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Humility and the Fear of the Lord in Scripture

Humility and the fear of the Lord are presented in Scripture as closely intertwined virtues, often appearing together and mutually reinforcing each other. The book of Proverbs explicitly links them, stating, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4 KJV) [2]. Another proverb declares, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility" (Proverbs 15:33 KJV) [1].

The "fear of the Lord" in the Old Testament is a designation of true piety [3]. It is not a slavish dread but rather a filial reverence, conjoined with love and hope [3]. This concept is seen in passages like Job 28:28 and Psalm 19:9 [3]. God is even called "the Fear of Isaac" in Genesis 31:42 and 53, signifying the God whom Isaac revered [3]. This godly fear is described as a hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13) and is equated with wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10) [7]. It is a treasure to saints, a fountain of life, and sanctifying [7]. The New Testament also enjoins a holy fear as a preventive against carelessness in religion and an incentive to penitence (Matthew 10:28; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 12:28-29) [3]. This fear includes reverence and respect, motivating a life of wisdom [13].

Humility is a prominent Christian grace (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7) [6]. It is a state of mind pleasing to God (1 Peter 3:4) and helps preserve the soul in tranquility, making individuals patient under trials (Psalm 69:32-33; Job 1:22) [6]. Scripture teaches that humility is necessary for the service of God (Micah 6:8) and is a characteristic of saints (Psalm 34:2) [4]. God regards the humble (Psalm 138:6; Isaiah 66:2), hears them (Psalm 9:12; Isaiah 10:17), and delivers them (Job 22:29) [4]. The humble enjoy God's presence (Isaiah 57:15), are lifted up and exalted by Him (James 4:10; Luke 14:11; 18:14), and receive more grace (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6) [4]. Humility is also presented as the way to honor (Proverbs 16:18) [6].

The relationship between humility and the fear of the Lord is often understood as reciprocal or mutually generative. Some interpretations suggest that humility leads to the fear of the Lord. For instance, John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 22:4, notes that "an humble man is blessed with it," and "humility leads on to the fear of the Lord" [11]. Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, similarly states that "because of humility, fear of the Lord comes" [12]. Another perspective is that they are in apposition, meaning one produces the other [10]. The Tyndale House commentary on Proverbs 15:33 explains that the fear of the Lord fosters humility because a proper regard for God counteracts human delusions of self-sufficiency [8]. Similarly, on Proverbs 22:4, it notes that the fear of the Lord goes hand in hand with humility, as a humble person recognizes they are not the center of the universe [9].

Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate example of humility (Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5-8) [4]. His humility was demonstrated in taking on human nature (Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 2:16), His birth (Luke 2:4-7), His subjection to parents (Luke 2:51), His station in life (Matthew 13:55), His poverty (Luke 9:58; 2 Corinthians 8:9), and His willingness to become a servant (Matthew 20:28; Philippians 2:7) [5]. He associated with the despised (Matthew 9:10-11), refused honors (John 5:41), and even washed His disciples' feet (John 13:5) [5]. This example serves as a model for believers [6]. Humility is fitting when considering humanity's state before God's kindness and love intervened (Titus 3:3-4) [14].

Sources

  1. Proverbs “Proverbs 15:33 (KJV) — The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”
  2. Proverbs “Proverbs 22:4 (KJV) — By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
  8. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 15:33: 15:33 Fear of the Lord fosters humility because proper regard for God counteracts our delusions of self-sufficiency.”
  9. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 22:4: 22:4 Fear of the Lord (see 1:7; 9:10) goes hand in hand with humility. A humble person knows that he is not the center of the universe. Humility is more valuable than wealth (16:19; see also 11:2; 15:33; 18:12).”
  10. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 22:4: humility and the fear of the Lord--are in apposition; one produces the other. On the results, compare Pro 3:16; Pro 8:18.”
  11. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 22:4: By humility and the fear of the Lord,.... Some render it, "the reward of humility, which is the fear of the Lord" (r); so the Targum; an humble man is blessed with it. Jarchi's note is, "because of humility, the fear of the Lord comes;'' humility leads on to the fear of the Lord; he that behaves humbly towards man comes at length to fear the Lord, and be truly religious: though these are rather to be considered as the graces of the Spirit of God, which go together where there is one, there is the other; he that is humbled under a sense of sin, and his own unwort”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Proverbs 22:4: In the wake of humility Because of humility, fear of the Lord comes. Another explanation: Humility is the main attribute, and fear is secondary to it and a “heel” to it, a mat for its feet.”
  13. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 34:9: 34:9-10 Fear of the Lord includes reverence and respect, and it motivates a life of wisdom (see Prov 1:7; 9:10).”
  14. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:3: 3:3 Humility (3:2) is fitting, considering our state when God’s kindness and love came to us (3:4; see Eph 2:1-4; 5:8; Col 3:7; 1 Pet 4:3).”
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