Question: is the fear of God and being afraid of Him the same?

The Fear of the LORD: In 27 verses; The Fear of God: 7 verses

I fear: verb ; My fear: noun

“The fear of the LORD, God” is not an action it is a noun

Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Ps 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

·       The fear of the Lord is to be in awe of the LORD

Ec 12:13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

In Job: fear in 19 verses; afraid in 17 verses

 M In Job 1:1 Job feared God, and eschewed evil..

In Job 1:8 & 2:2 Job feareth God, and escheweth evil

·       After he lost is children and his substance he continued to fear God and eschew evil

In Job 23:15 Job said he was afraid of God at his presence

·       Webster’s 1828: Impressed with fear or apprehension; fearful. This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear; as, to be afraid of death.

·       Judges 13:22 The angel of the LORD appeared to Sampson’s parents and they expected to die.

·       Ex 3:6 Moses was afraid to look upon God.

·       Gen 3:10; Gen 28:17

In Job 19:29 Job warned his friends to be afraid of the sword

The fear of the LORD was not always upon a man:

·       Sam 11:7; 2Chr 14:14; 2Chr 17:10;

·       2Chr 19:9 and seemed to be a choice

·       Rom 3:10-18 Natural man

·       Job 15:4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

·       Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7;  Pr 9:10

Ps 34:11 ¶ Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

·       V13,14,16,21 Knowledge and wisdom that leads to eschewing evil. (Prov 16:6)

·       Vs 15,17,18,19,22 the knowledge and wisdom in the Lord that leads to righteousness and redemption

·       Acts 13:26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

Pr 2:1-9 (V5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

The fear of God (LORD) is acknowledging who God is and that he is omnipotent. You are in deep awe of Him.

·       Knowing God’s holiness, knowing His judgment of sin and knowing that you can not stand before Him on your own merit and if you do you will DIE. Knowing He has the power and authority to execute judgment.

·       2Ch 20:29 They knew what God had done and they knew He could do it to them. They expected the same from Him.

One commentary stated: the fear God is being awe-struck by knowing He is 1) omnipresent, 2) omniscient, and 3) omnipotent.  

Knowing or expecting that God’s wrath is going to come upon you: that is being afraid of God.

·       Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Jesus Christ Isa 11:1-3 with Mat 3:16 and John 1:32-33

·       John 14:17;Acts 2:2-4; Eph 1:13

·       Because we have the same Spirit in us today we have the fear of the Lord in us.

·       Ac 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

Note: in the Old Testament the Holy Spirit would come upon an individual as the fear of the Lord would come upon them.

Having that Holy Spirit upon or in is directly related to having the   fear of the Lord (God) upon you or in you.