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Bible verses about fear

Isaiah 41:10 is the one to memorise: don't be afraid, for I am with you; don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Four promises in a single verse, none of them conditional on you being brave first. That last part is the reason it works when you're actually frightened rather than theoretically frightened.

12 passages · World English Bible & King James · public domain

  1. Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.Isaiah 41:10 · World English Bible

    Four promises stacked in one verse, none of them conditional on you being brave first.

    King James

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

  2. For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.2 Timothy 1:7 · World English Bible

    Not a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. Useful when fear starts claiming to be your personality.

    King James

    For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

  3. The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?Psalms 27:1 · World English Bible

    Whom shall I fear? A question rather than a command, which lands differently.

    King James

    The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

  4. Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9 · World English Bible

    Be strong and courageous, given as an order to a man about to do something enormous.

    King James

    Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

  5. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.Psalms 56:3 · World English Bible

    When I am afraid — not if. The most realistic verse in Scripture about fear.

    King James

    What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

  6. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.1 John 4:18 · World English Bible

    Perfect love casts out fear. Aimed particularly at fear of judgement rather than fear of danger.

    King James

    There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

  7. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Psalms 23:4 · World English Bible

    The comfort named is company on the path, not removal from it.

    King James

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  8. The LORD himself is who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be discouraged.”Deuteronomy 31:8 · World English Bible

    He goes before you. Notice the direction — ahead, not merely alongside.

    King James

    And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

  9. The LORD is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?Psalms 118:6 · World English Bible

    The LORD is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me? Short and defiant.

    King James

    The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

  10. But now the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt, and flame will not scorch you.Isaiah 43:1-2 · World English Bible

    Through the waters, through the rivers, through the fire. Three times through, never around.

    King James

    But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  11. The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.Proverbs 29:25 · World English Bible

    The fear of man proves to be a snare. For the exhausting fear of what people will think.

    King James

    The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

  12. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.Matthew 10:31 · World English Bible

    You are of more value than many sparrows — an argument from how small the things God notices are.

    King James

    Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

‘Do not fear’ is almost never said on its own

People sometimes hear do not be afraid as an instruction to manage your feelings, which is not much help at 2am. Look at how it's actually used. It's nearly always attached to a reason, and the reason is almost always presence rather than a change of circumstances: for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10), for you are with me (Psalm 23:4), the LORD your God goes with you (Deuteronomy 31:8). The command isn't feel differently. It's look at who's here.

Fear of other people

Proverbs 29:25 — the fear of man proves to be a snare. It's the verse for the specific, exhausting fear of what people will think, say or do about you, which Scripture treats as a trap rather than as prudence.

When you're already afraid

Psalm 56:3 is the most realistic verse in the Bible about fear: when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Not if. It assumes the fear and gives you something to do inside it rather than instead of it.

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For the thing you can't stop picturing

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3

It says when I am afraid, not if. You're allowed to still be scared while you read it.

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Questions

What is the best Bible verse for fear?

Isaiah 41:10 — don't be afraid, for I am with you; don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. For fear you're already inside, Psalm 56:3 — when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

How many times does the Bible say do not be afraid?

It appears in various forms well over a hundred times, though the often-quoted figure of 365 is not something you can verify from the text. What matters more is the pattern: the command is nearly always attached to a reason, and the reason is usually God's presence rather than a change in circumstances.

What does the Bible say about the fear of man?

Proverbs 29:25 calls the fear of man a snare, contrasting it with trusting the LORD, which is called safety. Scripture treats the fear of other people's opinions as a trap rather than as caution.

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