Try this exercise: Below is a list of Bible verses about fearing God. Replace the word fear with love in each instance. Imagine if this was the mistranslation of the past few millennia. Seriously, just do it for the fun of it.
- Leviticus 25:17 – Thou shalt fear/LOVE thy God: for I am the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 4:10 – That they may learn to fear/LOVE me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children
- Deuteronomy 6:2 – That thou mightest fear/LOVE the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments.
- Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20 – Thou shalt fear/LOVE the LORD thy God.
- Deuteronomy 6:24 – And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear/LOVE the LORD our God.
- Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear/LOVE the LORD thy God.
- Deuteronomy 14:23 – …that thou mayest learn to fear/LOVE the LORD thy God always.
- Deuteronomy 31:12 – Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear/LOVE the LORD your God.
- Deuteronomy 31:13 – And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear/LOVE the LORD your God.
- Joshua 4:24 – That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear/LOVE the LORD your God for ever.
- Joshua 24:14 – Fear/LOVE the Lord … and put away the gods which your fathers served.
- 1 Samuel 12:14 – If ye will fear/LOVE the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:
- 1 Samuel 12:24 – Fear/LOVE the Lord.
- 2 Kings 17:39 – But the LORD your God ye shall fear/LOVE; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.
- 1 Chronicles 16:25 – The Lord … is to be feared/LOVED above all gods.
- Nehemiah 5:9 – Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear/LOVE of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
- Job 28:28 – The fear/LOVE of the LORD, that is wisdom.
- Psalm 19:9 – The fear/LOVE of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever.
- Psalm 25:14 – The secret of the LORD is with them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 33:8 – Let all the earth fear/LOVE the LORD.
- Psalm 33:18 – The eye of the LORD is upon them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 34:9 – O fear/LOVE the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 96:4 – For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared/LOVED above all gods.
- Psalm 103:11 – Great is his mercy toward them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 103:13 – The LORD pitieth them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 103:17 – But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear/LOVE him.
- Psalm 111:10 – The fear/LOVE of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
- Psalm 112:1 – Blessed is the man that feareth/LOVETH the LORD.
- Psalm 115:13 – He will bless them that fear/LOVE the LORD.
- Psalm 128:1 – Blessed is every one that feareth/LOVETH the LORD.
- Psalm 47:11 – The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear/LOVE him.
- Proverbs 1:7 – The fear/LOVE of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.
- Proverbs 14:2 – He that walketh in his uprightness feareth/LOVETH the LORD.
- Proverbs 22:4 – By humility and the fear/LOVE of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
- Proverbs 24:21 – My son, fear/LOVE thou the LORD.
- Ecclesiates 5:7 – For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear/LOVE thou God.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Fear/LOVE God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Isaiah 8:13 – Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear/LOVE, and let him be your dread.
- Hosea 3:5 – Fear/LOVE the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.
- Malachi 2:4-5 – …that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear/LOVE wherewith he feared/LOVED me, and was afraid before my name.
- Jeremaih 5:22 – Fear/LOVE ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence?
- Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5 – Fear/LOVE him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Luke 1:50 – And his mercy is on them that fear/LOVE him from generation to generation.
- Romans 3:10-18 – As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: … There is no fear/LOVE of God before their eyes.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1 – Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear/LOVE of God.
- Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear/LOVE of God.
- Colossians 3:22 – Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing/LOVING God.
- Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful/LOVING thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- 1 Peter 2:17 – Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear/LOVE God.
- Revelation 14:7 – Saying with a loud voice, Fear/LOVE God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.
- Revelation 15:4 – Who shall not fear/LOVE thee, O Lord?