יָרֵא
ya.re
to fear
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# The Hebrew Word for Fear: יָרֵא (yāreʾ) The Hebrew verb יָרֵא appears 205 times throughout the Bible, making it a frequently used term for expressing fear and apprehension. Its basic definition—"to fear"—covers the human experience of dread and anxiety in response to threats or overwhelming circumstances. The sheer frequency of its occurrence suggests that fear was a significant emotional and spiritual concern in biblical literature, warranting repeated exploration and discussion across multiple books and contexts. The prevalence of this single word across such a large biblical corpus indicates that "fear" functioned as a central concept in ancient Hebrew thought and communication. Rather than employing numerous synonyms, biblical writers relied heavily on this one verb, suggesting it held particular importance for expressing human vulnerability and emotional states. The 205 occurrences distributed throughout scripture demonstrate that fear—whether fear of enemies, natural disasters, divine judgment, or the divine itself—was understood as a fundamental aspect of the human experience worthy of consistent attention and theological reflection.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
205 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Jehoshaphat was alarmed, and set himself to seek to Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:15and he said, “Listen, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, king Jehoshaphat. Yahweh says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, and don’t be dismayed because of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2 Chronicles 20:17You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.’ ”
2 Chronicles 32:7“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him.
2 Chronicles 32:18They called out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.
Nehemiah 2:2The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” Then I was very much afraid.
Nehemiah 4:14I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them! Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”
Nehemiah 6:9For they all would have made us afraid, saying, “Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done.” But now, strengthen my hands.
Nehemiah 6:13He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and sin, and that they might have material for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
Nehemiah 6:14“Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.”
Nehemiah 6:16When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations that were around us were afraid, and they lost their confidence; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.
Nehemiah 6:19Also they spoke of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
Job 5:21You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither will you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
Job 5:22You will laugh at destruction and famine, neither will you be afraid of the animals of the earth.
Job 6:21For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
Job 9:35then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
Job 11:15Surely then you will lift up your face without spot; Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear:
Job 32:6Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered, “I am young, and you are very old; Therefore I held back, and didn’t dare show you my opinion.
Exodus 14:10When Pharaoh came near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.
Psalms 3:6I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.
Psalms 23:4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 27:3Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident.
Psalms 46:2Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
Psalms 49:5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
Psalms 49:16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
Psalms 56:3When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
Psalms 56:4In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Psalms 56:11I have put my trust in God. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalms 64:4to shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.
Psalms 72:5They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
Psalms 76:7You, even you, are to be feared. Who can stand in your sight when you are angry?
Psalms 76:8You pronounced judgment from heaven. The earth feared, and was silent,
Psalms 76:12He will cut off the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth.
Psalms 91:5You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Psalms 112:7He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.
Psalms 112:8His heart is established. He will not be afraid in the end when he sees his adversaries.
Psalms 118:6Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalms 119:120My flesh trembles for fear of you. I am afraid of your judgments.
Proverbs 3:25Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
Ecclesiastes 12:5yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Isaiah 7:4Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, neither let your heart be faint because of these two tails of smoking torches, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.
Isaiah 8:12“Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized.
Isaiah 10:24Therefore the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, says “My people who dwell in Zion, don’t be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod, and lift up his staff against you, as Egypt did.
Isaiah 18:2that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, “Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!”
Isaiah 18:7In that time, a present will be brought to Yahweh of Armies from a people tall and smooth, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Yahweh of Armies, Mount Zion.
Isaiah 21:1The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it comes from the wilderness, from an awesome land.
Isaiah 25:3Therefore a strong people will glorify you. A city of awesome nations will fear you.
Isaiah 35:4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
Isaiah 37:6Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘Yahweh says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Isaiah 40:9You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!”