Horrible Translations: The Fear of the Lord.

There are seven Hebrew words that are translated as ‘fear’ in most English Bibles.

1. Mora (H4172)
2. Yare (H3372 & H3373)
3. Yirah (H3374)
4. Pachad H6343)
5. Eymah (H367)
6. Deagah (H1674)

While distinctions between the words are not always cut and dried, a prayerful evaluation of the context can deliver some inspiring insights.

Let us look at two Hebrew words that are translated as ‘fear’ in most translations; Pachad and Yare/Yirah.

Pachad (H6343)

• H6342: pâchad (x) A primitive root; to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence to fear in general: - be afraid, stand in awe, (be in) fear, make to shake. (25)
• H6343: pachad From H6342; a (sudden) alarm (properly the object feared, by implication the feeling): - dread (-ful), fear, (thing) great [fear, -ly feared], terror. (49)

Examples of verses in which pachad (H6343) is used

No one shall be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will lay the fear (H6343 pachad) of you and the dread (H4172 mora) of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you.
(Deuteronomy 11:25 ESV)

And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear (H6343 pachad) of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.
(2 Chronicles 14:14 ESV)

And the fear (H6343 pachad) of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
(2 Chronicles 17:10 ESV)

The ESV, ISV and NET translations use a combination of fear, terror and dread to translate H6343 and H4172 in Deuteronomy 11:25 above but the usage differs; for example the ISV uses ‘terror’ for H6343 while the NET uses ‘terror’ for H4172.

• The ISV: No one will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God will instill terror and fear of you throughout the entire land wherever you go, just as he promised you.
• The NET: Nobody will be able to resist you; the LORD your God will spread the fear and terror of you over the whole land on which you walk, just as he promised you.

While the translations may differ, the meaning remains clear; Israel and the God of Israel will be the object of their enemies' fear.

Yare (H3372) / Yirah (H3374)

• H3372: yârê' (x) A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing). (334)
• H3373: yârê' (x) From H3372; fearing; morally reverent: - afraid, fear (-ful). (43)
• H3374: yir'âh Feminine of H3373; fear (also used as infinitive); morally reverence: -  X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear (-fulness). (45)

Examples of verses in which yare (H3372) and ‘yirah’ (H3374) are translated as ‘fear’.

You shall fear (H3372 yare) the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
(Deuteronomy 10:20 ESV)

The fear (H3374 yirah) of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
(Psalms 19:9 ESV)

The fear (H3374 yirah) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
(Psalms 111:10 ESV)

Unfortunately, none of the translations that use ‘fear’ in the verses above, convey the sense of ‘moral reverence’ implied by the Hebrew word.

Of various English translations, only the NET translates H3372 in Deuteronomy 10:20 as ‘revere’.

Revere the LORD your God, serve him, be loyal to him and take oaths only in his name.

A subtle, but important, difference.

While both ‘fear’ and ‘revere’ convey a sense of ‘fear’, the essential difference between them is determined by the relationship of the parties; either adversarial or loving relationships.

Fear exists in the context of an adversarial relationship; to fear a powerful adversary and the harm they could inflict upon oneself. This is clearly the meaning we get from the example of H6343 and H4172 above (although remember that the usage is not always cut and dried).

Reverence exists in the context of a loving relationship; to fear causing harm or offence to a beloved friend. Unfortunately, reverence is not clearly understood when the word 'fear' is used to translate H3372 and H3374 .

This distinction is important because, whenever a righteous person had an encounter with God in the Bible, one of the first things God said was “Do not be afraid”; that is, no harm would befall them.

When God appeared to Isaac.

“I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear (yare H3372) not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.”
(Genesis 26:24 ESV)

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon.

The LORD said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear (yare H3372); you shall not die.”
(Judges 6:23 ESV)

When the Lord appeared to Daniel.

Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.”
(Daniel 10:12 ESV)

Reverence, not fear!

The righteous, those who love God with all their heart, soul and mind, have no need to fear God who declares himself to be

“compassionate, gracious and patient, abounding in steadfast love, faithfulness and forgiveness”.

The only fear the righteous experience is the fear of disappointing or offending their loving Lord; such fear leads to speedy repentance and restoration.

To revere the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!