Fear (5401) (phobos) (see another discussion of phobos) is used in an active sense to describe that which causes fear or terror, sometimes the source being God (of His divine works - eg, death of Ananias and Sapphira - Ac 5:5, 11, cp 1Ti 5:20, Re 18:10, 15, Re 11:11 = two slain witnesses come to life and ascend to heaven before a watching world!). Other uses of fear in a active sense are associated with man (Ro 13:13, of the Jews in Jn 7:13, 19:38, 20:19; cp inability of sons of Sceva to exorcise demons = Acts 19:17). In a negative sense phobos describes that which causes alarm, dread or terror (2Co 7:5, 1Pe 3:14) Here in Ephesians 6:5 phobos conveys a positive sense describing respect, reverential, wholesome fear or awe. Most OT uses of phobos (other than those in Proverbs) convey the sense of terror and/or dread, but several do convey a positive sense of producing a reverential awe (2Sa 23:3, 9.7" class="scriptRef">2Chr 19:7, 9, Neh 5:9, 5:15, Job 4:6, 25:2, Ps 2:11, 5:7, 19:9, 34:11, 36:1, 90:11, 111:10, Ps 119:38, Pr 1:7, 2:5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:26, 15:16, 15:33, 19:23, 22:4, 23:17, Isa 8:13, Isa 11:3 [referring to Messiah], Jer 32:40, Jonah 1:16, Malachi 2:5). Here are the NT uses which convey the sense of reverential awe (Lk 5:26, Acts 2:43) Fear - Phobos - 42v in the NT - Matt. 14:26; 8.4" class="scriptRef">28:4, 8; Lk. 1:12, 5" class="scriptRef">65; 5:26; 7.16" class="scriptRef">7:16; 8:37; 21:26; Jn. 7:13; 19:38; 20:19; Acts 2:43; 5:5, 11" class="scriptRef">11; 9:31; 19:17; Ro 3:18; 15" class="scriptRef">15" class="scriptRef">8:15; 13:3, 7; 1 Co. 2:3; 2 Co. 5:11; 7:1, 5, 11, 15; Eph. 5:21; 6:5; Phil. 2:12; 1 Tim. 5:20; Heb. 2:15; 1 Pet. 1:17; 2:18; 3:2, 14f; 1 Jn. 4:18; Jude 1:23; Rev. 11:11; 18:10, 15 The NAS renders phobos as cause of fear(1), fear(37), fearful(1), fears(1), intimidation(1), respect(1),respectful(1), reverence(1), sense of awe(1). Phobos - 119" class="scriptRef">19.9" class="scriptRef">95" class="scriptRef">5 uses in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - Gen. 9:2; 15.12" class="scriptRef">15:12; 31:42, 53; 35:5; 16" class="scriptRef">16" class="scriptRef">Exod. 15:16; 20:20; 27" class="scriptRef">23:27; 25" class="scriptRef">Deut. 2:25; 11:25; 28:67; 32.25" class="scriptRef">32:25; Jos. 2:9; 2Sa 23:3; 1Chr. 14:17; 2 Chr. 19:7, 9; 26.5" class="scriptRef">26:5; Neh 5:9, 15; 6:16; Esther 1:22; 4:17; 5:1, 2; 8:17; 9:3; Job 3:24, 25; 4:6, 13; 9:34; 13:11, 21" class="scriptRef">21" class="scriptRef">21; 15:4, 21; 20:25; 21:9; 25:2; 31:23; 33.7" class="scriptRef">33:7, 15, 16; 38:17; 39:3, 16, 19; 41:14, 25; Ps. 2:11; 5:7; 14:3, 5; 19:9; 31:11; 34:11; 36:1; 53:5; 55:5; 64:1; 90:11; 91:5; 105:38; 111:10; 119:38, 120; Pr 1:7, 29" class="scriptRef">29" class="scriptRef">29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27, 29; 14:26; 15:16, 27, 33; 18.8" class="scriptRef">18:8; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; 30" class="scriptRef">31:30; Isa. 2:10, 19, 21; 7:25; 8:12, 13; 10:27, 29; 11:3; 19:16; 21:4; 24:17, 18; 26:17; 33:3, 7, 8, 18; Je 30:5, 6; 32:40; 48:43, 44; 49:5; Lam 3:47; Ezek 26:17; 27:28; 32:23, 24, 26, 30, 32; 38:21; Da 4:1, 5; 5:6; 7:7; 10:7; 11:31; Jon. 1:10, 16; Mal. 1:6; 2:5 THE MANIFOLD BENEFITS OF REVERENTIAL PHOBOS In Ge 31:53 the phrase "fear of his father" indicates fear is being used in a sense as a name for God. Note how fear in a "positive" sense can motivate godly behavior (Neh 5:15 -see following discussion). Reverential fear of Jehovah is something that can be learned (and should be taught) (Ps 34:11). Saints learn to fear Jehovah by learning His Word (Ps 119:38-note) and making this a conscious choice (Pr 1:29). A proper, reverential fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10-note, Pr 1:7, 9:10, 15:33), motivates saints to hate evil (Pr 8:13), leads to and prolongs one's life (Pr 19:23, 10:27), gives one strong confidence and provides a legacy for the children (Pr 14:26), is to be desired more that great treasure (Pr 15:16), is rewarded with spiritual riches, honor and life (Pr 22:4), helps one counter any envy one might have toward sinners (Pr 23:17), seems to be associated with salvation (Jonah 1:16), was a natural accompaniment of the newly born church (Acts 9:31), characterizes the attitude of non-believers (Ro 3:18-note), should serve to motivate saints (2Co 5:11 - where context = bema seat 2Co 5:12), is the atmosphere in which saints are to cleanse themselves and perfect holy conduct (2Cor 7:1-note, cp similar effect on conduct in 1Pe 1:17-note), serves as a motivation to be subject to other believers (Ep 5:21-note, in the context of men and women who are Spirit filled - Eph 5:18-note), motivates and accompanies Christ honoring obedience of servants to masters (Eph 6:5, cp 1Pe 2:18-note), along with trembling should serve as the mindset to motivate working out one's salvation (Php 2:12-note), characterizes God honoring behavior (1Pe 3:2-note), should be the attitude we have when we tell others about Christ our Hope (1Pe 3:15-note, cp Jude 23).