Phobos is the Greek word for fear. This word is where we get the English phobia, which can be a suffix for many words. You may have heard of arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, or claustrophobia, the fear of being closed in, or triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13. There is even a phobophobia, which is an abnormal fear of developing a phobia. (Dictionary.com.) Phobos can mean fear, terror, alarm, or reverence. (Biblehub.com.)
Psalm 111:10 NIV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Before God calls us to Him and we accept His love and forgiveness, there is a fear of God that should strike terror. This is the fear of God’s wrath. But once we are adopted by God through Christ, we have the love of God in us, a love that does not fail. We should not fear the day of judgment. We should fear this earth no more. Then the fear of God changes. We still should fear this holy and perfect God, but in a different way, with a reverent fear. We still fear the consequences of disobeying our Father. This fear of the Lord helps us keep watch over our lives, working to please Him. This fear of the Lord helps us grow in God’s wisdom. And more.
Matthew 14:26 KJV And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Luke 1:12 ESV And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Luke 5:26 NASB They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
John 19:38 ESV After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.
Acts 5:5 NIV When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
Acts 9:31 NASB So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Romans 8:15 ESV For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 NIV For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
1 Timothy 5:20 KJV Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil–and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
1 Peter 1:17 NASB If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth.
1 Peter 3:14-15 ESV But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. (The KJV uses fear here for respect as it is phobos.)
1 John 4:18 NIV There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears in not made perfect in love.
Jude 1:22-23 NASB And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Revelation 11:11 KJV And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
The G/K number for phobos is 5832.
The Strong’s number for phobos is 5401.
