φοβέω (G5399) — Greek Lexicon

φοβέω

phobéō

G5399 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To fear or be afraid, to experience apprehension or alarm in response to real or perceived danger, threat, or power; in active voice, to cause fear, terrify, or intimidate. In certain contexts, to show reverence, respect, or awe (especially toward divinity, authority, or sacred matters). The word's semantic range includes both intense emotional states of fear and the posture of respectful awe or reverence.

Semantic Range

to frighten, to cause to fear, to be afraid, to experience apprehension or alarm, to show reverence, to hold in awe, to respect

Root / Etymology

From the noun φόβος (phobos, 'fear, terror, awe'); denominal verb formation with the common -έω suffix indicating verbal action related to the noun. No evidence of borrowing from other languages; native Greek formation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, φοβέω primarily meant to put to flight, frighten, or terrify someone (active), and in the passive or middle forms, to be afraid or to flee in fear. In Koine Greek, the middle and passive forms (φοβοῦμαι, etc.) become more common and often simply denote being afraid, alarmed, or apprehensive, sometimes of humans, natural events, powers, or the divine. In religious contexts, especially in the Septuagint and New Testament, the term can denote a posture of reverence, awe, or respect, especially towards God or divine beings, reflecting the Hebrew יָרֵא (yārēʾ, 'to fear, to revere'). This range of meaning is reflected in both positive (reverential awe) and negative (terror) senses. Standard English translations often separate 'fear' from 'reverence,' but Koine Greek uses φοβέω for both, depending on context. Unlike δειλιάζω or ἐκπλήσσω, which strongly emphasize terror or stunned shock, φοβέω may imply appropriate awe or respect. The notion of 'reverence' as a translation especially arises in the context of exhortations regarding one's disposition towards God (e.g., φοβοῦ τὸν θεόν, 'fear God'). The word's emotional nuance is determined by immediate context.

Translation Consistency

primary "fear" 27 occurrences

“Fear” is the natural, single-word verb that covers the full semantic range of φοβέω: to be afraid, to cause fear, and to hold in reverent awe (e.g., fear God). It is the most common and idiomatic English rendering, works as transitive and intransitive, and keeps translation consistent across all forms.

Alternatives (23 occurrences):

"afraid" (19x) "might be afraid" (1x) "having become afraid" (1x) "having been afraid" (1x) "having been frightened" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from φόβος; to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere:--be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

Root Family

φοβ- (ekphobéō) — to fear, to frighten

Root φοβ- to fear, to frighten, to be afraid

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1629	ἐκφοβέω	to terrify utterly
G1719	ἔμφοβος	fear-stricken ones
G5398	φοβερός	fear-inspiring
G5400	φόβητρον	terror-causing portents
G5401	φόβος	in fear
G870	ἀφόβως	fearlessly

Word Forms

24 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5399-03`	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they feared	they were afraid	they were afraid	14
`G5399-18`	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear	13
`G5399-08`	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves	12
`G5399-05`	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing	10
`G5399-16`	φοβηθῆτε	phobethete	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	fear	Be afraid	be afraid	7
`G5399-21`	φοβούμενοι	phoboumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP VOC M PL`	fearing	those fearing	those fearing	6
`G5399-23`	φοβούμενος	phoboumenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	fearing	fearing	fearing	6
`G5399-02`	ἐφοβήθη	ephobethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he was afraid	was afraid	was afraid	5
`G5399-19`	φοβοῦμαι	phoboumai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I fear	I fear	I fear	4
`G5399-11`	φοβηθεὶς	phobetheis	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	fearing	having become afraid	having become afraid	3
`G5399-22`	φοβουμένοις	phoboumenois	`V PRS MID PTCP DAT M PL`	who fear	to those fearing	to those fearing	2
`G5399-01`	ἐφοβεῖτο	ephobeito	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	feared	was fearing	was fearing	1
`G5399-04`	ἐφοβούμην	ephoboumen	`V IMPF MID IND 1P SG`	I was afraid	I was fearing	I was afraid	1
`G5399-06`	φοβῇ	phobe	`V PRS MID IND 2P SG`	fear	you are fearing	fear	1
`G5399-07`	φοβεῖσθαι	phobeisthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to fear	to be fearing	to fear	1
`G5399-09`	φοβῆται	phobetai	`V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG`	she respects	may fear	may respect	1
`G5399-10`	φοβηθῇ	phobethe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	fear	may be afraid	may fear	1
`G5399-12`	φοβηθεῖσα	phobetheisa	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	fearing	having been afraid	having been afraid	1
`G5399-13`	φοβηθέντες	phobethentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having become afraid	having been frightened	having been frightened	1
`G5399-14`	φοβηθῇς	phobethes	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG`	fear	you might be afraid	you might be afraid	1
`G5399-15`	φοβηθήσομαι	phobethesomai	`V FUT PASS IND 1P SG`	I will fear	I will be afraid	I will be afraid	1
`G5399-17`	φοβηθῶμεν	phobethomen	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 1P PL`	let us fear	let us be afraid	let us be afraid	1
`G5399-20`	φοβούμεναι	phoboumenai	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM F PL`	being frightened	fearing (themselves)	fearing (themselves)	1
`G5399-24`	φοβούμεθα	phoboumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we fear	we fear	we fear	1

Occurrences in Scripture

95 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5399-14`	Matthew 1:20	φοβηθῇς	phobethes	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P SG`	fear	you might be afraid	you might be afraid
`G5399-02`	Matthew 2:22	ἐφοβήθη	ephobethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he was afraid	was afraid	he was afraid
`G5399-03`	Matthew 9:8	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	were afraid	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-16`	Matthew 10:26	φοβηθῆτε	phobethete	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	fear	Be afraid	be afraid
`G5399-08`	Matthew 10:28	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	fear	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-08`	Matthew 10:28	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe-2	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	fear	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-08`	Matthew 10:31	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	fear	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-02`	Matthew 14:5	ἐφοβήθη	ephobethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he feared	was afraid	was afraid
`G5399-08`	Matthew 14:27	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-02`	Matthew 14:30	ἐφοβήθη	ephobethe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he was afraid	was afraid	was afraid
`G5399-03`	Matthew 17:6	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were terrified	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-08`	Matthew 17:7	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-24`	Matthew 21:26	φοβούμεθα	phoboumetha	`V PRS MID IND 1P PL`	we fear	we fear	we fear
`G5399-03`	Matthew 21:46	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they feared	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-11`	Matthew 25:25	φοβηθεὶς	phobetheis	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M SG`	I was afraid	having become afraid	having become afraid
`G5399-03`	Matthew 27:54	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were terrified	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-08`	Matthew 28:5	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-08`	Matthew 28:10	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-03`	Mark 4:41	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they feared	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-03`	Mark 5:15	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-12`	Mark 5:33	φοβηθεῖσα	phobetheisa	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	fearing	having been afraid	having been afraid
`G5399-18`	Mark 5:36	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-01`	Mark 6:20	ἐφοβεῖτο	ephobeito	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	feared	was fearing	was fearing
`G5399-08`	Mark 6:50	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-05`	Mark 9:32	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-05`	Mark 10:32	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-05`	Mark 11:18	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they feared	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-05`	Mark 11:32	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-03`	Mark 12:12	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they feared	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-05`	Mark 16:8	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-18`	Luke 1:13	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-18`	Luke 1:30	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-22`	Luke 1:50	φοβουμένοις	phoboumenois	`V PRS MID PTCP DAT M PL`	who fear	to those fearing	to those fearing
`G5399-03`	Luke 2:9	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were frightened	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-08`	Luke 2:10	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-18`	Luke 5:10	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-13`	Luke 8:25	φοβηθέντες	phobethentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having become afraid	having been frightened	having been frightened
`G5399-03`	Luke 8:35	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-18`	Luke 8:50	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-03`	Luke 9:34	ἐφοβήθησαν	ephobethesan	`V AOR PASS IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were afraid	they were afraid
`G5399-05`	Luke 9:45	ἐφοβοῦντο	ephobounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were afraid	they were fearing	they were fearing
`G5399-16`	Luke 12:4	φοβηθῆτε	phobethete	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	be afraid	Be afraid	be afraid
`G5399-16`	Luke 12:5	φοβηθῆτε	phobethete	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 2P PL`	you should fear	Be afraid	be afraid
`G5399-16`	Luke 12:5	φοβήθητε	phobethete-2	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	fear	Be afraid	be afraid
`G5399-16`	Luke 12:5	φοβήθητε	phobethete-3	`V AOR PASS IMP 2P PL`	fear	Be afraid	be afraid
`G5399-08`	Luke 12:7	φοβεῖσθε	phobeisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	fear	be fearing yourselves	be fearing yourselves
`G5399-18`	Luke 12:32	φοβοῦ	phobou	`V PRS MID IMP 2P SG`	fear	of fear	of fear
`G5399-23`	Luke 18:2	φοβούμενος	phoboumenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	fearing	fearing	fearing
`G5399-19`	Luke 18:4	φοβοῦμαι	phoboumai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I fear	I fear	I fear
`G5399-04`	Luke 19:21	ἐφοβούμην	ephoboumen	`V IMPF MID IND 1P SG`	I was afraid	I was fearing	I was afraid

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