If "fear" means "respect", why didn't the translators of the KJV say so?

Question

First, I'm not at all sure that all Christians would agree with the translation being provided by the few who have answered my questions with the claim that "fear" should be read as "respect".

Second, the KJV has been the authoritative English translation for centuries. Easily gainsaid by a few to avoid a sticky subject, but not easily overthrown by all who have read it.

Be that as it may, explain why generation after generation has been taught to "fear" God as is taught in the KJV if the translation is wrong?

Answer 1

People have a habit of putting themselves and others into double binds like "you must love God." It is extremely difficult to love under threat. Men and women do it to each other all the time.

Answer 2

Could it be that the translators were influenced by the sponsor of those same translators... King James himself? Purchase a Diaglott for a more relative translation, or -- you could study a dead language such as Hebrew, or Latin. You could also study Greek just for good measure. Better yet, you could use your own powers of critical thinking and judge for yourself as to whether one should fear, or respect in the context of the complete written text. Then ask God/Goddess for the understanding, not man.
Personally, I believe both should apply when the One creating can also be the One which will destroy!!!

Answer 3

Maybe the reason is that first we need to understand Hell and the reality of it.
And then we need to understand the law.
We then need to realize that we have all broken the law and deserve Hell.
Then we realize God has the power over all.
Best of all through His love for us, we will be saved if we accept Jesus.
I wasn't ever taught to really fear God, but respect Him, as my Father. I never feared my dad, But I loved and respected Him. As far as the translation, I can look up the Greek and see what the translation options are.

Answer 4

Revere in Hebrew is Respect. Bible dude was not written in English.
Sometimes you have to check the root word.
All languages (word for word-transliterate) does not translate
into same meaning and other words are chosen.
you have about 30 English versions of the KJV of the BIBLE which conflict with each other. (in use of words)

Bundle of sticks translated "******" in English.
Now that would not read correctly no matter how you "apply" your logic.

Whale was never used in any Hebrew-Aramiac-Greek translation
but it appeared in English translation. Jonah and Matthew "said BIG FISH" not what type of fish.

The KJV of 1611 contained over 40,000 translation errors.

Even the Webster Dictionary contains errors. You can argue that we should toss out dictionaries because they have errors.

All History books have errors.

All Science books have errors.

All medical books have errors.

All people have faults-blemishes-imperfections- should we toss
them back and wait for perfection?

Some people grow up and other remain childish.

Christ said, " I am the living word- the living authority"
The Holy Spirit teaches leads and guides.

Hey I know the BIBLE lacks perfection in translation but I know it
contains man made errors and prob some changed on purpose to fit their need and time.

I still have internal/external "breath of air--life" that points the way.

Abraham never read one word of scripture- not one word had ever been written. Yet he was saved by "FAITH"
Noah never read one word in his lifetime (950 years) but he was
SAVED BY GRACE GENESIS 6:8.

You live on EARTH spinning over 1000 miles per hours yet you don't get flung off.

The bottom line is many have never read one word of scripture- but they believed and were saved.
They knew.
I know.

Wisdom is understanding the word of God.
Wisdom does not come from knowledge.
You lack wisdom and knowledge.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved. (not a simple fool)

Answer 5

It does mean respect but it also means fear. if you step out of line you have a good reason to fear God; "one who can destroy body and soul."

To use an example on earth ,take the typical father. He is strong, good, handsome and everything you want to be when you grow up. However if you did something wrong you knew he was going to punish you and you "feared" the authority he had to punish you because you knew he would use it and it would hurt. LOL

Hope that makes it simple for you!

Answer 6

The actual Hebrew word is yârê'. Looking in up in a dictionary, it gives the definition: "to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten". When speaking of the "fear" of the Lord, it refers to a realization that God is all powerful. He has the final say over your life. So you do need to have a reverent and respectful "fear" of Him.

Jesus stated in well in Matthew 10:28 "And 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".

It is like a child, who loves his father with his whole heart, and knows that his father loves him. But he also knows that if he breaks the rules and disobeys that his loving father will deal with the situation in a way that he would rather avoid. So "fear" of his father is one of the things that keeps the child in line.

You appear to be intelligent enough to realize that there is a difference between that kind of a respect, reverent fear, and the kind of terror that has you shaking uncontrollable, about to faint, throw up and wet your pants all at once. Both are equally defined by the word "fear" in English. Both are NOT equally defined by the word yârê'. It refers to the reverently type of fear, not to "terror". A more accurate translation would be "reverently fear". The KJ translators, in their effort to do a "word for word" translation, usually limited themselves to one word in the Hebrew (or Greek) becoming one word in the English. They went with the word "fear". Why is a question you will have to ask the translators.

Answer 7

I personally was taught to "respect and give God reverence" as a way of fearing Him. I don't know about generation after generation. I only know what I was taught. Fear does mean "respect/have reverence for" - sorry.

Answer 8

If you're really concerned, you should try to find a Bible that's written in the original language and find out the meaning of the original word used. Most likely it was Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. A Hebrew speaking person could probably prove helpful.

Answer 9

i grew up in kentucky. i've always heard the words fear and respect used interchangeably.

i have friends in the UK who do the same.

I've an Irish acquaintance by the name of Tim O'Ferrell. He always used the words interchangeably.

In older writings, the words were used interchangeably.

I realize that the words today are not synonymous in most circles.

Answer 10

Well, fear used to mean fear, not scaredness. It's a case of "what came first, the chicken or the egg," not necessarily a bad translation. Remember when gay meant happy and a f@g was a cigarette. Yep, same difference, love.