From Fear to Awe

בפסוק אל תיראו התיצבו כו'.

In the verse: “Do not fear, stand firm,” etc.

The Sefat Emet begins by noting the initial divine command to Israel not to fear.

ולבסוף כתיב וייראו העם את ה'.

And in the end it is written: “And the people feared the Lord.”

Although they were told not to fear, the narrative concludes with a different type of fear.

שמקודם הי' בחי' יראת העונש.

For at first it was a form of fear of punishment.

The initial fear was instinctive and self‑protective, not yet spiritually elevated.

ויראה זו צריכה שמירה שלא להתפשט.

And such fear requires guarding so that it not spread unchecked.

Fear of punishment can overwhelm a person if not restrained and refined.

ולכן כתיב וייראו מאוד.

Therefore it is written: “And they feared greatly.”

This describes their unfiltered, excessive fear before it was guided toward holiness.

ואמר להם אל תיראו שלא הי' יראה השלימה עד לבסוף דכ' וייראו את ה' והוא יראת הרוממות.

And he told them, “Do not fear,” because the complete fear had not yet arrived until later, as it is written: “And they feared the Lord,” which is awe of exaltedness.

Moses directs them away from raw fear toward awe—deep, reverent awareness of God’s greatness.

ויראה זו מביאה לשמחה ושירה.

And this kind of awe brings joy and song.

Awe of exaltedness is uplifting, expanding the heart rather than constricting it.

כמ"ש יראתי מתוך שמחתי ושמחתי מתוך יראתי.

As it is said: “My awe comes from my joy, and my joy from my awe.”

True awe and joy feed one another; each deepens the other.

והשירה הבאה ע"י יראה היא עדות שהיא יראה שלימה ואמיתית.

And the song that emerges from awe is testimony that it is complete and genuine awe.

Song signals spiritual wholeness—fear transformed into reverent delight.

וע"ז כ' אין מחסור ליראיו שמי שזוכה ליראת ה' זוכה בכל:

And concerning this it is written: “Those who fear Him lack nothing,” for one who attains awe of God attains everything.

Awe aligns a person with divine abundance, removing all spiritual lack.

Summary: The Sefat Emet contrasts fear of punishment with awe of God’s exaltedness, showing how the latter produces joy, song, and spiritual fullness. True awe is revealed when it gives rise to song, and those who reach this state “lack nothing.”