Original Word: φοβέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: phobeó
Pronunciation: fo-beh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (fob-eh'-o)
Definition: To fear, be afraid, reverence
Meaning: I fear, dread, reverence, am afraid, terrified.

Word Origin: Derived from φόβος (phobos), meaning "fear" or "terror."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - 3372 (יָרֵא, yare'): To fear, revere, be afraid

- 3373 (יָרֵא, yare'): Fearful, afraid

- 3374 (יִרְאָה, yirah): Fear, reverence

Usage: The Greek verb "phobeó" primarily means to fear or be afraid. It can denote a range of emotions from terror and dread to reverence and awe. In the New Testament, "phobeó" is used both in the context of fear of danger or harm and in the sense of reverential awe towards God. The term can imply a healthy respect or acknowledgment of God's power and authority, as well as a warning against disobedience or sin.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, fear was often associated with the divine, as gods were believed to wield power over human fate. The concept of fear in the biblical context, however, is nuanced. While fear of God includes an element of awe and respect, it also encompasses trust and obedience. The fear of God is foundational in Jewish wisdom literature, where it is seen as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). In the New Testament, this reverential fear is transformed through the revelation of God's love in Christ, which casts out fear of judgment (1 John 4:18).

Cognate: 5399 phobéō – to fear, withdraw (flee) from, avoid. See 5401 (phobos).

Word Origin
from phobos
Definition
to put to flight, to terrify, frighten
NASB Translation
afraid (39), am afraid (2), awestruck (1), fear (27), feared (5), fearful (2), fearing (6), fears (2), frightened (7), have...fear (1), respects (1), terrified (1).

STRONGS NT 5399: φοβέω

φοβέω, φόβῳ: passive, present φοβοῦμαι; imperfect ἐφοβούμην; 1 aorist ἐφοβήθην; future φοβηθήσομαι; (φόβος); from Homer down; to terrify, frighten, Wis. 17:9; to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away). Passive:

1. to be put to flight, to flee (Homer).

2. to fear, be afraid; the Sept. very often for יָרֵא; absolutely to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm: of those who fear harm or injury, Matthew 10:31; Matthew 14:30; Matthew 25:25; Mark 5:33, 36; Mark 10:32; Mark 16:8; Luke 8:50; Luke 12:7, 32; John 12:15; John 19:8; Acts 16:38; Acts 22:29; (Romans 13:4); Hebrews 13:6; 1 John 4:18; opposed to ὑψηλοφρονεῖν, Romans 11:20; of those startled by strange sights or occurrences, Matthew 14:27; Matthew 17:7; Matthew 28:5, 10; Mark 6:50; Luke 1:13, 30; Luke 2:10; Luke 9:34; ( L in brackets); John 6:19, 20; Acts 18:9; Acts 27:24 (but in the last two passages perhaps the exhortation has a wider reference); Revelation 1:17; with σφόδρα added, Matthew 17:6; Matthew 27:54; of those struck with amazement, (Matthew 9:8 L T Tr WH); Mark 5:15; Luke 5:10; Luke 8:25, 35. with an accusative of the contents (cognate accusative) (see ἀγαπάω, under the end): φόβον μέγαν, literally, to 'fear a great fear,' fear exceedingly, Mark 4:41; Luke 2:9 (1 Macc. 10:8); φόβον αὐτῶν, the fear which they inspire (see φόβος, 1), 1 Peter 3:14 (Isaiah 8:12; τοῦ Τανταλου, to be filled with the same fear as Tantalus, Schol. ad Euripides, Or. 6); with the synonymous πτόησιν (which see), 1 Peter 3:6. τινα, to fear one, be afraid of one, lest he do harm, be displeased, etc.: Matthew 10:26; Matthew 14:5; Matthew 21:26, 46; Mark 11:18, 32 (cf. Buttmann, § 151, 11); ; Luke 19:21; Luke 20:19; Luke 22:2; John 9:22; Acts 5:26 (cf. Buttmann, § 139, 48; Winer's Grammar, 505 (471)); ; Romans 13:3; Galatians 2:12; τόν Θεόν, God, the judge and avenger, Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Luke 23:40 (Exodus 1:17, 21; 1 Samuel 12:18); τί, to fear danger from something, Hebrews 11:23, 27; to fear (dread to undergo) some suffering, Revelation 2:10. in imitation of the Hebrew (מִן יָרֵא), followed by ἀπό τίνος (cf. Buttmann, § 147, 3): Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4 (Jeremiah 1:8, 17; Jeremiah 10:2; Leviticus 26:2; 1 Macc. 2:62 1 Macc. 8:12; Judges 5:23), as in the Greek writings, φοβοῦμαι μή, to fear lest, with the subjunctive aorist: Acts ( L T Tr WH); ; μήπως, lest perchance, Acts 27:29 (here L μήπω (which see 2), others μήπου (which see)); 2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; φοβηθῶμεν (equivalent to let us take anxious care) μήποτε τίς δοκῇ, lest anyone may seem (see δοκέω, 2 at the end), Hebrews 4:1; φοβοῦμαι ὑμᾶς, μήπως κεκοπίακα, Galatians 4:11 (see μήπως, 1 b.); φοβοῦμαι with an infinitive to fear (i. e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm), Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:22; Mark 9:32; Luke 9:45 (for numerous examples in the Greek writings from Aeschylus down see Passow, under the word, 2, vol. ii., p. 2315{a}; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, Buttmann, II. 4)).

3. to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience: τινα, Mark 6:20; Ephesians 5:33; τόν Θεόν, used of his devout worshippers, Luke 1:50; Luke 18:2, 4; Acts 10:2, 22, 35; (Colossians 3:22 Rec.); 1 Peter 2:17; Revelation 14:7; Revelation 19:5; also τόν κύριον, Colossians 3:22 (G L T Tr WH); Revelation 15:4; τό ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ, Revelation 11:18 (Deuteronomy 4:10; Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 6:2, 13, 14; Deuteronomy 13:4; Deuteronomy 14:22(23); Proverbs 3:7; Psalm 33:10 (), and many other passages; very often in Sir., cf. Wahl, Clavis Apocr. V. T., under the word, at the end); οἱ φοβούμενοι τόν Θεόν specifically, of proselytes: Acts 13:16, 26 (see σέβω). Compare: ἐκφοβέω. [SYNONYMS: ἐκπλήσσεσθαι to be astonished, properly, to be struck with terror, of a sudden and startling alarm; but, like our astonish in popular use, often employed on comparatively slight occasions, and even then with strengthening particles (as σφόδρα Matthew 19:25, ὑπερπερισσῶς Mark 7:37); πτόειν to terrify, to agitate with fear; τρέμειν, to tremble, predominantly physical; φόβειν to fear, the general term; often used of a protracted state. Cf. Schmidt, chapter 139.]

to fear

From phobos; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere -- be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

see GREEK phobos

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