Fear. It’s a thing we all deal with, right? It could be big stuff, like money or health. Or it could be that weird noise your car is making. Or just, you know, the future in general. It’s everywhere.
And a lot of people who read the Bible, or are just curious about it, have heard this idea. This rumor, almost. That the Bible tells us “do not be afraid” 365 times. One for every day of the year.
That’s a really nice thought. It’s clean, it’s comforting. It’s like a daily prescription from God to just chill out. But is it actually true? For 2025, let’s just get into it and see what’s really going on with this popular saying. The answer is a little more complicated, and honestly, way more interesting.
So, What’s the Real Number? The 365 Myth
Let’s just rip the band-aid off. The number 365 is not really accurate. It’s a great piece of Christian pop culture, and it’s a wonderful sentiment. But if you sit down to count, you won’t find it.
The real number is harder to pin down than you’d think. It all depends on what you’re counting and which translation of the Bible you are using. The King James Version is different from the NIV which is different from The Message.
If you are looking for the exact phrase “fear not” or “do not be afraid,” most scholars and people who’ve done the counting put the number somewhere between 100 and 114. That’s still a lot. That’s a ton, actually.
The reason why the 365 number got so popular is because it’s a perfect fit. A daily reminder. It’s a concept that preaches well and makes for a great calendar theme. And the spirit of it is true. The Bible is constantly telling people to replace their fear with faith.
So the 365 idea is more of a spiritual truth than a literal fact. It’s the overall message, not the exact word count that matters in the end. It’s considered to be a theme, not a statistic.
Why Does the Bible Say “Do Not Be Afraid” So Much?
Okay, so it’s not 365. But it’s still said over 100 times. That’s a lot of repetition. Why is that? Why did God, through the writers, need to say this so often?
Well, normally, when someone tells you “don’t be afraid,” it’s because something scary is happening or about to happen. You don’t say it to someone who is just relaxing on the couch.
And that’s exactly what’s going on in the Bible. The command to not fear is almost always followed by a really good reason. It’s not just an empty “calm down.” It’s “calm down, because…”
Think about the world these people lived in. There were no police to call, no modern medicine. Life was generally much more dangerous. They faced war, famine, wild animals, and corrupt rulers. Fear was a totally normal response to daily life.
The command was a pattern interrupt. It was meant to make them stop, look up, and remember who was really in charge of the situation. It’s God reminding them that He’s present in their scary situation.
Angels Showing Up
A big reason for the phrase is that angels are, apparently, terrifying to look at. Nearly every time an angel appears to a human in the Bible, the very first thing they say is some version of “Do not be afraid!”
Look at Zacharias in the temple. An angel appears, and he is “gripped with fear.” The angel’s first words? “Do not be afraid, Zechariah.”
When an angel came to Mary to tell her she’d have Jesus, same thing. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary.” It seems to be standard angelic protocol. Step one: appear. Step two: immediately tell the freaked-out human to relax.
God Giving a Big Job
Another time you see this phrase a lot is when God is giving someone a massive, impossible-sounding job. A task that would make anyone feel completely inadequate and scared.
God tells Abram (later Abraham) not to be afraid, right before promising him a son in his old age and descendants that would number the stars. That’s a huge promise.
Moses was terrified to go back to Egypt and confront Pharaoh. God basically had to convince him that it would be okay.
Joshua, after Moses died, was tasked with leading the Israelites into the promised land. A land filled with enemies. God’s message to him? “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” The command isn’t based on Joshua’s ability, but on God’s presence.
Different Flavors of “Fear Not”
Part of the reason counting is so tricky is because the idea is expressed in so many different ways. It’s not always those exact words. If you count the general idea of choosing faith over fear, the number gets way, way bigger.
Here are just a few of the other ways the Bible talks about this same idea:
Do not be anxious. This is a big one from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He tells people not to worry about their life, their food, or their clothes. It’s the same root idea as not being afraid. It’s about daily trust.
Take courage or Be of good cheer. This is the more active version. It’s not just about stopping a negative feeling (fear) but starting a positive one (courage). Jesus says this to his disciples right after telling them they will have trouble in the world.
Peace be with you. This was a standard greeting, but when Jesus says it, it carries more weight. He says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” This is presented as the direct antidote to a “troubled” or “afraid” heart.
The LORD is my shepherd. This famous line from Psalm 23 gets at the same thing. The reason the psalmist can say “I will fear no evil” is because of the “because” that follows: “for you are with me.”
So while the literal phrase is there about 100 times, the spirit of the message is woven all through the Old and New Testaments. It’s a constant theme.
Is It a Sin to Be Afraid?
This is a question that comes up a lot. If the Bible commands us not to be afraid, does that mean feeling fear is a sin? It’s a fair question, but it’s a bit of a misunderstanding of what the command is.
Feeling fear is a human emotion. It’s built into us. It’s a response that can keep us safe. Even the greatest heroes in the Bible felt fear. David wrote psalms about being scared. Elijah ran for his life and hid in a cave.
The command “do not be afraid” is less about the feeling of fear and more about the response to fear. It is a command to not let fear be your master. It’s a call to act with faith even while you might be feeling afraid.
It is considered to be a command that is based not on our own willpower, you know, to just stop being scared, but it’s based on who is with us. Every single time, the command is attached to a promise of God’s presence. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
So, no. The emotion of fear isn’t a sin. It’s what you do with it that matters. The Bible invites people to bring their fear to God, rather than letting that fear drive them away from him. It’s about trust, not about having no feelings.
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Frequently Asked Questions about “Do Not Be Afraid” in the Bible
1. So how many times does the Bible really say “Do not be afraid”?
If you’re counting the direct phrases like “fear not” or “do not be afraid,” the number is generally agreed to be around 100-114, depending on the Bible translation. The popular “365 times” idea is more of a nice myth.
2. Why do people say it’s 365 times then?
It’s a beautiful concept—a daily reminder from God to not be afraid. It got popular because it’s easy to remember and encouraging. It captures the spirit of the Bible’s message about fear, even if it’s not a literal word count.
3. What’s the first time “do not be afraid” appears in the Bible?
The first time the direct command “Fear not” shows up is in Genesis 15:1. God speaks to Abram in a vision and says, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
4. Is being anxious the same as being afraid?
They are very similar. Fear is often a response to a direct, known threat. Anxiety can be more of a general feeling of dread or worry about something that might happen. The Bible addresses both, telling people to trust God with present dangers and future worries.
5. What’s a good Bible verse for when I’m feeling scared?
A classic and powerful one is Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
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Key Takeaways
The idea that “do not be afraid” is in the Bible 365 times is a popular myth, not a factual count. The real number of direct commands is closer to 100.
The spirit of the 365 number is true; the theme of choosing faith over fear is all over the Bible.
The command to not fear is almost always paired with a reason: God’s presence, His power, or His plan. It’s not an empty platitude.
The phrase often appears when angels show up to people or when God gives someone a huge, scary task to complete.
Feeling fear is a normal human emotion and not a sin. The command is about not letting fear control your actions and choosing to trust God instead.
