Bible verses about fear: 16 passages for when you are afraid
The Bible answers fear with presence more than explanation: again and again God says "do not be afraid" and gives the reason "I am with you" (Isaiah 41:10). It does not shame the fearful. David wrote "when I am afraid, I put my trust in You" (Psalm 56:3), and Jesus spoke gently to frightened friends. These 16 passages are gathered here in the Berean Standard Bible, with the King James wording alongside.
When you are afraid of what might happen
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.Isaiah 41:10 (BSB)
Spoken to a people facing exile and powerful enemies. Every reason given for not fearing is about who God is, not about how the situation will turn out.
King James Version
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.When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?Psalm 56:3-4 (BSB)
The heading places David in the hands of the Philistines at Gath. Notice he says when I am afraid, not if. Fear is expected; trust is what he does with it.
King James Version
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.Psalm 34:4 (BSB)
Written after the same frightening episode in Gath. David sought, God answered, and the rescue reached all of his fears, not only the one in front of him.
King James Version
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”Deuteronomy 31:6 (BSB)
Moses says this near the end of his life, to a people about to go on without him. The one thing that would not change was that God would go with them.
King James Version
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.When you are afraid of other people
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.Proverbs 29:25 (BSB)
A snare catches you quietly. Fear of what people think can steer a whole life before you notice. Trust lifts you to a place the trap cannot reach.
King James Version
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?Psalm 118:6 (BSB)
The letter to the Hebrews quotes this line to believers who had lost property and standing for their faith (Hebrews 13:6). It is a question meant to shrink a threat back to size.
King James Version
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?“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?Isaiah 51:12 (BSB)
God first says who he is (the one who comforts you) and then asks why a mortal person, as brief as grass, should loom so large.
King James Version
I, 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;Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.Matthew 10:29-31 (BSB)
Jesus said this while sending his disciples into hostile towns. In Luke, five sparrows sell for two pennies (Luke 12:6), so one was thrown in for free. Not even that one is forgotten.
King James Version
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.When the danger is real
Some fear is not imagined. A diagnosis, a court date, a storm on the water. The Bible does not tell you the danger is unreal. It tells you who is in it with you.
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.Psalm 23:4 (BSB)
The shepherd does not lead around the dark valley but through it. The rod fought off wild animals and the staff guided the sheep: protection and direction together.
King James Version
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.Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, 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 when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.Isaiah 43:1-2 (BSB)
Waters and fire are promised as places you will pass through, not places you will be spared from. The comfort is company, and the reason is that God calls you by name.
King James Version
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.Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”Mark 4:39-40 (BSB)
The disciples included seasoned fishermen, so this storm was truly dangerous. Once it was calm, Mark says they were overwhelmed with fear of a different kind: awe at who was in the boat with them.
King James Version
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?Psalm 27:1 (BSB)
Light for when you cannot see the way, salvation for when you cannot save yourself, a stronghold for when you need somewhere to stand.
King James Version
A Psalm of David. 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?When fear runs deeper than circumstances
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.1 John 4:18 (BSB)
John has a specific fear in view: dreading punishment from God. Love that is complete leaves no room for it, because you are no longer waiting to be rejected.
King James Version
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.For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”Romans 8:15 (BSB)
Abba is the Aramaic word for father that Jesus himself prayed in Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). A slave fears the master; a child cries out to a parent.
King James Version
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.2 Timothy 1:7 (BSB)
Paul wrote this to Timothy, a young leader who seems to have been timid (1 Corinthians 16:10). Fear is not the spirit God gave. Power, love and self-control are.
King James Version
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.Luke 12:32 (BSB)
Jesus ends his teaching on worry with a tender name, little flock. The Father is not reluctant. He is pleased to give.
King James Version
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.How to use these verses when you are afraid
- Say what you are afraid of. Fear grows in vague shapes. Naming it plainly to God, as David did, is already an act of trust.
- Choose one verse for the fear in front of you. Psalm 56:3 is short enough to say under your breath in a waiting room or before a hard conversation.
- Look for the reason in the verse. Almost every "do not fear" in Scripture comes with a because. Hold on to the because.
- Take the next small step. Courage in the Bible is rarely the absence of fear. It is doing the next faithful thing while afraid.
If a particular fear keeps returning, it can help to bring the exact question to Scripture. Versiah lets you ask it in your own words and answers with verses you can open and read in context. For fear that feels constant, see also Bible verses about anxiety.
If fear is keeping you from sleeping, working or leaving the house, please talk to a doctor or counsellor as well. Prayer and professional care work together. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or your local emergency number.
Questions people ask
What does the Bible say about fear?
The Bible commands "do not be afraid" many times, and nearly every time it gives a reason: God is with you. It distinguishes the fear of the Lord, a reverent awe that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), from the fear that paralyses. God meets the second kind with comfort, not scolding.
Is fear a sin?
Feeling afraid is not a sin. David, Elijah and the disciples all felt fear, and Jesus was deeply distressed in Gethsemane. Scripture invites you to bring fear to God and trust him in it, as in Psalm 56:3, rather than pretending it is not there.
What is the best Bible verse for fear?
Isaiah 41:10 is the one most people turn to, because it gives four promises in one breath: I am with you, I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you. Psalm 56:3 is the simplest to memorise for moments of panic.
How many times does the Bible say "do not be afraid"?
You will often hear that it appears 365 times, one for every day. The exact count depends on the translation and on which phrases you include, so that number is more a saying than a statistic. What is certain is that it is one of the most repeated commands in Scripture.
Which Bible translation is used on this page?
Each verse is shown in the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), a modern public-domain translation, with the King James Version (KJV) under each passage.
Read next
- Bible verses about anxiety: 14 passages for when your mind will not restBible verses about anxiety and worry, with the words in the BSB and KJV and a short note on each: Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6:34, 1 Peter 5:7 and more.
- Bible verses about courage: 18 passages for when you have to be braveBible verses about courage and boldness in the BSB and KJV, with a note on each: Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, Esther 4:14, Psalm 27:1 and more.
- Bible verses about protection: 19 passages for when you or someone you love is at riskBible verses about protection and safety in the BSB and KJV, with a note on each: Psalm 91, Psalm 121, Proverbs 18:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3 and more.
- Bible verses about trust: 17 passages for when you cannot see the wayBible verses about trusting God in the BSB and KJV, with a note on each: Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 56:3-4, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Isaiah 26:3-4 and more.