Topical Encyclopedia
Fright, often understood as a sudden and intense fear, is a human emotion that is addressed in various contexts throughout the Bible. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings on how believers are to respond to fear and fright, emphasizing trust in God and His sovereignty.
Biblical Instances of Fright1.
Adam and Eve: The first instance of fright in the Bible occurs in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, they experienced fear for the first time.
Genesis 3:10 records Adam's response to God: "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." This fear was a direct result of disobedience and the awareness of sin.
2.
Jacob's Fear of Esau: In
Genesis 32, Jacob experiences fright at the prospect of meeting his brother Esau, whom he had wronged years earlier. Jacob's fear leads him to pray earnestly for God's protection, demonstrating that turning to God in times of fear is a biblical response.
3.
Israelites at the Red Sea: In
Exodus 14, the Israelites are terrified as Pharaoh's army approaches them at the Red Sea. Their fright is met with Moses' assurance in
Exodus 14:13-14: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
4.
Gideon's Call: In
Judges 6, Gideon is initially frightened when called by God to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Despite his fear, God reassures him, saying, "Peace be with you. Do not be afraid, for you will not die" (
Judges 6:23). Gideon's account illustrates that God equips and strengthens those He calls, even when they are fearful.
5.
Disciples in the Storm: In the New Testament, the disciples experience fright during a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus calms the storm and questions their fear, saying, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" (
Matthew 8:26). This account highlights the importance of faith in overcoming fear.
Teachings on Fear and Fright1.
Trust in God: The Bible consistently teaches that trust in God is the antidote to fear.
Psalm 56:3-4 states, "When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" This passage encourages believers to rely on God's promises and protection.
2.
God's Presence: The assurance of God's presence is a recurring theme in Scripture as a remedy for fear.
Isaiah 41:10 declares, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
3.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear: In 1
John 4:18, the apostle John writes, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." This verse teaches that understanding and experiencing God's perfect love can dispel fear.
4.
Fear of the Lord: While fright is often seen as negative, the Bible also speaks of the "fear of the Lord" as a positive and reverent awe of God.
Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." This fear is not about being frightened but about recognizing God's majesty and authority.
ConclusionThe Bible addresses the emotion of fright by providing examples of individuals who faced fear and by offering teachings that encourage trust in God. Through faith, prayer, and understanding of God's love and presence, believers are equipped to overcome fright and live with confidence in God's promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A state of terror excited by the sudden appearance of danger; sudden and violent fear, usually of short duration; a sudden alarm.
2. (n.) Anything strange, ugly or shocking, producing a feeling of alarm or aversion.
3. (n.) To alarm suddenly; to shock by causing sudden fear; to terrify; to scare.
Greek
5401. phobos -- panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror... fear, terror. From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or
fright -- be
afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror. (phoboi) -- 1 Occurrence.
...Strong's Hebrew
4035. megurah -- a storehouse, granary... barn, fear. Feminine of magowr or of maguwr; a
fright; also a granary -- barn, fear.
see HEBREW magowr. see HEBREW maguwr. 4034, 4035. megurah. 4036 .
...367. emah -- terror, dread
... Or (shortened) remah {ay-maw'}; from the same as 'ayom;fright; concrete, an idol
(as a bugbear) -- dread, fear, horror, idol, terrible, terror....
4032. magor -- fear, terror
... Or (Lam. 2:22) maguwr {maw-goor'}; from guwr in the sense of fearing; afright
(objective or subjective) -- fear, terror. Compare Magowr mic-Cabiyb....
3420. yeraqon -- mildew, paleness, lividness
... greenish, yellow. From yereq; paleness, whether of persons (fromfright), or of
plants (from drought) -- greenish, yellow. see HEBREW yereq. 3419, 3420....
Library
Answer to Mr. W's Sixth Objection.
... impossible, but the passionate screams of the feminine by-standers mightfright
her into fits, that bore the appearance of death; otherwise, why did Jesus turn...
Israel at the Red Sea
... Pharoah hears of it; he comes upon them, to overcome them; and they stand in terrible
fright and jeopardy of them, to overcome them; and they stand in terrible...
On Extreme Unction and Holy Orders
... If, however, these persons were so frightened that there was danger of
their dying from thefright, they could then be anointed....
Hymns of Wales.
... since the "Battle of the Hallelujahs""near Chirk on the border, nine miles from
Wrexham"when the invading Danes were driven from the field infright by the...
The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... The destruction did not so much as give time forfright; for, at one and the same
instant, the noise, the shock, and the ruin were perceived....
The Arrest
... So thefright of their Master's arrest, coming so suddenly on the prayerless and
unprepared disciples, undid, for the time, what their years of intercourse...
Yea, Though I Walk in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will...
... The timid, terrified animals become wild withfright, and are scattered, running
this way and that, until the shepherd calls and bids them collect together....
The Rich Man and Lazarus
... whether in the body or out of the body, can bring one soul "from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God." It might very possiblyfright him to...
Troubles in Paris
... Du Corneau [sic] avowed afterwards that he was quaking withfright; but Vincent,
though wet to the skin, scarcely seemed to notice that all was not as usual...
Of Detraction.
... The finer his line is spun, the less shadow it casts, and is less apt tofright
us from the hook: and though there be much odds between a talent of lead and a...
Thesaurus
Fright (3 Occurrences)...Fright (3 Occurrences).
... through the
fright of thy heart wherewith thou shalt be in
terror, and through the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. (DBY).
...Panic (22 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Extreme or sudden and causeless; unreasonable; -- said of fear
orfright; as, panic fear, terror, alarm. 3. (n.) A sudden...
Frighten (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm
orfright; to affright; to terrify. Multi-Version Concordance...
Terror (137 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Extreme fear; fear that agitates body
and mind; violent dread;fright. 2. (n.) That which excites...
Scare (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To frighten; to strike with sudden fear; to alarm. 2. (n.)Fright; esp.,
suddenfright produced by a trifling cause, or originating in mistake....
Friendship (13 Occurrences)
Upset (9 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To disturb the self-possession of; to disorder the nerves of; to
make ill; as, thefright upset her. 6. (vi) To become upset....
Westerns (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Westerns (1 Occurrence). Job 18:20 At this day westerns
have been astonished And easterns have takenfright. (YLT)....
Idol (56 Occurrences)
... (3.) `Emah, "terror," in allusion to the hideous form of idols (Jeremiah 50:38).
(4.) Miphletzeth, "afright;" "horror" (1 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 15:16)....
Frightful (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Full of that which causesfright; exciting alarm; impressing terror; shocking;
as, a frightful chasm, or tempest; a frightful appearance....
Resources
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