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How Many Times Is Fear Not In The Bible

Bible Verses About Fear Not To Claim As Promises To Be Still

Does the Bible really say “Fear Not” 365 times?

I have to admit up front I am partial to the promise, so do not fear for I am with you. It comforts me that God never leaves us in the midst of so many trials. As we read through these promises today I just want you to slowly let them sink in to your heart.

You can trust God and give Him the fear as you claim these promises Bible verses about fear not!

Have No Fear Do Not Be Afraid

The most commonly repeated phrase in the whole Bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is Fear not! or Have no fear! or Do not be afraid! or Be not afraid!

  • It is often claimed that this phrase appears exactly 365 times in the Bible, one for each day of the year! This might be an inspiring claim, but it is not biblically accurate.
  • The phrase “Fear not! appears only slightly over 100 times in the Old Testament, as well as about 44 times in the New Testament .
  • The exact count will depend on which Hebrew and Greek words one includes, since there are several close synonyms in each language .
  • The main Greek word group expressing “fear” is the adjective phobos , the verb phobe , and the adverb aphobs .
  • One can attain a higher total count if one includes biblical texts that mention people who are afraid .
  • An even higher total can be attained if one also includes some positive phrases that could be considered equivalent, such as “to trust God/Jesus” or “to be at peace” or “to rest in God.”

Another closely related and very common biblical theme is that people should “fear the Lord” or have “fear of the Lord” but these ideas are not contradictory, when understood properly:

How Many Times Does Fear Not Appear In The Bible

Years ago someone told me that fear not was found in the Bible 365 times once for each day of the year. I thought about printing my own calendar and placing a different fear not verse on each day. What a source of hope and confidence it would be to begin each and every day by meditating on the fact that we dont have to fear whatever we have to face.

Much to my chagrin, fear not nor any of its close derivatives can be found in the Bible 365 times. Personal friend and close colleague, Pastor Nathan Boehm, took the time to do further research on this subject and posted his findings on his blog that I recommend for your reading .

Although not found 365 times in the Bible, fear not was spoken as an imperative from the lips of Jesus, and therefore should be taken as a direct command to be adhered.

There are many earthly reasons to fear today the failing economy, bad reports from the doctor, global unrest, terrorist threats, and hopeless predictions from political prognosticators just to name a few.

However, as followers of Christ we have greater reasons to fear not God will not fail you , God will not forsake you , God is with you , God will help you , God knows you by name , God can do marvelous things , It is Gods pleasure to give you the kingdom , and Christ is the First and the Last .

Simply put, Jesus said, Do not fear . Hearing it once from Jesus is just as good as hearing it 365 times. He said it, that settles it!

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Iv Some Related Webpages:

  • List of 365 Fear Not Bible Verses
  • Fear Not! 365 Days a Year
  • Fear to Fearless
  • 365 Fear Bible Verses

Note: Many other published articles and websites simply claim that “Fear not!” is found exactly 365 times in the Bible, without providing any evidence or accurate analysis. But even if this claim is not technically correct, we can certainly allow God to inspire us to “have no fear” each day of every year of our lives!

Return to the HOME PAGE of Felix Just, S.J. This page was last updated on June 15, 2021

Why Does The Bible Say Not To Fear

Do Not Be Afraid

As we all know with living in society today, fear is something that is entangled in every aspect of our lives. According to statistical studies, more than 30% of adults in the United States struggle with anxiety disorders or phobias. Our fears can cause us to trust in things, people, places, idols, etc., instead of trusting in the One who created and breathed them into life. Pastor Rick Warren stresses that peoples fears are rooted in the belief that God is out to condemn them through their trials and hurts instead of remembering that this is not so because of Jesus sacrifice. This caters to fear of God in the Old Testament, where people followed the Law set by God in fear that if they didnt, He would take away His favor from them and unleash hell. However, through Jesuss sacrifice and resurrection, people now have a Savior who took the punishment for those sins and brings us to a place where God only wants to offer love, peace, and the opportunity to serve alongside Him.

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I Suddenly Realized The Incredible Value In Fear

It is not something to be ashamed of, ignored, or condemned. Rather it’s a healthy emotion created by God. When we are scared, we slow down, become cautious, pay attention.

It’s the perfect time to pray. “Lord, is this thought true? Is it loving is it You? Is it helping me or hurting me? Is it saving my skin or stopping me from stepping my very best life? Is this You or is this the enemy?”

The enemy wants to do a perverted whack job on anything God means for our good. So… can fear become distorted and disruptive and destructive? Hell, yes.

That’s exactly why we need to seek God vigilantly in our fear to learn where it’s coming from.

A Do Not Be Afraid For Every Day Of The Year

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Fear Nots From David In The Psalms

  • Psalm 3:6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
  • Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me.
  • Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?
  • Psalm 27:3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.
  • Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
  • Psalm 56:11 in God I trust and not afraid. What can man do to me?
  • Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
  • Psalm 118:6 The Lord is with me I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

These are beautifuland very personalprayers from David to the loving Heavenly Father.

David actually had a relationship with Him.

As you read and study these Scriptures, you can thank God for Davids example, and you can ask Him to grow you into this kind of fearlessness.

AND you can also notice that sometimes David actually was afraid and overwhelmed. Many of his psalms, though they end with trust, start with fear, complaining, and overwhelm. But in those feelings, he turned to God.

So heres an important way to pray.

On Easter Sunday Morning At The Empty Tomb:

How Many times the LORD said in the #BIBLE “DO NOT FEAR”
  • Matthew 28:4-5 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. / But the angel said to the women, Do not be afraid I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
  • Matthew 28:8, 10 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. // Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee there they will see me.

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Before 8 Am This Morning I Was Feeling Overwhelmed Which Is A Fancy Word For Fear

Saying I’m “overwhelmed” makes me sound busy and sophisticated when what I really want to do is crawl under my covers and hide.

Instead, I sat down with a pen and paper to see why? . But what I did find was a pile of sneaky lies slithering around in the shadows of my thoughts. Hissing and making me feel small, helpless, and alone.

I wrote them down. They probably aren’t that much different than your lies- the good ol’ standbys. “Your work isn’t good enough. He/she is smarter, better, more productive than you. You suck. You’re stupid. Etc.”

I know they aren’t true, but still they spew. And fill me up with poison sometimes. Then suddenly, I am very afraid.

So this morning, I prayed.

“Jesus, I’m afraid. Apparently there is a “fear not” for each day of the year, but I need one for each minute, please. And since I’m a big scaredy cat, could you please teach me about fear so I don’t feel so dumpy?”

This is what I heard,

Fear is a cause to pause. An invitation to stop and seek My way forward.

I thought about the circumstances in scripture when The Lord says, “fear not.” These are pivotal times when His people have paused to ask for direction and courage. They are taking big risks facing their giants going into battle saying unpopular things traveling into unchartered territory being persecuted for their faith.

The Bible Says Fear Not But I’m Scared Sh**less Sometimes Are You

photo by Daria Nepriakhina

I haven’t counted for myself, but I’ve heard it said, “Fear not,” is in the Bible 365 times. They teach, preach, and beseech us “not to be afraid.”

But frankly, I’m scared shitless sometimes. I fear clowns, criticism, crashing my bike, and car wrecks. Bridges, bears, big buildings, and bull riding. Snakes, shark attacks, screwing up, and smothering. Judgment, jack-in-the boxes, jerky people, and jet planes. Just to name a few.

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Fear Not Directly From God To A Person Or Group

I saw that many of them were to a specific person or group of people, like when He spoke through Moses to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 1:21:

See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid do not be discouraged.

Now, thats beautiful and inspiring, and we can learn about God by the way He led the people of Israel.

BUT.

This isnt directed to everyone.

Ive written before about the importance of focusing on WHO a Bible message is directed to. When its clearly directed to one person, does it apply directly to us? Maybe and maybe not. Can we learn from it? Yes, always.

MANY of the fear not verses are spoken from God directly to a person. To Abram in Genesis 15:1, to Moses in Numbers 21:34, to Joshua in Joshua 8:1, to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7:4. If you study all of these fear not verses, youll learn a lot about how God works in specific situations. And it can be heartening and encouraging. But its not appropriate Biblical exegesis to assume that Gods specific words to a person or group are written directly to you.

One day the specific situation might be yours, and you might receive a specific fear not from the Lord about it. But until then, well continue to be encouraged by these examples.

Bible Verses For Anxiety And Worry

" Fear Not"  In The Bible: Overcoming Worry and Fear ~ BLOG ...

I read words – of life – of truth. Soaking them in, over and over, praying them out loud. Until they became so familiar, they replaced the other things in my mind that Id battled against. Theres nothing magical about words and verses, but there is power through them because theyre Gods words.

Change happened. Anxious thoughts began to diminish. Worry let go of its constant grip. And though fear is sometimes still there, it no longer wields control, holding me back, paralyzing me in its grasp.

His words are life words, soothing to our soul, calming to our spirits, giving power to our days.

Its not always easy, and it often comes down to a choice:

  • Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control your life.
  • Choosing to guard your heart.
  • Choosing to focus your mind on what is true in the midst of uncertain times.

We might still feel afraid, but we can believe that God is with us. We may not be in control, but we can trust the One who is. We may not know the future, but we can know the God who does.

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How Many Times Does The Bible Say Fear Not Or Be Not Afraid

The phrases, “Fear not” or “Be not afraid”, occur 103 times in the King James Version of the Bible. It is a common misconception that this sentiment of reassurance occurs 365 or more times.

Isiah 41:10 is an example of a “Fear not” verse, reading “Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God.” In Matthew 10:26-33, it is advised to “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known.” In 1 Chronicles 22:13, a slight variation reads: “dread not, nor be dismayed.”

“Fear” itself is mentioned over 500 times in the King James Version of the Bible. This includes the reassuring “Fear not” and its variations, as well as the passages warning Christians to actively fear their God.

Often this fear of God is equated with virtue or wisdom. For instance, in Proverbs 8:13, it is said that “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” In Psalms 111:10, “the fear of the LORD ” is said to be “the beginning of wisdom” and, in Proverbs 1:7, “the beginning of knowledge.” In 2 Chronicles 17:10 the fear of God is given as the reason for Judah making no war against Jehoshaphat.

What Is The Most Common Phrase In The Bible Do Not Fear

The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is Do not fear. Its in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things, if you think about it. But fear isnt only a guide to keep us safe its also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.

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Fear Not & Do Not Be Afraid

Trust in GodGenesis 21:17Genesis 26:24Genesis 35:17Genesis 46:3Exodus 14:13-14Exodus 20:19-20Numbers 14:9Numbers 21:34Deuteronomy 1:16-17Deuteronomy 1:21Deuteronomy 1:29-31Deuteronomy 7:17-19Deuteronomy 7:20-21Deuteronomy 3:2Deuteronomy 3:22Deuteronomy 18:22Deuteronomy 20:1Deuteronomy 20:2-4Deuteronomy 31:6Deuteronomy 31:8Joshua 1:8-9Joshua 8:1Joshua 10:8Joshua 10:25Joshua 11:6Judges 6:10Judges 6:23Ruth 3:111 Samuel 12:201 Samuel 23:171 Kings 17:132 Kings 1:152 Kings 6:162 Kings 19:5-71 Chronicles 22:131 Chronicles 28:202 Chronicles 20:152 Chronicles 20:172 Chronicles 32:6-8Nehemiah 4:14Psalms 3:5-8Psalms 27:1-3Psalms 46:1-3Psalms 56:3Psalms 56:4Psalms 118:6-9Proverbs 3:24-26Isaiah 7:4Isaiah 8:11-13Isaiah 10:24Isaiah 12:2-3Isaiah 35:4Isaiah 40:9Isaiah 41:10Isaiah 41:12-14Isaiah 43:1-2Isaiah 43:5-6Isaiah 44:2-4Isaiah 44:8Isaiah 51:7Isaiah 51:12-16Isaiah 54:4Isaiah 54:14Jeremiah 1:8Jeremiah 10:5-6Jeremiah 17:7-8Jeremiah 30:10Jeremiah 42:9-12Jeremiah 46:27Jeremiah 46:28Lamentations 3:55-58Ezekiel 2:6-7Ezekiel 3:9-10Daniel 10:12Daniel 10:18-19Joel 2:21Joel 2:22Zephaniah 3:16-17Haggai 2:4-5Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15-17Matthew 1:20-21Matthew 10:26Matthew 10:28Matthew 10:31Matthew 14:27Matthew 17:7Matthew 28:5Matthew 28:9-10Luke 1:13-14Luke 1:30Luke 2:10-12Luke 5:10Luke 8:50Luke 12:4-6Luke 12:7Luke 12:31-33John 6:19-20John 12:14-15John 14:27Acts 18:9-10Acts 27:23-24

What Did Jesus Say About Fear

What Does the Bible Say About Fear?

The Good News: Accept the peace of Jesus a peace the world cannot give and watch your fears and anxieties melt away. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

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Hopeful Bible Verses About Fear

“You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.”

Fear can creep up on us when we least expect it. Sure, theres fear we can kind of expect when we subject ourselves to that yearly walk through one of the most haunted places in America on Halloween or sit down with some popcorn to watch a scary movie. But where do we turn with the other, more significant fears? Things like watching a loved one go through cancer treatment, or the potential of losing a job, having a miscarriage, or getting into a car accident. Unfortunately, there isnt a limit to what our brains can concoct that is potentially fearful, some of it legitimate and some of it irrational. Either way, we can find hope and an anchor in the storm that is our fear in Jesus because he has a lot to say about fear in scripture. Fear not is a common reminder in the Word, because we are often forgetful and we can try to imagine the future before it has even happenedleading to a lot of fear and anxiety. Jesus reminds us that we can trust God as our good Father. He will fight for us. He will cover us and protect us. He will calm the storms in our minds and hearts. All he asks is that we turn our eyes from our fears to Him.

As you’re seeking comfort from your fear, also look toward Bible verses about anxiety, Bible verses about stress, and Bible verses about courage.

The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?

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