god-fearing

The compound 'god-fearing' is a native English formation, combining the supreme object of worship with the Old English concept of 'fear', which encompassed both terror and profound reverence. This reflects a key Judeo-Christian theological concept where the 'fear of God' is not primarily about terror but denotes deep respect, awe, and obedient piety. The term thus evolved from a literal description of being afraid of a deity to its modern abstract meaning of being conscientiously devout and morally upright due to this reverential awe. It encapsulates the idea that genuine religious devotion manifests in a life of respectful obedience.

Structure: god (deity) + fearing (experiencing fear/awe) 'God' originates from Proto-Germanic gudą, meaning 'deity, idol', and functions as the object of reverence. 'Fearing' is the present participle of the verb 'fear', from Old English fǣran ('to terrify, frighten'), derived from the noun fǣr ('danger, sudden attack'), and functions to describe a state of reverential awe.