Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked [thee] yesternight.
Ver. 42. The fear of Isaac.] God, the proper object of fear; whence he is absolutely called "The fear". Psa 76:11 "Bring presents to fear"; that is, to him, to whom all dread is due. The Chaldee Paraphrast rendereth Teraphim, Gen 31:32 Laban's fear. It was an atheistical speech of Statius, Primus in orbe deos fecit Timor. But it was a true saying of Varro, as Calvin cites his words, They that first brought in images of the gods, increased men's error, but took away their fear. a
a Qui primi deorum simulachra induxerunt, errorem auxerunt, metum dempserunt. - Var.