42:
30:), literally meaning "fear of heaven," is a fundamental concept in Jewish thought that refers to reverence/awe/fear of God. It encompasses the idea that an individual should live their life with an awareness of God's presence and with the intent to adhere to divine commandments out of a sense of respect, humility, and devotion.
106:
10:12, Moses asks the Jewish people, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." This verse illustrates that the "fear of God" is one of
244:, meaning that they approach the interpretation and application of Jewish law with deep reverence for God's will. Some authorities argue that this quality is essential for ensuring that legal rulings are not only technically correct but also spiritually aligned with the core values of the Torah.
162:, the awe and reverence one feels for God's grandeur and holiness. This level of fear transcends concern for punishment and focuses on a deep appreciation for God's overwhelming greatness and the desire to align oneself with His will.
216:
as a critical attribute necessary for living a life of righteousness. It is considered one of the foundational traits that leads a person to ethical and spiritual perfection.
118:
explains that although the world is in God's hands, the fear of heaven is left to human discretion—each person must choose to fear God and live according to His commandments.
181:(commandments) out of reverence for God's will. This includes engaging in honest dealings with others, avoiding forbidden behaviors, and seeking personal spiritual growth.
271:
should motivate righteous behavior, it should not lead to a paralyzing fear of punishment but rather inspire deeper devotion and a sense of personal responsibility.
256:
continues to be a main tenet. Some thinkers emphasize the need for increased reverence and awe in a world that has become increasingly secular. Others focus on how
146:, or fear of punishment. It is considered an essential but lower form of reverence, motivating individuals to avoid sin out of fear of the consequences.
86:
therefore refers to the reverence and awe a person should have toward God, acknowledging His greatness, omnipotence, and moral authority over the world.
188:
must permeate all areas of life, whether one is involved in religious observances, business dealings, or personal relationships. A person with
45:
After the binding of Isaac (the
Akeidah), God acknowledged Abraham's fear of Him, saying, “Now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12)
173:
is not merely a philosophical or theological concept; it is meant to inform a person's behavior and actions. One who possesses
41:
505:
581:
530:
130:, ranging from basic fear of punishment to more refined forms of awe and reverence for God's greatness.
192:
is constantly aware of God's presence and seeks to act with integrity and humility in all situations.
385:
612:
556:
480:
428:
205:
310:
263:
The balance between fear and love of God is often discussed in modern writings, with some
8:
102:, where it is often presented as a foundational attitude for living a righteous life. In
38:(love of God), reflecting a balance between awe and love in one's relationship with God.
454:
403:
360:
107:
the core expectations placed on individuals in their relationship with the divine.
75:
63:
23:
264:
606:
335:
290:
99:
103:
225:
177:
will thus strive to live an ethical and moral life, adhering to the
280:
114:
is frequently discussed as a quality that must be cultivated. The
285:
178:
82:), meaning heaven, which in this context is a reference to God.
236:
is seen as a guiding principle for decision-making. Rabbis and
142:
can involve fear of divine retribution. This is referred to as
115:
237:
260:
can guide ethical behavior in complex, modern societies.
195:
452:
247:
604:
478:
200:Numerous Jewish texts explore the importance of
89:
252:In contemporary Jewish thought, the concept of
126:Jewish tradition describes different levels of
219:
165:
554:
121:
49:
336:"Yirat Shamayim: Jewish English Lexicon"
240:are often described as possessing great
40:
531:"Law, Spirituality, and Yirat Shamayim"
429:"Yirat Haromemut: Awe of God's Majesty"
34:is often discussed in conjunction with
605:
150:Yirat Haromemut (Awe of God's Majesty)
196:Yirat Shamayim in Jewish literature
134:Yirat Ha'onesh (Fear of Punishment)
79:
67:
27:
13:
70:), meaning fear or reverence, and
14:
624:
184:Jewish texts emphasize that true
58:is composed of two Hebrew words:
506:"Yirat Shamayim: Sefaria Topics"
248:Yirat Shamayim in modern thought
574:
548:
523:
455:"Yiras Shamayim: Torah Musings"
498:
472:
446:
421:
396:
386:"Yirat Shamayim: Jewish Words"
378:
353:
328:
303:
1:
296:
212:(Path of the Just) discusses
90:Biblical and rabbinic sources
16:Key concept in Jewish thought
582:"Shabbat and Yiras Shamayim"
557:"Mehitsa and Yirat Shamayim"
481:"Living Law: Parshat Miketz"
7:
274:
10:
629:
311:"Yirat Shamayim: Glossary"
220:Yirat Shamayim and Halakha
166:Yirat Shamayim in practice
453:Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman.
138:At the most basic level,
122:Levels of Yirat Shamayim
110:In rabbinic literature,
98:is deeply rooted in the
50:Etymology and definition
267:emphasizing that while
479:Rabbi Baruch Epstein.
365:Jewish Virtual Library
46:
44:
390:The Jewish Chronicle
238:halakhic authorities
206:Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
392:. October 25, 2007.
555:Rabbi Marc Angel.
47:
210:Mesillat Yesharim
154:A higher form of
620:
597:
596:
594:
592:
578:
572:
571:
569:
567:
552:
546:
545:
543:
541:
527:
521:
520:
518:
516:
502:
496:
495:
493:
491:
476:
470:
469:
467:
465:
450:
444:
443:
441:
439:
425:
419:
418:
416:
414:
404:"Yirat Ha'Onesh"
400:
394:
393:
382:
376:
375:
373:
371:
357:
351:
350:
348:
346:
340:Jewish Languages
332:
326:
325:
323:
321:
307:
81:
69:
29:
628:
627:
623:
622:
621:
619:
618:
617:
613:Jewish theology
603:
602:
601:
600:
590:
588:
580:
579:
575:
565:
563:
553:
549:
539:
537:
529:
528:
524:
514:
512:
504:
503:
499:
489:
487:
477:
473:
463:
461:
451:
447:
437:
435:
427:
426:
422:
412:
410:
402:
401:
397:
384:
383:
379:
369:
367:
359:
358:
354:
344:
342:
334:
333:
329:
319:
317:
309:
308:
304:
299:
277:
250:
222:
198:
168:
160:Yirat Haromemut
124:
94:The concept of
92:
52:
17:
12:
11:
5:
626:
616:
615:
599:
598:
573:
547:
522:
497:
471:
445:
420:
395:
377:
352:
327:
315:Orthodox Union
301:
300:
298:
295:
294:
293:
288:
283:
276:
273:
269:Yirat Shamayim
258:Yirat Shamayim
254:Yirat Shamayim
249:
246:
242:Yirat Shamayim
234:Yirat Shamayim
221:
218:
214:Yirat Shamayim
202:Yirat Shamayim
197:
194:
190:Yirat Shamayim
186:Yirat Shamayim
175:Yirat Shamayim
171:Yirat Shamayim
167:
164:
156:Yirat Shamayim
152:
151:
144:Yirat Ha'onesh
140:Yirat Shamayim
136:
135:
128:Yirat Shamayim
123:
120:
112:Yirat Shamayim
96:Yirat Shamayim
91:
88:
84:Yirat Shamayim
56:Yirat Shamayim
51:
48:
32:Yirat Shamayim
20:Yirat Shamayim
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
625:
614:
611:
610:
608:
591:September 16,
587:
583:
577:
566:September 16,
562:
558:
551:
540:September 16,
536:
535:Torah Musings
532:
526:
515:September 16,
511:
507:
501:
490:September 16,
486:
482:
475:
464:September 16,
460:
459:Torah Musings
456:
449:
438:September 16,
434:
430:
424:
413:September 16,
409:
405:
399:
391:
387:
381:
370:September 16,
366:
362:
361:"Fear of God"
356:
345:September 16,
341:
337:
331:
320:September 16,
316:
312:
306:
302:
292:
291:Jewish ethics
289:
287:
284:
282:
279:
278:
272:
270:
266:
261:
259:
255:
245:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
217:
215:
211:
207:
203:
193:
191:
187:
182:
180:
176:
172:
163:
161:
157:
149:
148:
147:
145:
141:
133:
132:
131:
129:
119:
117:
113:
108:
105:
101:
97:
87:
85:
77:
73:
65:
61:
57:
43:
39:
37:
36:Ahavat Hashem
33:
25:
21:
589:. Retrieved
585:
576:
564:. Retrieved
561:Jewish Ideas
560:
550:
538:. Retrieved
534:
525:
513:. Retrieved
509:
500:
488:. Retrieved
484:
474:
462:. Retrieved
458:
448:
436:. Retrieved
432:
423:
411:. Retrieved
407:
398:
389:
380:
368:. Retrieved
364:
355:
343:. Retrieved
339:
330:
318:. Retrieved
314:
305:
268:
262:
257:
253:
251:
241:
233:
229:
223:
213:
209:
201:
199:
189:
185:
183:
174:
170:
169:
159:
155:
153:
143:
139:
137:
127:
125:
111:
109:
100:Hebrew Bible
95:
93:
83:
71:
59:
55:
53:
35:
31:
19:
18:
104:Deuteronomy
54:The phrase
586:Kosher.com
297:References
265:reformists
226:Jewish law
485:Torah.org
408:Sha'alvim
28:יראת שמים
607:Category
281:Bitachon
275:See also
204:. Rabbi
72:Shamayim
510:Sefaria
286:Halakha
230:halakha
179:mitzvot
116:Talmud
76:Hebrew
64:Hebrew
24:Hebrew
60:Yirah
593:2024
568:2024
542:2024
517:2024
492:2024
466:2024
440:2024
415:2024
372:2024
347:2024
322:2024
80:שמים
68:יראה
433:KBY
232:),
224:In
208:'s
158:is
609::
584:.
559:.
533:.
508:.
483:.
457:.
431:.
406:.
388:.
363:.
338:.
313:.
78::
66::
26::
595:.
570:.
544:.
519:.
494:.
468:.
442:.
417:.
374:.
349:.
324:.
228:(
74:(
62:(
22:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
