phobeō · fear, be afraid

What it means

phobeō (φοβέω) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “fear, be afraid”.

Also show reverent respect.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. To be afraid: "do not fear".
2. To honor God with reverence.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

To fear, to be afraid; toward God, also to revere. In the Greek text it appears almost always in the middle form φοβέομαι. Of the same family is φόβος, “fear” (G5401).

• “Do not be afraid” Matthew 1:20Matthew 14:27
• Being afraid Mark 16:8
• Fearing God: “fearing God” Acts 10:2Luke 18:2Matthew 10:28
• Fear and love 1 John 4:18
• Respecting Ephesians 5:33

How we translate it

“Be afraid” 27 times, “fear” 22, “afraid” 16, “they were afraid” 12, “fearing” 6, “they feared” 6. “Fear” when the object is God or a person (“did not fear God”, Luke 18:2); “be afraid” when it is fright or dread (Mark 16:8). In Ephesians 5:33 the context asks for “respect”. It is the same choice this edition makes with יָרֵא (H3372): “fear”, not replaced by “revere”.

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• be afraid ×27
• fear ×22
• afraid ×16
• they were afraid ×12
• fearing ×6
• they feared ×6
• fears ×3
• feared ×2
• respect ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×18
• Mark×12
• Luke×23
• John×5
• Acts×14
• Romans×3
• 2 Corinthians×2
• Galatians×2
• Ephesians×1
• Colossians×1
• Hebrews×4
• 1 Peter×3
• 1 John×1
• Revelation×6

• Matthew 1:20

  And as he was considering these things, look, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

• Matthew 2:22

  But hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; and having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee,

• Matthew 9:8

  Seeing it, the crowds were afraid and glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

• Matthew 10:26

  So do not be afraid of them; for nothing is covered that will not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

• Matthew 10:28

  And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

• Matthew 10:31

  So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

• Matthew 14:5

  And though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him to be a prophet.

• Matthew 14:27

  But at once Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage; it is I; do not be afraid.”

• Matthew 14:30

  But seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

• Matthew 17:6

  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were very afraid.

• Matthew 17:7

  And Jesus came and, touching them, said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”

• Matthew 21:26

  But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd; for all hold John as a prophet.”

• Matthew 21:46

  And although they were seeking to seize him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

• Matthew 25:25

  and being afraid, I went off and hid your talent in the ground; look, you have what is yours.’

• Matthew 27:54

  Now the centurion and those with him keeping watch over Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things that had happened, were very afraid, saying, “Truly this man was God’s Son.”

• Matthew 28:5

  But the angel answered the women, “Do not be afraid, you, for I know that you are seeking Jesus, who has been crucified.

• Matthew 28:10

  Then Jesus says to them, “Do not be afraid; go, tell my brothers to go away to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

• Mark 4:41

  And they feared with a great fear and were saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

• Mark 5:15

  And they come to Jesus and see the demon-possessed man sitting, clothed and in his right mind, the one who had had the legion; and they were afraid.

• Mark 5:33

  But the woman, afraid and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

• Mark 5:36

  But Jesus, ignoring the word being spoken, says to the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

• Mark 6:20

  for Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and he was protecting him. And when he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and he heard him gladly.

• Mark 6:50

  for they all saw him and were terrified. But he at once spoke with them and says to them, “Take courage; I am he; do not be afraid.”

• Mark 9:32

  But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to ask him.

• Mark 10:32

  And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him:

• Mark 11:18

  And the high priests and the scribes heard it, and they were seeking how they might destroy him; for they feared him, for all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

• Mark 11:32

  But should we say, ‘From people’?” — they were afraid of the crowd, for all held that John really was a prophet.

• Mark 12:12

  And they were seeking to seize him, and they feared the crowd; for they knew that he had told the parable against them. And leaving him, they went away.

• Mark 16:8

  And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Shorter ending: And all that they had been commanded they reported briefly to those around Peter. And after these things Jesus himself also sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.

• Luke 1:13

  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.

• Luke 1:30

  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

• Luke 1:50

  And his mercy is for generation after generation to those who fear him.

• Luke 2:9

  And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were afraid with great fear.

• Luke 2:10

  And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for look, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people;

• Luke 5:10

  and likewise also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

• Luke 8:25

  And he said to them, “Where is your faith?” And being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

• Luke 8:35

  And they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

• Luke 8:50

  But Jesus, hearing this, answered him, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.”

• Luke 9:34

  And while he was saying these things, a cloud came and was overshadowing them; and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

• Luke 9:45

  But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

And 55 more times.