one of the passions of the human mind: (see PASSION). It is defined, an apprehension of impending evil, attended with a desire of avoiding it.

Fear in the extreme is called fright or terror. See FRIGHT.

scripture, is used in various senses.

The fear of God is either filial or servile. The filial fear is a holy affection or gracious habit in the soul, whereby it is inclined to obey all God's commandments, and to hate and avoid evil. Servile or servile fear is the consequence of guilt; it is a judicial impression from the sad thoughts of the provoked majesty of heaven; it is an alarm within that disturbs the rest of a sinner. Though this fear be in wicked men, yet it often proves preparative to faith and repentance.

Fear is likewise used for the object of fear. Thus it is said, "the fear of Isaac," to describe the God whom Isaac feared, (Gen. xxxi. 42.), and in Prov. i. 26. "I will mock you when your fear cometh;" that is, the calamity you feared. God says, that he will send his fear before his people; that is, a dread wrought by him, in order to terrify and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan.