יָרֵא

From the study of Malachi 4:2

Range of meaning

'Fearing' or 'those who fear'. It covers fear, awe and reverence: taking God with full seriousness, loyally honouring and obeying him. Used as a group name, 'fearers of the LORD' means the faithful.

Against the English

Modern 'fear' suggests being frightened or afraid of punishment. NIV's 'revere' captures the honour but loses the edge of awe that the Hebrew keeps.

How it drifted

English 'fear' has narrowed mostly to fright, while the Hebrew holds dread, awe and loyalty together.

Used elsewhere in the period

Malachi 3:16: 'those who feared the LORD spoke with one another… a book of remembrance was written for those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.' Compare 1:6 ('where is my fear?') and Proverbs 1:7.

From the study of Job 1:8

Range of meaning

'Fearing God': a whole-life stance of reverence, awe and accountability toward God that shows itself in ethical behaviour. It includes real fear (God is not to be trifled with) but is mainly the moral seriousness of someone who knows he answers to God.

Against the English

'Fears God' is a correct rendering. Modern readers may hear only terror or anxiety; the phrase describes a person's character, the way 'a God-fearing man' does.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used of people outside Israel and outside Israel's covenant: Abraham assumes there is 'no fear of God' in Gerar (Gen 20:11); Joseph says 'I fear God' (Gen 42:18); the Hebrew midwives 'feared God' (Exod 1:17). In wisdom literature, 'the fear of Yahweh/the Lord' is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7; 9:10), and Job 28:28 sums up wisdom as 'the fear of the Lord… and to turn from evil is understanding'. The Septuagint here has θεοσεβής, 'God-revering'.

From the study of 2 Kings 4:1

Range of meaning

"Fearing" covers dread, awe and reverence. "Fearing YHWH" is a fixed covenant expression for loyal, obedient devotion: taking God seriously enough to live by his ways (Deut 6:2, 13, 24; 10:12). It describes someone's settled character.

Against the English

"Feared the LORD" (BSB, WEB, KJV, YLT "was fearing") is accurate, but modern "fear" suggests anxiety or terror. Hebrew "was fearing" (a past verb with an ongoing participle) marks a lifelong pattern of faithfulness.

How it drifted

English "fear" has narrowed toward the emotion of being afraid, while the Hebrew expression centres on reverent allegiance.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Kgs 18:3, 12 describes Obadiah, Ahab's steward, with this exact phrase: "Obadiah feared YHWH greatly," "your servant has feared YHWH from my youth." That verbal link is the basis of the ancient tradition that this widow was Obadiah's (Josephus, Antiquities 9.47; Targum Jonathan). In the Deuteronomy-shaped history of Kings, "fearing YHWH" is what sets loyal Israelites apart from Baal worshippers.