These Bible verses for fear speak to the racing heart, the dread of bad news, and the quiet worries that keep you awake. Again and again God tells His people not to be afraid, not because danger is unreal, but because He is present, strong, and faithful in the middle of it.
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.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
God tells His people not to fear, for He is with them and will strengthen, help, and uphold them with His right hand.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Paul reminds Timothy that God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
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?
Psalms 27:1 (KJV)
Because the LORD is his light and salvation, David asks whom he should fear, a bold question worth borrowing.
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.
Psalms 56:3-4 (KJV)
A simple response to fear: whenever I am afraid, I will trust in God and not fear what people can do.
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.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV)
Moses encourages Israel to be strong and not fear, because the LORD goes with them and will never forsake them.
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.
Psalms 23:4 (KJV)
Even in the valley of the shadow of death, David fears no evil because the Shepherd is with him.
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.
Isaiah 43:1-2 (KJV)
God calls His people by name and promises that the waters and fires of life will not overwhelm them.
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.
1 John 4:18 (KJV)
John teaches that perfect love casts out fear, so growing in God’s love loosens fear’s grip.
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.
Romans 8:15 (KJV)
Believers have not received a spirit of bondage to fear but the Spirit of adoption, crying Abba, Father.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psalms 91:4-6 (KJV)
Sheltered under God’s wings, the psalmist says we need not be afraid of terror by night or danger by day.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:6 (KJV)
Since the Lord is our helper, we can say boldly that we will not fear what man can do.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psalms 118:6 (KJV)
With the LORD on his side, the writer refuses to fear, a short verse easy to repeat under pressure.
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?
Mark 4:39-40 (KJV)
After calming the storm with a word, Jesus asks His frightened disciples why they are so fearful.
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32 (KJV)
Jesus speaks tenderly to His little flock: do not fear, for the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
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.
Matthew 10:29-31 (KJV)
If God notices every sparrow and numbers every hair, Jesus says we need not fear, for we are worth more.
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25 (KJV)
Fear of people becomes a trap, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be kept safe.
Fear rarely asks permission, so it helps to prepare before it arrives. Pick one short verse to memorize, such as Psalms 56:3 or Psalms 118:6, so you can say it under your breath in a hospital waiting room, before a hard conversation, or when a sudden noise wakes you at night. Short verses are easy to recall when your mind feels scattered.
When fear lingers, read a longer passage like Isaiah 43:1-2 or Psalms 91 aloud and pray it back to God in your own words. Name the specific thing you are afraid of, then remind yourself of what the verse promises: that God is with you, that He knows you by name, and that He will not leave you. Mark 4:39-40 is a good picture to hold onto, since Jesus was in the boat with His disciples the whole time.
Sharing these verses with someone you trust can also help, since fear shrinks when it is spoken aloud. If fear becomes constant or begins to control daily life, it is wise to speak with a doctor or counselor as well as your pastor. God uses both prayer and practical care to bring His people peace.
Joshua 1:9’s command to “be strong and of a good courage” was spoken to someone facing a genuinely unknown future — leading a nation into territory he had never controlled. Praying this verse by name over your own uncertain situation applies it exactly as it was first used.
Psalm 91:5’s promise not to be afraid of “the terror by night” is specifically suited to anxious, sleepless fear. Praying it before bed, naming the specific worry keeping you awake, is a direct and practical use of this verse.
Proverbs 29:25’s warning that “the fear of man bringeth a snare” addresses a different kind of fear — not danger, but other people’s opinions. Praying for trust in God to outweigh a fear of judgment applies this verse directly.
For a related angle, see Bible Verses About Forgiveness or Bible Verses About Worship.
Want the wider context? The complete King James Version is available at Blue Letter Bible.
If you want to keep reading, Bible Verses For Protection for Children and Bible Verses For Peace and Worry sit close to this topic.
This subject overlaps with Bible Verses For Seeking God and with Bible Verses For Family Relationships.
Some of the same ground is covered in Bible Verses For God's Healing and Bible Verses For Faith in Hard Times.
Two nearby collections worth opening next are Bible Verses For Courage and Bible Verses About Courage.
Bible Gateway makes it easy to compare a verse across several English translations.
For word studies and cross-references, Bible Hub is a helpful next step.
Fear rarely resolves after a single prayer. Come back to whichever of these verses matches your situation as many times as the fear returns.
These verses were never meant to sit on a page as decoration \u2014 they’re meant to shape how you actually respond the next time you’re staring at something you don’t feel equipped to face.
You don’t need polished or formal language for it \u2014 an honest, plainly worded sentence is enough, something as simple as telling God directly to remember Who is already standing in front of it with you.
When we first meet Gideon in Judges 6, he is threshing wheat in a winepress, hiding his harvest from the Midianites who had been raiding Israel year after year. He is not a picture of courage. Yet the angel of the LORD greets him with surprising words: “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12). God named what Gideon would become, not what he felt in that moment.
Gideon’s fear did not disappear overnight. He asked for signs, including the famous fleece that was wet one morning and dry the next (Judges 6:36-40). God patiently answered. Later, before the battle, God reduced Gideon’s army from thousands to three hundred men, which could only have made the situation look more frightening.
Then comes one of the tenderest lines in the Old Testament. God told Gideon, “But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host” (Judges 7:10). God did not shame him for being afraid; He provided a companion and let Gideon overhear an enemy soldier’s dream about Israel’s victory. When Gideon heard it, he worshipped (Judges 7:15) and rose up to lead.
Read beside Isaiah 41:10 and the other Bible verses for fear in this collection, Gideon’s story shows that God’s promises are not only for naturally brave people. They are for the one hiding in the winepress too.
Luke’s Gospel is full of people hearing the words “fear not,” and following that phrase through the book is a rewarding study. It shows that some of the most comforting Bible verses for fear are spoken at the very moments when God is about to do something new.
In almost every case the fear is reasonable. Zacharias and Mary face angels; Simon suddenly sees his own sinfulness; Jairus has just heard the worst news a parent can hear. Jesus and His messengers never mock these reactions. Instead, they give a reason not to fear: a prayer answered, favor given, good news announced, a calling offered, or a promise made.
Luke carries the same pattern into his second book. In Acts 18:9-10 the Lord spoke to Paul by a vision in the night at Corinth: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee.” Even a seasoned apostle needed to hear it, which is worth remembering if you assume Bible verses for fear are only for new believers.
If you are waiting on news, Luke 8:50 is especially fitting, since Jairus had to keep walking with Jesus after the report seemed final. If you feel unworthy to be used by God, Luke 5:10 speaks directly to that. Reading these Bible verses for fear in their full stories shows that the command always comes with the presence of the One giving it.
Children feel fear intensely: the dark, thunderstorms, a new classroom, a visit to the doctor, or scary news they overhear. Parents and caregivers can offer comfort that is both physical and spiritual. A hug and a calm voice come first; one of the simple Bible verses for fear can come next.
For bedtime fears, Psalm 121:3-4 is a gift: “he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” A child can understand that God stays awake all night so they can rest. For the first day of school or a move, Joshua 1:9 is easy to shorten: “the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Stories help children remember. When young David faced Goliath, he recalled how God had helped him before: “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). Ask your child to remember a time God helped them, then thank Him together.
Among these Bible verses for fear, choose one and say it together each night for a week. Children often reach for a verse on their own once it has become familiar. If a child’s fears are severe or lasting, a pediatrician or counselor can help alongside your prayers.
Not every fear in Scripture is something to be removed. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” This kind of fear means reverence and awe, a right view of God’s holiness. Jesus even contrasted two fears: “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” (Matthew 10:28). Reverence for God puts every lesser fear in its place.
A common misunderstanding is that courage means feeling no fear at all. Paul told the Corinthians that he came to them “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), and yet he preached anyway. Courage in the Bible is obedience that keeps going while the heart still trembles.
Another misunderstanding is that fear is always a lack of faith. Jesus did ask His disciples in the storm, “Why are ye so fearful?” but He also comforted frightened people again and again. The Bible verses for fear are not accusations; they are invitations to lean on God’s presence.
A practical way to tell the two kinds apart is to ask where the fear drives you. Reverent fear draws you toward God in worship and obedience. Unhealthy fear pushes you away from Him, into hiding, avoidance, or a need to control everything. When you notice the second kind, turning one of the Bible verses for fear into a short prayer is a simple way to turn back toward Him.
If a particular fear keeps coming back, you may find help in verses for facing the unknown or in passages on choosing faith over fear.
King Jehoshaphat got word one morning that three nations were marching toward Judah, and the account in 2 Chronicles 20 says plainly that he feared. He did not hide it. He called the whole country to fast, stood in front of the temple, and prayed a prayer that is almost embarrassingly honest: “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” Notice what he admits. No strength, no plan, no idea. Then he points his eyes somewhere else.
A prophet answered while the crowd was still standing there. “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). That sentence did not remove the army. The army was still coming. What changed was who the people understood to be in charge of the outcome, and the next morning the singers marched out in front of the soldiers.
Most of us will never face three invading nations, but we know the feeling of a problem larger than our resources: a diagnosis, a layoff notice, a court date, a teenager who has stopped talking. Jehoshaphat gives a pattern worth copying. Say the fear out loud to God without dressing it up. Admit what you cannot do. Then do the next obedient thing in front of you, even if it looks small, and let God handle the part that was never yours to carry.
Matthew 14 tells of a night when the disciples were rowing against a headwind and Jesus came toward them walking on the lake. Peter asked to join Him, and for a few steps he did the impossible. Then the text says, “when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). The wind had been blowing the entire time. He simply looked at it.
What strikes me is how short Peter’s prayer is. Four words in English, no polish, no confession of weak faith first. And the very next verse says Jesus “immediately” stretched out His hand and caught him. The rebuke about doubt comes after the rescue, not before it. If you are sinking in anxiety right now, you do not have to repair your faith before you ask for help. Ask first.
There is also a quiet lesson about attention. Fear grows where we stare. A person who keeps scrolling headlines at midnight is looking at the wind. That does not mean we pretend the storm is imaginary. It means we decide, again and again, where the eyes rest. Sometimes the practical step is to put the phone in another room, speak one short verse aloud, and fix your gaze on a single promise until your breathing slows.
Scripture is generous toward frightened people, and it is also realistic. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” David wrote that after a humiliating escape, and he describes a real deliverance that took place in real time. But the same Bible shows God sending food and rest to an exhausted Elijah before giving him any teaching, and the “still small voice” of 1 Kings 19:12 came after wind, earthquake and fire had passed.
That detail matters if your fear has settled in for months. Panic attacks, racing thoughts, a body that will not stand down: these are not signs of a weak spirit. Sleep, a meal, a walk and a conversation are part of how God cares for people in the text itself. If the dread keeps returning or begins to interfere with work, driving, or sleep, talking with a doctor or a licensed counselor is a wise step, and a pastor can walk beside you while you do.
Praying and getting professional help are not rivals. A believer can read Psalm 56:3 in the morning and keep a therapy appointment in the afternoon without any contradiction. Think of the verses as a steady hand on the shoulder and the counselor as someone helping you learn why your shoulders are tense. Both can be gifts, and receiving either one is not a failure of trust.
Lord, you know what I am afraid of tonight, and I am tired of pretending I am not. I name it plainly: the phone call I am dreading, the result I cannot control, the thing I keep rehearsing in my head. I do not have the strength for it, and I do not know what to do. So like Jehoshaphat, I am turning my eyes toward you.
Take what I am carrying and hold it for a while. Quiet the voices that are louder than they need to be. Give me enough steadiness to do the next small, ordinary thing, whether that is washing the dishes, sending the honest message, or going to bed at a sensible hour. Send me the people who can help, and make me willing to let them.
When the fear comes back tomorrow, and it may, remind me that I can come back too, as often as it takes. Let your nearness be more real to me than my worst imagined ending. I trust you with this night, and with the morning after it. Amen.
More verse collections related to this page: Bible Verses About Protection and Fear, Bible Verses About Fear Of Death, Bible Verses For Fear Of Death, Bible Verses For Peace and Fear and Bible Verses For Protection and Fear.
If you want to dig further, Blue Letter Bible, Bible Gateway and Bible Hub are good places to start.
Fear rarely asks permission, so it helps to prepare before it arrives. Pick one short verse to memorize, such as Psalms 56:3 or Psalms 118:6, so you can say it under your breath in a hospital waiting room, before a hard conversation, or when a sudden noise wakes you at night.
This page brings together 25 King James Version references about fear, drawn from 12 different books of the Bible.
These fear verses are drawn from books including Psalms, Isaiah, Mark, Joshua, Psalm, among others.
Yes. The verses about fear gathered here include passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament, such as Psalms 56:3 and Mark 4:39.
Psalms 56:3 is one of the verses about fear referenced in this collection, alongside Psalms 118:6.
