Greek · G5401 · unreviewed

φόβος

Alarm or fright

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φόβος G5401

Pronunciation phóbos

What does φόβος (phóbos) mean in the Bible?

φόβος (phóbos) is a Greek word meaning "alarm or fright". φόβος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for יִרְאָה, also for פַּחַד, אֵימָה, etc. Healthy church life includes reverence before God, not casual familiarity. This term runs through the canonical themes of Holiness.

Full entry for φόβος (G5401) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

alarm or fright

Extended definition

Reverential awe of God distinct from mere terror; encompasses both fear and worshipful respect

1in Hom., flight.

2That which causes flight, fear, dread, terror: Luk.1:12, Act.5:5, 1Ti.5:20. 1Jn.4:18, al.; cogn. accusative, φοβεῖσθαι φ., Mrk.4:41, Luk.2:9; with genitive obj., Jhn.7:13 19:33 20:19, Heb.2:5, 1Pe.3:14 (but cf. ICC, in l);ἀπὸ (τοῦ) φ., Mat.14:26, Luk.21:26; εἰς φ., Rom.8:15; μετὰ φόβου, Mat.28:8; φ. καὶ τρόμος (Lft., Notes, 172), 1Co.2:3, 2Co.7:15, Eph.6:5, Php.2:12; by meton., of that which causes fear, Rom.13:3; of reverential fear, Rom.13:7, 1Pe.1:17 2:18 3:2 3:15; τ. κυρίου, Act.9:31, 2Co.5:11 (see Field, Notes, 183); Χριστοῦ, Eph.5:21; θεοῦ, Rom.3:18, 2Co.7:1

Synonymssee: δειλία (and of. DCG, i, 381)

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Healthy church life includes reverence before God, not casual familiarity. 1 John 4:17-21

Holy fear preserves the integrity and seriousness of worship and community life. Acts 2:42-47

Contrasted with mature love, which removes anxious anticipation of judgment. Acts 5:1-11

The gospel transforms fearful expectation of punishment into confident assurance.

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Luke 1:12 · Luke 1:65 · Luke 7:16 · Acts 2:43 · Acts 5:5 · Acts 5:11 · Acts 19:17 · Rom 3:18 · Rom 13:3 · 1 John 4:18 · Rev 11:11 12×

Nominative · Plural · Masculine 2 Cor 7:5 1×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 14:26 · Matt 28:4 · Matt 28:8 · Luke 5:26 · Luke 21:26 · 2 Cor 7:15 · Eph 6:5 · Phil 2:12 · 1 Pet 3:16 9×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Luke 8:37 · Acts 9:31 · 1 Cor 2:3 · 2 Cor 7:1 · Eph 5:21 · Heb 2:15 · 1 Pet 1:17 · 1 Pet 2:18 · 1 Pet 3:2 · Jude 1:23 10×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Mark 4:41 · Luke 2:9 · John 7:13 · John 19:38 · John 20:19 · Rom 8:15 · Rom 13:7 · 2 Cor 5:11 · 2 Cor 7:11 · 1 Tim 5:20 · 1 Pet 3:14 · 1 John 4:18 · Rev 18:10 · Rev 18:15 15×

Canonical Themes

Holiness

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

1 John 4:17-21 fear phóbos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

Anxiety or terror in view of danger or punishment.

Acts 2:42-47 Awe phóbos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

Reverent fear or holy awe in response to God’s presence and works.

Acts 5:1-11 Fear phóbos Nominative · Singular · Masculine

Reverent awe or dread in response to divine action.

Additional Occurrences

1-john Fear phóbos

terror or dread of punishment

Luke 1:56–66 φόβος phóbos

Fear, awe

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.

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 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

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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