord your God, ... love him.

k. Anticipating his love.

Psalm 33:18 - ... those who fear him, those whose hope is in his unfailing love.

Psalm 147:11 - ... those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.

l. Rejoicing in God.

Psalm 2:11 - Serve the Lord with fear; rejoice with trembling.

m. Paying attention to what the Lord says (or does).

Micah 6:9 - To fear your name is wisdom. So listen to the Lord's call to the city: "Heed the rod (of discipline) / (heed) the One who appointed it."

n. Trembling, dread, awe, etc. - concepts similar to "fear."

Jeremiah 5:22 - Should you not fear me? Should you not tremble in my presence?

Malachi 2:5 - He revered Me, and stood in awe of My name.

Philip. 2:12 - Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (The power for you to do this is from God - v. 13.)

Hebrews 12:28 - We must worship God in an acceptable manner, with reverence and awe.

[This is just a sampling. More verses exist that contain concepts similar to "fear," but are not placed in subcategories in this outline.]

3. Response to GOD'S WORD.

a. Obeying God's Word / walking in his ways / following him.

Deut. 5:29 - Oh, that they would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always!

Deut. 6:24 - The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God.

Deut. 8:6 - Obey the commands of the Lord your God. Walk in his ways and fear him.

Deut. 10:12 - What the Lord your God asks of you: fear the Lord your God, ... walk in all his ways.

Deut. 13:4 - You must follow and fear the Lord your God. Keep his commands and obey him.

Deut. 17:19-20 - (A leader must...) learn to fear the Lord his God, follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees, and not ... turn from the law to the right or to the left.

Deut. 28:58 - If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, and do not fear his glorious and awesome name... (there will be consequences).

Deut. 31:12 - Assemble the people so they can listen (to the law) and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words written in it.

1 Samuel 12:14 - If you fear the Lord and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, ... good!

2 Chron. 6:31 - ... they will fear you and walk in your ways.

Psalm 86:11 - I will walk in your truth... I will fear your name.

Psalm 103:17-18 - ... those who fear him ... those who keep his covenant and obey his precepts.

Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Psalm 112:1 - Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, and finds great delight in his commands.

Psalm 119:63 - I am a friend to everyone who fears you, everyone who follows your precepts.

Psalm 119:79 - ... those who fear you ... those who understand your decrees.

Psalm 128:1 - ... all who fear the Lord, ...who walk in his ways.

Isaiah 50:10 - ... those who fear the Lord and obey the word of his servant...

Jeremiah 44:10 - They have not ... shown reverence, nor followed my law and decrees.

Zeph. 3:7 - I said, "Surely you will fear me and accept instruction." [But they refused.]

Haggai 1:12 - (The leaders and) the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet... And the people feared the Lord.

b. Speaking God's words (the prophet's reaction).

Amos 3:8 - The lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken! Who can keep from prophesying?

c. Not going against God's words.

Deut. 17:19-20 - (A leader must...) learn to fear the Lord his God, follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees, and not ... turn from the law to the right or to the left.

1 Samuel 12:14 - If you fear the Lord and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, ... good!

4. Misc. things related to SALVATION and SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

a. Many passages listed in other sections of the outline could also fit here.

b. Salvation is at hand.

Psalm 85:9 - God's salvation is near to those who fear him. [This verse may have a focus on physical deliverance of Israel (from enemies or judgment). In this case, it is a picture of what spiritual salvation is all about.]

c. "Working out" one's salvation.

Philip. 2:12 - Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (The power to do this comes from God - v. 13.) [This is not the same as "working for" your salvation, in which the power would come from yourself. This is utterly impossible to accomplish!]

d. As a group (the church): being built up, growth in numbers, etc.

Acts 9:31 - The church ... enjoyed peace and was built up. And living in the fear of the Lord and with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase in numbers.

5. PERSONAL CHARACTER - attitude and life.

a. Humility.

Proverbs 22:4 - Humility and the fear of the Lord...

Jeremiah 44:10 - They have not humbled themselves or shown reverence.

Micah 7:17 - (After judgment...) They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like animals that crawl on the ground, they will come out of their hiding places, trembling. They will come in dread to the Lord our God; they will be afraid in your presence.

b. Righteous living / doing what is right.

Acts 10:22 - Cornelius, a righteous and God-fearing man ...

Acts 10:35 - God accepts people from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

c. Integrity / trustworthy / blameless / upright.

Exodus 18:21 - Men who fear God, trustworthy men ...

Neh. 7:2 - He was a trustworthy man and feared God more than most men do.

Job 1:1 - Job, a man who was blameless, upright, and who feared God.

Job 1:8 - Job, a man who is blameless and upright, and who fears God.

Job 2:3 - Job, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God, ... and maintains his integrity.

d. Sincerity of heart (a reference to pure motives).

Col. 3:22 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters ... with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

e. Wisdom

Job 28:28 - The fear of the Lord is wisdom!

f. Potential long life.

Deut. 6:1-2 - (Learning God's decrees/laws...) so that you, your children and grandchildren (etc.) may fear the Lord your God ... and so that you may enjoy long life.

6. INTERACTION with other people.

a. Fearing those in authority.

Proverbs 24:21 - Fear the Lord and the king.

b. Trusting God's leaders.

Exodus 14:31 - The Israelites ... feared the Lord and put their trust in ... Moses his servant.

c. Honor and respect for others.

Leviticus 19:32 - Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly; revere your God.

1 Peter 2:17 - Honor all men; love the brotherhood (others who follow Christ), fear God, honor the king.

d. Generous in helping others.

Acts 10:2 - Cornelius (and his household) ... feared God, and contributed generously to those in need...

e. Speaking truthfully "in God's name" (i.e., because of who God is).

Deut. 6:13 - Fear the Lord your God, ... take your oaths in his name.

Deut. 10:20 - Fear the Lord your God ... take your oaths in his name.

f. Teaching God's Word to one's children.

Deut. 4:10 - ... that they may learn to revere me (God) ... and may teach my words to their children.

g. (Leaders) Considering themselves equal with the people.

Deut. 17:19-20 - (He must...) learn to fear the Lord his God (etc.) and not consider himself better than his brothers.

h. (Leaders) Ruling and judging in righteousness.

2 Samuel 23:3 - He who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God...

Isaiah 11:3-5 - He (the Lord's servant = Jesus) will delight in the fear of the Lord... and will judge with righteousness.

i. (Others) The God-fearing person - respected by others.

Acts 10:22 - Cornelius, ... a God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire Jewish nation...

j. (Others) Acknowledging God's power.

Joshua 4:24 - He dried up the Jordan ... so that all people everywhere would know his mighty power, and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

7. Attitude toward SIN, EVIL, anything false.

a. Abandoning false gods.

Joshua 24:14 - Fear the Lord. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River (Euphrates) and in Egypt.

b. Opposed to sinful conduct / hating evil.

Exodus 18:21 - Men who fear God, ... who hate dishonest gain...

Job 1:1 - Job, a man who feared God and shunned evil.

Job 1:8 - Job, a man who fears God and shuns evil.

Job 2:3 - Job, a man who fears God and shuns evil.

Job 28:28 - To fear the Lord is wisdom; to shun evil is understanding.

Proverbs 3:7 - Fear the Lord and shun evil.

Proverbs 8:13 - To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior and perverted speech.

Proverbs 14:16 - A wise man fears [the Lord] and shuns evil.

Proverbs 16:6 - By the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.

c. NOT sinning against others.

Leviticus 19:14 - Do not curse the deaf; do not put a stumbling block in front of the blind. Fear your God.

Leviticus 25:17 - Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God.

Leviticus 25:36 - Do not take interest of any kind from your countrymen, but fear your God.

Leviticus 25:43 - Do not rule over your countrymen ruthlessly, but fear your God. [This is a warning to masters/employers (see the context).]

d. NOT envying sinners.

Proverbs 23:17 - Don't envy sinners, but fear the Lord all the time.

e. NOT being "self-wise."

Proverbs 3:7 - Don't be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord.

f. NOT having an arrogant attitude (over those who are unsaved).

Romans 11:20 - (Context - contrasting the Jews who were rejected to the non-Jews who were offered salvation.) They were broken off the "tree" because of their unbelief, and you stand by faith. So do not be arrogant, but be afraid. (God can break you off just as easily.)

g. NOT being afraid of those who can kill only the body.

Matthew 10:28 - Do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul. Fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Luke 12:5 - This is whom you should fear: Fear him who has power to throw you into hell, after the body is killed. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

87 passages (95 verses): Exodus 14:31; 18:21; Leviticus 19:14, 32; 25:17, 36; Leviticus 25:43; Deut. 4:10; 5:29; 6:1-2, 13, 24; 8:6; 9:19; 10:12, 20; 13:4; 17:19-20; 28:58; 31:12; Joshua 4:24; 24:14; 1 Samuel 12:14, 24; 2 Samuel 23:3; 1 Kings 8:43; 1 Chron. 16:25; 2 Chron. 6:31, 33; Neh. 7:2; Job 1:1, 8; 2:3; 28:28; Psalm 2:11; 5:7; 31:19; 33:18; 64:9; 67:7; 85:9; 86:11; 89:6-8; 96:4; 103:17-18; 111:10-112:1; 119:63, 79, 120; 128:1; 147:11; Proverbs 2:5; 3:7; 8:13; 9:10; 14:16; 16:6; 22:4; 23:17; 24:21; Isaiah 8:13; 11:3-5; 25:3; 50:10; Jeremiah 5:22; 26:19; 44:10; Amos 3:8; Micah 6:9; 7:17; Zeph. 3:7; Haggai 1:12; Malachi 2:5; 3:16; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Acts 9:31; 10:2, 22, 35; Romans 11:20; Philip. 2:12; Col. 3:22; Hebrews 12:28; 1 Peter 2:17; Rev. 14:7; 15:4