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φόβος

phóbos

G5401 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state of fear or dread; the emotional response of apprehension, anxiety, or reverential awe, experienced in anticipation of danger, harm, or the overwhelming presence of the divine. The term can denote (a) basic fear or terror in the face of perceived threats or dangers, (b) a sense of profound respect, reverence, or awe—as toward a deity or respected power, (c) caution or concern over wrongdoing or potential consequences, and (d) traits or habits of timidity or hesitance in one’s behavior.

Semantic Range

fear, terror, alarm, panic, apprehension, reverence, awe, respect, timidity

Root / Etymology

From the root φέβομαι (phebomai), meaning 'to flee in fear' or 'to be afraid'; the verbal stem is phob-, forming φόβος as an abstract noun. Cognate with related Indo-European terms indicating fear or flight.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, φόβος typically designated the physiological and emotional reaction of fear in the face of physical danger or dread of the unknown. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the semantic range expanded to include not just terror but also reverent awe or respect, particularly in religious contexts—such as 'the fear of the divine' or 'reverence for a ruler.' In the Septuagint, φόβος often translates Hebrew יִרְאָה (yir’ah), which can mean both fear and awe, especially in relation to the divine. In New Testament contexts, φόβος frequently appears in narratives describing responses to miraculous events (alarm or terror), as well as exhortations to live in reverence before God ('fear of God'), with the sense sometimes overlapping with piety or respectful awe rather than sheer terror. English Bibles often translate φόβος as 'fear,' but in passages involving reverence or awe, this may not fully convey the nuance. When contrasted with words like δέος (deos, dread) or εὐλάβεια (eulabeia, caution/reverence), φόβος occupies a broader semantic field, covering involuntary and voluntary, negative and positive valences of the emotional response.

Translation Consistency

primary "fear" 47 occurrences

Most natural and frequent English rendering for φόβος in biblical contexts (44 of 47 P2 occurrences). 'Fear' easily covers the primary senses—basic fear/terror, apprehension, and reverential awe (as in 'fear of the Lord')—while remaining idiomatic and concise. Other senses (terror, awe, timidity) are rarer and are encompassed by 'fear' in typical usage.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:--be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.

Root Family

φόβος (phobos) — fear, dread, terror, reverential awe, alarm

Root φοβ- to fear, to be afraid, to flee

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5401-03 φόβον phobon N ACC M SG fear fear fear 15
G5401-04 φόβος phobos N NOM M SG fear fear fear 12
G5401-01 φόβῳ phobo N DAT M SG fear in fear in fear 10
G5401-05 φόβου phobou N GEN M SG fear of fear fear 9
G5401-02 φόβοι phoboi N NOM M PL fears fears fears 1

Occurrences in Scripture

47 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5401-05 Matthew 14:26 φόβου phobou N GEN M SG fear of fear fear
G5401-05 Matthew 28:4 φόβου phobou N GEN M SG fear of fear fear
G5401-05 Matthew 28:8 φόβου phobou N GEN M SG fear of fear fear
G5401-03 Mark 4:41 φόβον phobon N ACC M SG fear fear fear
G5401-04 Luke 1:12 φόβος phobos N NOM M SG fear fear fear
G5401-04 Luke 1:65 φόβος phobos N NOM M SG fear fear fear
G5401-03 Luke 2:9 φόβον phobon N ACC M SG fear fear fear
G5401-05 Luke 5:26 φόβου phobou N GEN M SG with fear of fear of fear
G5401-04 Luke 7:16 φόβος phobos N NOM M SG fear fear fear
G5401-01 Luke 8:37 φόβῳ phobo N DAT M SG with fear in fear in fear
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