The fear of the Lord, literally: the fear of YAHWEH, is a concept that we encounter quite often in the Hebrew Bible and most believers will also be familiar with the term. The best-known text is probably: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10 KJV).
This is usually explained as meaning: the fear of the Lord, that is our awe of Him, or our reverence for Him, and that is the beginning of wisdom. But linguistically there is a lot to criticize about this. Just think of expressions like:
The name of YAHWEH (Gen.12:8)
The spirit of JAWHEH (2 Sam.23:2)
The glory of YAHWEH (Ex.24:16)
The mercies of YAHWEH (Lam.3:22)
The face of YAHWEH (Gen.4:16)
The holiness of YAHWEH (Ex.31:15)
The day of YAHWEH (Isa.13:9)
In the above examples it concerns: His name, His spirit, His glory, His lovingkindnesses, etc. The fact that it says YAHWEH expresses a possession. Something is from Him, or emanates from Him. It is therefore remarkable that “the fear of YAHWEH” is interpreted differently, namely that it concerns our fear of Him. An example to clarify this.
Psalm 19
8 The law of YAHUVEH is blameless, it restores the soul;
the testimony of YAHWEH is trustworthy, she gives simple wisdom.
9 The ordinances of YAHUVEH are right, they rejoice the heart;
the instruction of YAHWEH is pure, it enlightens the eyes.
10 The fear of Yahweh is pure, it stands for the future;
the judgments of YAHWEH are true, they are wholly righteous.
of YAHWEH
Here we are talking about the law of YAHWEH, the testimony of YAHWEH, the statutes of YAHWEH, the instruction of YHWH, and the decrees of YHWH. All things that come from God. God speaks and acts, man receives. But in the fear of YAHWEH this would be different. Then we do not read it as something that comes from YAHWEH, but it concerns our awe for Him. And that’s not right, that’s not what it says.
word origin
But what is that fear? Why did the translators choose this word? Fear has to do with fear and do we fear God? In Dutch, the origin of the word fear can be traced back not only to fear or being afraid, but also to requesting and testing. Furthermore, it originally also had the meaning of wrath, danger, investigation.
These are quite different meanings. But what meaning does it have in Scripture? Let’s look at some texts that talk about the fear (Hebrew: irath, H3374) of YAHWEH.
Proverbs 15
31 An ear that listens to the reproof of life will spend the night among the wise.
32 He who ignores discipline rejects his soul, but he who listens to correction acquires a heart.
33 The fear of YAHUVEH educates (or: disciplines) wisdom, and humility precedes honor.
discipline
Verse 31 talks about reproof and discipline, which lead to wisdom. Verse 33 then states that the fear of YAHWEH teaches wisdom. The fear of YAHWEH therefore has to do with reproof, discipline and education. This is confirmed in other texts.
Proverbs 1
7 The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of knowledge; the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
rebuke
The Hebrew word musr (H4148) is translated as discipline and has to do with: chastisement, correction, discipline, instruction, rebuke. We also saw this in Prov.15:32 where discipline and reproof are synonymous. This word appears 50 times in the Old Testament, 30 of which are in Proverbs. It would take us too far to quote all the Scriptures, but if we look at some of the texts, especially from Proverbs, they all point us in the same direction.
Job 5
17 Behold, blessed is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Proverbs 1
1 Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
2 To know wisdom and discipline, to understand words of understanding,
3 to receive instruction, to obtain understanding, righteousness, and judgment, and judgment, and right things.
(…)
7 The fear of YAHUVEH is the beginning of knowledge; the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 3
11 Do not despise, my son, the chastening of the Lord, nor turn away from his correction.
Proverbs 6
20 O my son, keep the commandment of your father, and do not despise the teaching of your mother.
(…)
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction is a light; correction of discipline is a way of life.
pedagogy
We also see this idea in the New Testament. In the verses below we find the Greek paideuo (G3811) several times, from which our word pedagogue is derived and which has to do with educating. It could be translated as: to educate or to discipline.
Hebrews 12
6 For the Lord trains/disciplines (>paideuo) those he loves, and scourges every son whom he receives.
7 As education/chastisement (>paideuo) you endure this, God gives it to you, as to sons. For is there a son who is not raised/chastised (>paideuo) by his father?
(…)
9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh as tutors (>paideuo), and we respected them. And shall we not then submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they educate us for a few days according to their knowledge, but He does it for our benefit, that we may become partakers of His holiness.
11 And every education/chastisement (>paideuo) seems at the moment not to be joy, but sorrow; but afterwards it yields to those who are trained by it the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Job
We find this beautifully illustrated in the story of Job. Satan, with God’s permission, strikes Job with evil sores all over his body. When Job is scratching himself with a potsherd on an ash heap, his wife comes to him and a conversation ensues from which we can learn a lot.
Job 2
9 And his wife said unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thy righteousness? Say goodbye to God and die!
10 And he said to her, You speak like a fool. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
good and evil from God
Job knew that good, but also evil, comes from God. Job did not know what had transpired between God and Satan. True, it was Satan who struck Job, but he did so within the space God had given him (Job 2:1-8). Job could testify to the words that the writer of Hebrews would later write: God’s discipline at the moment is not a matter of joy, but of sorrow; but afterward it yields to those who are trained by it the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11).
God places everything
Job’s wife advises him to say goodbye to God because evil is coming to him. Job calls her foolish for this. Job knew that we receive not only good from God’s hand, but also evil. In all this, Job did not sin with his lips, it says, so that we become convinced that what Job says is true.
Everything is from God and to recognize that everything is from Him is to recognize God as GOD, the Ordainer of everything. In this way, God gets the glory for everything that happens in our lives. Isn’t it that we learn the most through setbacks and difficulties? That is His glory!
Later Job also says: the fear of YAHWEH is wisdom (Job 28:28).