Proverbs 15:18-33
The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
Proverbs 15:33
and humility comes before honor.
I am sure most of us have heard teaching to the effect that the word “fear” in the phrase “the fear of the LORD” doesn’t mean “fear” at all, but rather “respect” or “reverence”. That’s a common teaching, and it is helpful insofar as it encourages us to approach God rather than flee from Him in terror. It recognizes God’s love and mercy alongside His holiness and power.
However, although I am by no means a Hebrew or Greek scholar, I am pretty sure that the original Hebrew word for “fear” here (and the Greek translation in the Septuagint) does indeed mean, well, “fear” — which is why the ESV still says “fear” (and not “respect”). So I think it is worth spending some time sitting with that word a bit, rather than instantly tossing it aside in favor of something we find more palatable.
The down side of watering down “fear” is that it tends to water down God Himself, turning Him into some Teddy Bear in the sky rather than the consuming Fire that He says He is. (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29) It also elevates us and minimizes the intent of this proverb. That is, we have a tremendous capacity for pride (and shockingly little capacity for true humility), so we tend to think of ourselves as “almost God” (or even superior to God). Perhaps a little more real fear of the LORD would bring us down a notch and move us toward humility.