David Koberstein
Active member
Take the Hebrew word yirah (YEER-ah), for instance, which is usually translated as "fear." The word fear is common in the Old Testament,
and to many it sounds like we should cringe in dread of God. Of course we find "fear" in the New Testament too. The Gentiles who believed
in God were called God-fearers, and the early church was said to be built up in the "fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31). Why is there so much fear
in the Bible?
To solve this mystery, you need to know more about the Hebrew word for fear, yirah. Our English word fear narrowly focuses on being afraid.
To us, fear is the opposite of trust and is synonymous with worry, dread, or fright. But yirah encompasses a much wider range of meanings,
from negative (dread, terror) to positive (worship, reverence) and from mild (respect) to strong (awe).
Whenever you read "revere" or "reverence" in your Bible, the word yirah is mostly likely behind it. In Leviticus 19:3, we are told to "yirah"
(revere) our mother and father and in verse 30 to "Keep my Sabbaths and reverence (yirah) my sanctuary." In both places yirah is not about
being afraid, but rather showing honor and veneration.
Why? In Hebraic thought, the "fear of the Lord" (yirah Adonai) is better understood as an awe and reverence for God that cause us to want
to do his will. The "fear of the Lord" is an awe-filled love of God that allows us to grow in deeper knowledge of him. It teaches us how to
live and reassures us of God's power and guidance. It gives us a reverence of his will that keeps us from getting caught in sins that will
destroy our relationships and lives.
Rabbi Abraham Heschel points out that awe in response to God is far superior than fear. While fear focuses on one's self, awe focuses on
God's glory. Hebraically, the "fear of the Lord" is being aware of the awesome, hole presence of God.. We see a reminder of this in many
synagogues. Over the ornate cabinets that hold the Torah scrolls is the phrase Know Before Whom You Stand. We should realize that an
infinitely powerful God is close at hand. Wow!
In worship, there is no greater thrill than to feel spine-tingling awe at the grandeur of God. In this sense, to "fear" God is one of the most
profound experiences of our lives, spiritually. We can see why the "fear of the Lord" as a sense of his presence is really the essence of
a life of faith.
Shalom
and to many it sounds like we should cringe in dread of God. Of course we find "fear" in the New Testament too. The Gentiles who believed
in God were called God-fearers, and the early church was said to be built up in the "fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31). Why is there so much fear
in the Bible?
To solve this mystery, you need to know more about the Hebrew word for fear, yirah. Our English word fear narrowly focuses on being afraid.
To us, fear is the opposite of trust and is synonymous with worry, dread, or fright. But yirah encompasses a much wider range of meanings,
from negative (dread, terror) to positive (worship, reverence) and from mild (respect) to strong (awe).
Whenever you read "revere" or "reverence" in your Bible, the word yirah is mostly likely behind it. In Leviticus 19:3, we are told to "yirah"
(revere) our mother and father and in verse 30 to "Keep my Sabbaths and reverence (yirah) my sanctuary." In both places yirah is not about
being afraid, but rather showing honor and veneration.
Why? In Hebraic thought, the "fear of the Lord" (yirah Adonai) is better understood as an awe and reverence for God that cause us to want
to do his will. The "fear of the Lord" is an awe-filled love of God that allows us to grow in deeper knowledge of him. It teaches us how to
live and reassures us of God's power and guidance. It gives us a reverence of his will that keeps us from getting caught in sins that will
destroy our relationships and lives.
Rabbi Abraham Heschel points out that awe in response to God is far superior than fear. While fear focuses on one's self, awe focuses on
God's glory. Hebraically, the "fear of the Lord" is being aware of the awesome, hole presence of God.. We see a reminder of this in many
synagogues. Over the ornate cabinets that hold the Torah scrolls is the phrase Know Before Whom You Stand. We should realize that an
infinitely powerful God is close at hand. Wow!
In worship, there is no greater thrill than to feel spine-tingling awe at the grandeur of God. In this sense, to "fear" God is one of the most
profound experiences of our lives, spiritually. We can see why the "fear of the Lord" as a sense of his presence is really the essence of
a life of faith.
Shalom
