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Greek · G5399 · unreviewed

φοβέω

To fear

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φοβέω G5399
Pronunciation phobéō

What does φοβέω (phobéō) mean in the Bible?

φοβέω (phobéō) is a Greek word meaning "to fear". φοβέέω, ῶ (φόβος) [in LXX chiefly for מִן יָרֵא ;] __1. Distinguishes proper reverent fear from misplaced human fear.

Full entry for φοβέω (G5399) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to fear
Extended definition

Reverential fear of God distinct from mere terror; conveys both awe and obedient respect.

(φόβος) [in LXX chiefly for מִן יָרֵא ;]

1in Hem., to put to flight. Pass., to be put to flight, to flee affrighted
2to terrify, frighten (Wis 179; Hdt. and Att..). Pass. (so always in NT; cf. M, Pr., 162), to be seized with fear, be affrighted, fear: Mat.10:31 14:27, Mrk.5:33 6:50, Luk.1:13 8:50, Jhn.6:19 12:15, Act.16:38, al.; opposite to ὑψηλοφρονεῖν, Rom.11:20; σφόδρα, Mat.17:6 27:54; with cogn. accusative, φόβον μέγαν, Mrk.4:41, Luk.2:9 (1Ma.10:8); φόβον αὐτῶν (obj, genitive, but cf. ICC, in l), 1Pe.3:14; πτόησιν, 1Pe.3:6; with accusative of person(s), Mat.10:26, Mrk.11:18, Luk.19:21, Jhn.9:22, Act.9:26, Rom.13:3, al.; before ἀπό (like Heb. יָרֵא, Jer.1:8, al.; cf. M, Pr., 102, 104n„), Mat.10:28, Luk.12:4; before μή (cl.; Bl., § 65, 3; M, Pr., 184 f.), Act.23:10 27:17; μήπως, Act.27:29, 2Co.11:3 12:20, Gal.4:11; μήποτε, Heb.4:1; with inf. (Bl., § 69, 4; M, Pr., 205), Mat.1:20, Mrk.9:32, al.; of reverential fear: Mrk.6:20, Eph.5:33; τ. θεόν, Luk.1:50, Act.10:2, 1Pe.2:17, Rev.14:7, al.; τ. κύριον, Col.3:22, Rev.15:4; τ. ὄνομα τ. θεοῦ (see: ὄνομα), Rev.11:18; οἱ φοβούμενοι τ. θεόν, of proselytes, Act.13:16, 26 (cf. ἐκ-φοβέω)
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Distinguishes proper reverent fear from misplaced human fear. Acts 10:1-23
Demonstrates sincere reverence that still requires gospel fulfillment. Luke 12:4–7
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 94 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 19 ongoing 6 prospective 1 imperative 28 background 12 subjunctive 8 infinitive 1 participle 19
Tense
present 48 aorist 33 imperfect 12 future 1
Voice
middle 60 passive 34
Mood
indicative 38 imperative 28 participle 19 subjunctive 8 infinitive 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:20 φοβηθῇς aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 2:22 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 9:8 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 10:26 φοβηθῆτε aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 10:28 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 10:31 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 14:27 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 14:30 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 14:5 ἐφοβήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 17:6 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 17:7 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 21:26 φοβούμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 21:46 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 25:25 φοβηθεὶς aorist passive participle participle Matthew 27:54 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 28:10 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Matthew 28:5 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Mark 4:41 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 5:15 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 5:36 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Mark 6:20 ἐφοβεῖτο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 6:50 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Mark 9:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 10:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 11:18 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 11:32 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Mark 12:12 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 16:8 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background Luke 1:13 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 1:30 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 1:50 φοβουμένοις present middle participle participle Luke 2:10 φοβεῖσθε present middle imperative imperative Luke 2:9 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 5:10 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 8:25 φοβηθέντες aorist passive participle participle Luke 8:35 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 8:50 φοβοῦ present middle imperative imperative Luke 9:34 ἐφοβήθησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 9:45 ἐφοβοῦντο imperfect middle indicative background +54 more occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses
Acts 10:1-23 God-fearing phobéō
One who reveres or worships God.
Luke 12:4–7 φοβηθῆτε phobéō
fear
Additional Occurrences
Luke 12:4–7 φοβηθῆτε phobéō
Be afraid
Luke 9:43b–45 ἐφοβοῦντο phobéō
They were fearing
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

φοβέω · θεός G5399, G2316
Fearing God, revering God
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 10 — God Opens the Gospel Door to the Gentiles Acts 18 — The Lord Strengthens the Mission in Corinth and Beyond John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 16 — He Has Risen: The Empty Tomb, the Angelic Announcement, Galilee Promise, and Trembling Witness Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 17 — The Glory of the Son, the Coming of Elijah, the Failure of Little Faith, and the Son’s Humble Freedom Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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