Most of the four verses from Psalm 19 that we read today speak about God's law using different terms: "law", "decree", "precepts, "command" "ordinances". It may seem strange, then, that one verse turns away suddenly from the law to speak of the "fear of the Lord", as if to suggest that all God's laws and precepts, under whatever name we give them, are meant to inspire fear. This idea would be very misleading, as it implies an understanding of law totally different from that of the Bible's Wisdom Literature. The writer of this Psalm can change from a consideration of the law to a consideration of the fear of God almost unconsciously, for he is writing from a spiritual perspective that knows that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". This powerfully enlightening and enabling aphorism sums up much of Biblical teaching.

In later reflection upon our relationship with God, we distinguish a wholly positive and enabling "filial fear" from a degrading and debilitating "servile fear", since "filial fear" is a form of loving reverence. It is that discerning wisdom which we usually call "prudence".