Fear of man

The fear of man is being ruled by what other people think or might do, and it brings a snare. This page lists verses on fearing God rather than people, pleasing people or pleasing God, faith hidden for fear of others, giving in to the crowd, and boldness before others.

The fear of man brings a snare

• Proverbs 29:25
  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
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• Isaiah 51:12-13
  ¹²I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass? ¹³And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?But you have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You live in terror all day long because of the fury of the oppressor who is bent on destruction. But where is the fury of the oppressor?
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• Psalm 56:3-4
  ³What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. ⁴In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
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• Psalm 118:6
  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
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• Hebrews 13:6
  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
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Fear God rather than people

• Matthew 10:28
  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
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• Luke 12:4-5
  ⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
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• Isaiah 8:12-13
  ¹²Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. ¹³Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
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• 1 Peter 3:14-15
  ¹⁴But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” ¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,
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Pleasing people or pleasing God

• Galatians 1:10
  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
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• 1 Thessalonians 2:4
  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
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• Ephesians 6:6
  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
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• John 5:44
  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
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Faith kept hidden for fear of others

• John 12:42-43
  ⁴²Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:Nevertheless, many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. ⁴³For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
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• John 19:38
  And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.Afterward, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed His body.
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• John 9:22
  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
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• John 7:13
  Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.
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Giving in to the crowd

• 1 Samuel 15:24
  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
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• Mark 15:15
  And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.And wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
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• Mark 6:26
  And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
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• Matthew 26:69-72
  ⁶⁹Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said. ⁷⁰But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” ⁷¹And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷²And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”
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• Galatians 2:11-13
  ¹¹But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. ¹²For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. ¹³And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
  Show context · Read Galatians 2 →

Boldness before others

• Acts 4:19-20
  ¹⁹But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. ²⁰For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
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• Acts 5:29
  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
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• Daniel 3:16-18
  ¹⁶Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. ¹⁸But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
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• Acts 4:29
  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
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• Jeremiah 1:8
  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
  Show context · Read Jeremiah 1 →

See also

• Fear
• Courage
• Trusting God
• Rejection

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.