In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 14:26
What does Proverbs 14:26 mean?
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Proverbs 14:26
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While we often focus on the confidence a person finds in fearing God, the verse highlights a lasting legacy: not just personal security, but a guaranteed refuge for their children. This implies that living by faith isn't just a private matter; it actively builds a safe harbor for future generations.
In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse sits within a chapter that contrasts wisdom with folly and righteousness with wickedness, showing how these lead to vastly different outcomes. Following verses that detail the downfall of the wicked, this proverb highlights the secure refuge found in revering God. It points to the enduring legacy of faithfulness that blesses not only the individual but also their descendants, assuring them of safety and divine protection.
What does it mean to have 'strong confidence'? Is it the absence of worry, or something much deeper?
The verse tells us that 'In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence.' This isn't about being fearless in a reckless way. Instead, it's a deep-seated trust that comes from acknowledging God's supreme authority and goodness. When you truly fear (meaning, revere and respect) the Lord, you realize He is sovereign over all circumstances. This understanding frees you from the anxieties and doubts that grip those who rely on worldly security or their own strength. It's a confidence rooted in God's unchanging character, not in the shifting sands of human affairs.
The promise extends beyond the individual – what does it mean for 'his children' to have a refuge?
The second part of the verse, 'and his children will have a refuge,' reveals a beautiful, lasting legacy. The 'his' here is key. It can refer to the Lord's children, but more commonly points to the children of the one who fears the Lord. This means that a life lived in reverence and trust for God doesn't just benefit you; it creates a spiritual sanctuary for your descendants. They inherit not just worldly possessions, but a connection to a God who is their refuge. This is a testament to God’s faithfulness, extending His protection and provision through generations for those who walk with Him.
Understand the original words
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yir'ah · Hebrew Noun
The reverential awe, worship, and obedience owed by humans to the Creator, rooted in recognizing His holiness, power, and covenantal relationship. It is the foundational posture of wisdom and right living before God.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The supreme, sovereign Creator and Covenant-keeper of Israel, who revealed Himself to Moses as 'I AM'. It signifies the holy, self-existent God of the Bible.
machseh · Hebrew Noun
A secure place of shelter, protection, and trust. Biblically, it refers to God as the ultimate asylum and security for His people amidst life's dangers.
This passage echoes the 'strong confidence' mentioned in Proverbs, declaring 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?' It directly links God's presence with the absence of fear, just as Proverbs connects fearing the Lord with strong confidence.
Psalm 103:17This verse beautifully illustrates the idea of God's faithfulness extending to future generations, stating 'But the steadfast love of the LORD is for those who fear him and his righteousness to their children's children.' This directly supports the promise in Proverbs that the benefits of fearing the Lord extend to one's offspring.
Romans 8:31Paul's powerful rhetorical question, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?', mirrors the 'strong confidence' found in Proverbs. It underscores that when one aligns with God, no opposition can truly prevail, providing a profound spiritual refuge.
Exodus 20:6This commandment explicitly states God's commitment to those who love and keep Him: 'but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.' This provides a foundational understanding for why the children of those who fear the Lord receive a refuge.
pulpitProverbs 14:26: "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."
Verse 26. - In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence. The fear of God casts out all fear of man, all despairing anticipations of possible evil, and makes the believer confident and bold. St. Gregory ('Moral.,' 5:33), "As in the way of the world fear gives rise to weakness, so in the way of God fear produces strength. In truth, our mind so much the more valorously sets at naught all…
ellicottProverbs 14:26: "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."
(26) His children.— Either, the children of the man who fears the Lord, as the blessing of Abraham ( Genesis 17:7-8 ) and David ( Jeremiah 33:20-21 ) descended to their children; or the pronoun may refer to God’s children, i.e., those who look up to Him as a father, an expression which occurs in the Old Testament (e g., Psalm 73:15 ), but is brought forward more prominently in the New…
While we often focus on the confidence a person finds in fearing God, the verse highlights a lasting legacy: not just personal security, but a guaranteed refuge for their children. This implies that living by faith isn't just a private matter; it actively builds a safe harbor for future generations.
This verse sits within a chapter that contrasts wisdom with folly and righteousness with wickedness, showing how these lead to vastly different outcomes. Following verses that detail the downfall of the wicked, this proverb highlights the secure refuge found in revering God. It points to the enduring legacy of faithfulness that blesses not only the individual but also their descendants, assuring them of safety and divine protection.
This verse sits within a chapter that contrasts wisdom with folly and righteousness with wickedness, showing how these lead to vastly different outcomes. Following verses that detail the downfall of the wicked, this proverb highlights the secure refuge found in revering God. It points to the enduring legacy of faithfulness that blesses not only the individual but also their descendants, assuring them of safety and divine protection.
"In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge." — While we often focus on the confidence a person finds in fearing God, the verse highlights a lasting legacy: not just personal security, but a guaranteed refuge for their children. This implies that…
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Last reviewed October 2026