Strong's Lexicon
phobos: Fear, terror, reverence, respect
Original Word:φόβος
Part of Speech:Noun, Masculine
Transliteration:phobos
Pronunciation:FOH-bos
Phonetic Spelling:(fob'-os)
Definition:Fear, terror, reverence, respect
Meaning:(a) fear, terror, alarm, (b) the object or cause of fear, (c) reverence, respect.
Word Origin:Derived from the verb φοβέω (phobeo), meaning "to put to flight" or "to terrify."
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: -H3374 (yirah): Fear, reverence, piety
-H3373 (yare): Fearful, afraid, reverent
Usage:In the New Testament, "phobos" primarily denotes a sense of fear or terror, often in response to the divine or supernatural. It can also imply reverence or awe, particularly in the context of the fear of the Lord, which is a profound respect and recognition of God's power and holiness. The term is used both in a negative sense, as in fear of danger or judgment, and in a positive sense, as in reverence for God.
Cultural and Historical Background:In the Greco-Roman world, "phobos" was commonly associated with fear of the gods, natural phenomena, or military threats. In Jewish thought, the fear of the Lord was a central theme, emphasizing a relationship with God characterized by awe, obedience, and worship. This dual aspect of fear—both as terror and reverence—reflects the broader cultural understanding of the divine as both protector and judge.
HELPS Word-studies
5401phóbos (fromphebomai, "to flee, withdraw") –fear (from Homer about 900bc on)5401 (phóbos) meantwithdrawal, fleeing because feeling inadequate (without sufficientresources,Abbott-Smith).
Fear (5401/phóbos) is commonly used in Scripture – sometimes positively (in relation to God) but more often negatively ofwithdrawing from the Lord (His will).
[Fundamentally,5401/phóbos ("fear") meanswithdraw (separate from), i.e. flee (remove oneself) and hence toavoid because ofdread (fright).]
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom phebomai (to be put to flight)
Definitionpanic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror
NASB Translationcause of fear (1), fear (37), fearful (1), fears (1), intimidation (1), respect (1), respectful (1), reverence (1), sense of awe (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5401: φόβοςφόβος,
φοβοῦ,
ὁ (
φέβομαι; like
φόρος,
τρόμος,
πόνος, from
φέρω,
τρέμω,
πένομαι), from
Homer down, the
Sept. for
יִרְאָה,
פַּחַד,
אֵימָה (terror),
חִתִּית (terror);
1.fear, dread, terror; in a subjective sense (οὐδένἐστιφόβοςεἰμήπροδοσίατῶνἀπόλογισμοῦβοηθημάτων, Wis. 17:11;προσδοκίανλέγωκακοῦτοῦτο,εἴτεφόβον,εἴτεδέοςκαλεῖτε,Plato, Protag., p. 358 d.): universally,1 John 4:18;φόβοςἐπίτιναπίπτει (Acts 19:17LTr);Revelation 11:11Rec.;ἐπιπίπτει,Luke 1:12;Acts 19:17 (RGTWH;Revelation 11:11LTTrWH);ἐγένετο,Luke 1:65;Acts 5:5, 11;λαμβάνειτινα,Luke 7:16 (Homer Iliad 11, 402);γίνεταιτίνι,Acts 2:43;πλησθῆναιφοβοῦ,Luke 5:26;συνέχεσθαιφόβῳ,Luke 8:37;ἔχεινφόβον,1 Timothy 5:20 (Herodotus 8, 12);κατεργάζεσθαι;τίνιφόβον,2 Corinthians 7:11;φοβεῖσθαιφόβον (seeφοβέω, 2),Mark 9:41;Luke 2:9; with a genitive of the object added,1 Peter 3:14 (soWiner's Grammar, § 32, 2; others subject. genitive);ἀπόφοβοῦ,for fear,Luke 21:26;ἀπότοῦφοβοῦ, for the fear, with which they were struck,Matthew 14:26; with a genitive of the object added,Matthew 28:4;εἰςφόβον,unto (that ye may) fear,Romans 8:15;μετάφοβοῦ,Matthew 28:8; withκαίτρόμου added,2 Corinthians 7:15;Ephesians 6:5;Philippians 2:12;ἐνφόβῳκαίἐντρόμῳ (seeτρόμος),1 Corinthians 2:3;τιναἐνφόβῳσῴζειν (Rec.),ἐλεαν (LTTrWH), with anxious heed lest ye be defiled by the wickedness of those whom ye are rescuing,Jude 1:23; pluralφόβοι, feelings of fear, fears (Winer's Grammar, 176 (166)),2 Corinthians 7:5;φόβοςτίνος, genitive of the object (ourfear of one):τῶνἸουδαίων,John 7:13;John 19:38;John 20:19;βασανισμοῦ,Revelation 18:10, 15;θανάτου,Hebrews 2:15 (Xenophon, mem. l, 4, 7). In an objective sense,that which strikes terror:φόβοςἀγαθῶνἔργων, or more correctly (withLTTrWH)τῷἀγαθῷἔργῳ,a terror to (or for),Romans 13:3.
2.reverence, respect (for authority, rank, dignity):Romans 13:7;1 Peter 2:18;1 Peter 3:16 (15);ἡἐνφόβῳἀναστροφή, behavior coupled with (cf.ἐν, I. 5 e.) reverence for one's husband,1 Peter 3:2;φόβος with a genitive of the object:τοῦκυρίου,Acts 9:31;2 Corinthians 5:11;Χριστοῦ,Ephesians 5:21 (notRec.);Θεοῦ,Romans 3:18;2 Corinthians 7:1; (Ephesians 5:21Rec.);Θεοῦ is omitted as suggested by the context,1 Peter 1:17; (often in the O. T.יְהוָהיִרְאַת andאֱלֹהִיםיִרְאַת). (Synonyms: seeδειλία,δέος, at the end; cf.φοβέω.)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fear, terror.From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright -- be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
Forms and Transliterations
φοβοι φόβοι φοβον φόβον φοβος φόβος φοβου φόβου φοβω φόβω φόβῳ phobo phobō phoboi phóboi phóbōi phobon phóbon phobos phóbos phobou phóbouLinks
Interlinear Greek •Interlinear Hebrew •Strong's Numbers •Englishman's Greek Concordance •Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •Parallel Texts
