---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most often repeated commandment in…"
description: "\"The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do not fear.' It's in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things, if you think ab..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg"
---

#  The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do…

![“The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do not fear.' It's in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things, if you think about it. It means we are going to be afraid, and it means we shouldn't let fear boss us around. Before I realized we were supposed to fight fear, I…” quote by Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg)

> “The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do not fear.' It's in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things, if you think about it. It means we are going to be afraid, and it means we shouldn't let fear boss us around. Before I realized we were supposed to fight fear, I thought of fear as a subtle suggestion in our subconscious designed to keep us safe, or more important, keep us from getting humiliated. And I guess it serves that purpose. But fear isn't only a guide to keep us safe; it's also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.”

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Fear appears often in scripture, both as a warning and a challenge to not let it control us; it can protect but also limit us.

**In simple terms:** Fear is common, can protect, but also restrict life.

Key Takeaway

Recognize fear, choose courage over comfort.

Themes

faith psychology spirituality

Mood

reflective determined

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- career decisions
- relationships
- creative pursuits

Key Concepts

fear control motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fear protect you?
- When does fear become a barrier?

A Different Perspective

Fear can also serve as a necessary caution, making it hard to discern when to act.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Boring life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boring-life/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fight Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-fear/) [Monday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monday/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Subconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subconscious/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/fear-isn-t-only-a-guide-to-keep-us-safe-it-s-also-a-manipulative/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Over and over in the Bible, it is fear that threatens to keep people from trusting and obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/over-and-over-in-the-bible-it-is-fear-that-threatens-to-keep-people/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [The purpose of fear is to determine how badly you want your dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-purpose-of-fear-is-to-determine-how-badly-you-want-your-dream/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [The purpose of fear is to raise your awareness not to stop your progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-purpose-of-fear-is-to-raise-your-awareness-not-to-stop-your/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“Of all my objections to Jonathan Crane—and it is a lengthy list—the one point I will concede is that sometimes Fear has a purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-dee/of-all-my-objections-to-jonathan-crane-and-it-is-a-lengthy-list-the/)

[Chris Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-dee/)

> [Fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/fear-is-a-manipulative-emotion-that-can-trick-us-into-living-a-boring/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [The greatest stories go to those who don’t give in to fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-greatest-stories-go-to-those-who-don-t-give-in-to-fear/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [To fight fear, act. To increase fear - wait, put off postpone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-joseph-schwartz/to-fight-fear-act-to-increase-fear-wait-put-off-postpone/)

[David Joseph Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-joseph-schwartz/)

> [You can't fight fire with fire, or fear with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/you-can-t-fight-fire-with-fire-or-fear-with-fear/)

[Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/)

> [Anger prepares us to fight and fear prepares us to flee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anger-prepares-us-to-fight-and-fear-prepares-us-to-flee/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You're on the verge of your breakthrough. Your next level is near and your dreams are about to take flight. Believe it. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/you-re-on-the-verge-of-your-breakthrough-your-next-level-is-near-and/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“You don’t get it, do you? I stand for you, Wynn. There is no end to how many battles I will fight for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-levine/you-don-t-get-it-do-you-i-stand-for-you-wynn-there-is-no-end-to-how/)

[Elaine Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-levine/)

> [To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength, Gives, in your weakness, strength unto your foe, And so your follies fight against yourself. Fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/to-fear-the-foe-since-fear-oppresseth-strength-gives-in-your-weakness-2/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [A good idea if not acted upon produces terrible psychological pain. But a good idea acted upon brings enormous mental satisfaction. Got a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/a-good-idea-if-not-acted-upon-produces-terrible-psychological-pain/)

[David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/)

> [I'm always scared when I fight. But that fear is what keeps me more alert and more focused. It's good to have fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-m-always-scared-when-i-fight-but-that-fear-is-what-keeps-me-more/)

[Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/)

## More by Donald Miller

> [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [I think each of us can, through our writing, discover our super power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-each-of-us-can-through-our-writing-discover-our-super-power/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. They'll heal your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-you-don-t-feel-free-and-be-yourself-you-can-t-connect-find-people/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [And so I have come to understand that strength, inner strength, comes from receiving love as much as it comes from giving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-so-i-have-come-to-understand-that-strength-inner-strength-comes/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-as-a-species-are-constantly-and-in-every-way-comparing/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“alone, lonely, and loneliness are three of the most powerful words in the English language... Those words say that we are human; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/alone-lonely-and-loneliness-are-three-of-the-most-powerful-words-in/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“It isn't about what you don't get done; it's about what you do get done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/it-isn-t-about-what-you-don-t-get-done-it-s-about-what-you-do-get-done/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“The soul needs to interact with other people to be healthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-soul-needs-to-interact-with-other-people-to-be-healthy/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Don't let go of your strength or your beauty. It was given to you by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/don-t-let-go-of-your-strength-or-your-beauty-it-was-given-to-you-by/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [There's a lot of letters, and a lot of people come say "hi" at book signings, but I'm amazed at how normal everybody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-a-lot-of-letters-and-a-lot-of-people-come-say-hi-at-book/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [I am something of a recluse by nature. I am that cordless screwdriver that has to charge for twenty hours to earn ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-am-something-of-a-recluse-by-nature-i-am-that-cordless-screwdriver/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [The most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-important-thing-that-happens-within-christian-spirituality/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [Every day you live is a page. Every year, a chapter. Your life, a book. What is it about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/every-day-you-live-is-a-page-every-year-a-chapter-your-life-a-book/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

> [“And that’s the first time I realized that the idea a character is what he does makes as much sense in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-that-s-the-first-time-i-realized-that-the-idea-a-character-is/)

[Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

[Explore all 448 Donald Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/)

## More Bible quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/)

Michael Arnold

> [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/)

[Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/)

> [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/)

Robert A. Peterson

> [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/)

Stephen Taylor

> [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/)

Walsham How

> [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/)

[Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/)

> [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/)

[Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/)

> [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/)

[Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/)

> [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

> [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/)

[David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/)

> [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/)

[John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

[Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do not fear.' It's in there over two hundred times. That means a couple of things, if you think about it. It means we are going to be afraid, and it means we shouldn't let fear boss us around. Before I realized we were supposed to fight fear, I thought of fear as a subtle suggestion in our subconscious designed to keep us safe, or more important, keep us from getting humiliated. And I guess it serves that purpose. But fear isn't only a guide to keep us safe; it's also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Donald Miller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-the-bible-is-do-not-fear-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bible"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-the-bible-is-do-not-fear-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d94/donald-miller-607_bible_the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-t_2169223.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The most often repeated commandment in the Bible is 'Do not fear.' It's in there over two hundred times…” — Donald Miller",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Donald Miller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The most often repeated commandment in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-the-bible-is-do-not-fear-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-often-repeated-commandment-in-the-bible-is-do-not-fear-it-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
