The phrase “the fear of The Lord” is used many times in the Bible. For example, Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the fear of The Lord” is the beginning of knowledge. But, what exactly is “the fear of The Lord” as it is used in Proverbs 1:7 and other places?
When used in reference to the Lord, the Hebrew word translated fear in Proverbs 1:7 means respect, reverence, or piety. As we learn to show God the respect He deserves as our creator and redeemer our mind becomes more receptive to His word. It’s similar to the way we listen more closely to the advice of a friend whose opinion we’ve learned to respect. The more receptive we are to what we’re reading the more we comprehend. The result is that our knowledge grows.
This is one reason why people always find that it’s easier to understand the Bible after they become saved. Of course the other one is they’ve been given the Holy Spirit to give them the spiritual discernment that Paul spoke of in 1 Cor. 1:2:14. But it all begins when we learn to “fear” the Lord.