Quick Definition
I worship
Strong's Definition
to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)
Derivation: from G4314 (πρός) and a probable derivative of G2965 (κύων) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand);
KJV Usage: worship
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
προσκυνέω, προσκύνω; imperfect προσεκύνουν; future προσκυνήσω; 1 aorist προσεκύνησα; from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; the Sept. very often for δΔωΐΡϊΗΜηΒεΘδ (to prostrate oneself); properly, to kiss the hand to (toward) one, in token of reverence: Herodotus 1, 134; (cf. K. F. Hermann, Gottesdienstl. Alterthümer d. Griech. § 21; especially Hoelemann, Die Biblical Gestalt. d. Anbetung in his 'Bibelstudien' i., 106ff); hence, among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence ("to make a 'salam'"); Latinveneror (Nepos, Conon. 3, 3),adoro (Pliny, h. n. 28, 5, 25; Suetonius, Vitell. 2); hence, in the N. T. by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. It is used a. of homage shown to men of superior rank: absolutely, Mat_20:20 (the Jewish high-priests are spoken of in Josephus, b. j. 4, 5, 2 as προσκυνούμενοι); πεσών ἐπί τούς πόδας προσεκύνησεν, Act_10:25; τίνι (according to the usage of later writings; cf. Winers Grammar, 36, 210 (197); (Buttmann, § 131, 4); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 463), Mat_2:2; Mat_2:8; Mat_8:2; Mat_9:18; Mat_14:33; Mat_15:25; (); (R G); Mar_5:6 (here WH Tr marginal reading have the accusative); ; Joh_9:38; with πεσών preceding, Mat_2:11; Mat_4:9; ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν τίνος, Rev_3:9; (it may perhaps be mentioned that some would bring in here Heb_11:21 προσεκύνησεν ἐπί τό ἄκρον τῆς ῤάβδου αὐτοῦ, explaining it by the (Egyptian) custom of bowing upon the magistrate's staff of office in taking an oath; cf. Chabas, Melanges Egypt. III. i., p. 80, cf. p. 91f; but see below).
b. of homage rendered to God and the ascended Christ, to heavenly beings, and to demons: absolutely (our to worship) (cf. Winer's Grammar, 593 (552)), Joh_4:20; Joh_12:20; Act_8:27; Act_24:11; Heb_11:21 (cf. above); Rev_11:1; πίπτειν καί προσκυνεῖν, Rev_5:14; τίνι, Joh_4:21; Joh_4:23; Act_7:43; Heb_1:6; Rev_4:10; Rev_7:11; Rev_11:16; Rev_14:7; Rev_16:2; Rev_19:4; Rev_19:20; Rev_22:8; Rev_13:4 G L T Tr WH (twice (the 2nd time WH text only)); G T Tr WH text; Rev_20:4 Rec.; πεσών ἐπί πρόσωπον προσκυνήσει τῷ Θεῷ, 1Co_14:25; πίπτειν ἐπί τά πρόσωπα καί προσκυνεῖν τῷ Θεῷ, Rev_11:16; preceded by πίπτειν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ποδῶν τίνος, Rev_19:10. in accordance with the usage of the older and better writings with τινα or τί (cf. Matthiae, § 412): Mat_4:10; Luk_4:8; Rev_9:20; Rev_13:12; Rev_14:9; Rev_14:11; also Rev_13:4 (Rec. twice; (WH marginal reading once)), 8 (where Rec. dative), 15 R L WH marginal reading; 20:4a (where Rec. dative), 4b (where Relz dative); Luk_24:52 R G L Tr brackets WH reject; (the Sept. also connects the word far more frequent with the dative than with the accusative (cf. Hoelemann as above, p. 116ff)); ἐνώπιον τίνος, Luk_4:7; Rev_15:4.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
προσκυνέω proskyneō 60x
to do reverence or homage by kissing the hand;
in NT to do reverence or homage by prostration, Mat_2:2 ; Mat_2:8 ; Mat_2:11 ; Mat_20:20 ; Luk_4:7 ; Luk_24:52 ;
to pay divine homage, worship, adore, Mat_4:10 ; Joh_4:20-21 ; Heb_1:6 ;
to bow one s self in adoration, Heb_11:21 fall down before; worship.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
προσ -κυνέω , -ῶ
( < κυνέω , to kiss),
[in LXX chiefly for H7812 hith.;]
to make obeisance, do reverence to, worship;
(a) prop . (as in cl ., of the gods: Hdt ., Ζsch ., Plat ., al. ), of God, Christ and supra-mundane beings: absol. , Joh_4:20 ; Joh_12:20 , Act_8:27 ; Act_24:11 , Heb_11:21 ( Westc ., in l ), Rev_11:1 ; πίπτειν καὶ Papyri, Rev_5:14 ; c . dat . (of the significance of this constr. as com\-pared with the usual cl ., c . acc , v. Abbott, JG , 78 f .; JV, 133 ff .), Joh_4:21 ; Joh_4:23 , Act_7:43 , 1Co_14:25 , Heb_1:6 , Rev_4:10 ; Rev_7:11 ; Rev_11:16 ; Rev_13:4 ; Rev_13:15 ; Rev_14:7 ; Rev_16:2 ; Rev_19:4 ; Rev_19:10 ; Rev_19:20 ; Rev_22:8-9 ; c . acc ( v. supr .), Mat_4:10 , Luk_4:8 ; Luk_24:52 ( WH , R , mg ., om .), Joh_4:22 ; Joh_4:24 , Rev_9:20 ; Rev_13:4 ; Rev_13:8 ; Rev_13:12 ; Rev_14:9 ; Rev_14:11 ; Rev_20:4 ; Seq . ἐπώπιον , Luk_4:7 , Rev_15:4 ;
(b) as in cl ., of homage to human superiors ( cf. MM , xxi): absol. , Mat_20:20 , Act_10:25 ; c . dat . ( v. supr .), Mat_2:2 ; Mat_2:8 ; Mat_8:2 ; Mat_9:18 ; Mat_14:33 ; Mat_15:25 ; Mat_18:26 ; Mat_28:9 , Mar_15:19 , Joh_9:38 ; πεσὼν ., Mat_2:11 ; Mat_4:9 ; ἐνώπιον τ . ποδῶν , Rev_3:9 ; c . acc , Mar_5:6 ( dat . T ).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
προσκυνέω [page 549]
do obeisance to, worship, used generally of a god, as P Flor III. 332 .11 (i/i A.D.) καὶ οὔ [τε ἐ ]λουσάμην [οὔ ]τε προσεκύνησα θεοὺς φοβουμένη σου το̣̣ μετέωρον . In Ptolemaic inscrr. the verb is construed with the acc., never the dat, as often in the NT (see Proleg. , p. 64), e.g. OGIS 184 .5 (i/ B.C.) προσκεκύνηκα τὴν μεγίστην θεὰν κυρίαν Σώτειραν Ἷσιν .
P Giss I. 11 .14 (A.D. 118) (= Chrest. I. p. 523 ) ἐπ <ε >ὶ ἐγὼ οὐ πάρειμει προσκυνῆσαί σε τὸν τιμιώτατον , ib. 17 .11 (a slave to her master time of Hadrian) (= Chrest. I. p. 566 ) ὤφελον εἰ ἐδυνάμεθα πέτασθαι καὶ ἐλθεῖν καὶ προσκυνῆσαί σε , BGU II. 423 .15 (ii/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 91) ἵνα σου προσκυνήσω τὴν χεραν , and P Tebt II. 286 .22 (A.D. 121 138) προσκυνεῖ [ν ] ὀφείλοντες τὰς ἀναγνῳ [σ ]θείσας τοῦ θεοῦ Τ [ρ ]αιανοῦ . . . ἀποφ [ά ]σεις , as we are bound to respect the rescripts of the deified Trajan (Edd.) are exx. of προσκυνέω with an object other than a god, though the last instance falls little short.
Often the verb is without object. Thus P Par 49 .32 (before B.C. 161 or 160) (= UPZ i. p. 309) ἐ [ὰ ]ν ἀναβῶ κἀγὼ προσκυνῆσαι a very close parallel to Act_24:11 : Syll 807 (= .3 1173) .2 (ii/A.D.) ἐχρημάτισεν ( sc. Asclepius) ἐλθεῖν ἐπ [ὶ τὸ ] ἱερὸν̣ βῆμα καὶ προσκυνῆσαι : P Tebt II. 416 .7 (ii/A.D.) ἐγενάμην εἰς Ἀλεξάνδριαν προσ [κ ]υ̣νῆσαι , I came to Alexandria to pray (Edd.). In MGr the meaning is weakened into honour, offer respects : see Thumb Handb. p. 352.
The subst. προσκύνημα , not in the NT, is used in in numerable pagan letters in the formula τὸ προσκύνημα σου ποιῶ παρὰ (τῷ δεῖνι ) θεῷ and the like, e.g. BGU III. 846 .2 (ii/A.D.) (= Selections , p. 93) τὸ προσκύνημά σου [ποι ]ῶ κατ᾽ αἱκάστην ἡμαίραν παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ [Σερ ]άπειδει : cf. P Oxy III. 528 .5 (ii/A.D.) τὸ προσκύνημά σου πυῶ παρὰ τῇ σε φιλούσῃ Θοήρι , I perform the act of veneration on your behalf to Thφeris who loves you (Edd.). For a possible ex. of προσκύνημα ποιέω occurring in a Christian letter, see ib. XIV. 1775 .2 (iv/A.D.) τὸ προσκύνημά σου ποιῶ καθ᾽ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν παρὰ τῷ δεσπότῃ θεῷ ὅπως ὁλόκληρόν σε ἀπολάβω̣ : see Ghedini Lettere , p. 254 f.
Προσκύνησις is is found in the late P Oxy I. 128 verso .13 (vi/vii A.D.) ἡγείσθω τῆς ἐπιστ [ο ]λῆς ἡ ἐποφειλομένη κατὰ χρέος προσκύνησις τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ ἐνδοξότητι , in the forefront of this letter we would place our due and fitting obeisance to your excellency (Edd.).
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
προσκυνέω fut. -ήσω aor1 -εκύνησα poet. -έκυ^σα imperat. πρόσκυσον inf. -κύσαι part. -κύσας perf. -κεκύνηκα Plut. :— "to make obeisance" to the gods, "fall down and worship, to worship, adore", c. acc., Hdt. , Aesch. , etc.:—proverb., οἱ προσκυνοῦντες τὴν Ἀδράστειαν σοφοί, of deprecating the wrath of Nemesis, Aesch. ; so, τὸν φθόνον δὲ πρόσκυσον Soph. :—also of sacred places, "to do reverence to", ἕδη θεῶν id=Soph. ; τὴν γῆν Ar. of the Oriental fashion of "making the salam or prostrating oneself before" kings and superiors, absol., Hdt. ; c. acc., πρ. τὸν Δαρεῖον ὡς βασιλέα "to make obeisance" "to him as king", id=Hdt. ; πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν Soph. , etc.:—later, c. dat., NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
προσ-κυνέω, -ῶ
(κυνέω, to kiss), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁחָה hith. ;]
to make obeisance, do reverence to, worship;
__(a) prop. (as in cl., of the gods: Hdt., Æsch., Plat., al.), of God, Christ and supra-mundane beings: absol., Jhn.4:20 12:20, Act.8:27 24:11, Heb.11:21 (Westc., in l), Rev.11:1; πίπτειν καὶ π., Rev.5:14; with dative (of the significance of this constr. as compared with the usual cl., with accusative, see Abbott, JG, 78 f.; JV, 133 ff.), Jhn.4:21, 23, Act.7:43, 1Co.14:25, Heb.1:6, Rev.4:10 7:11 11:16 13:4, 15 14:7 16:2 19:4, 10 19:20 22:8-9; with accusative (see supr.), Mat.4:10, Luk.4:8 24:52 (WH, R, mg., om.), Jhn.4:22, 24, Rev.9:20 13:4, 8 13:12 14:9, 11 20:4; Seq. ἐπώπιον, Luk.4:7, Rev.15:4;
__(b) as in cl., of homage to human superiors (cf. MM, xxi): absol., Mat.20:20, Act.10:25; with dative (see supr.), Mat.2:2, 8 8:2 9:18 14:33 15:25 18:26 28:9, Mrk.15:19, Jhn.9:38; πεσὼν., Mat.2:11 4:9; ἐνώπιον τ. ποδῶν, Rev.3:9; with accusative, Mrk.5:6 (dative T).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Worship (bow down) (4352) proskuneo
Worship (4352) (proskuneo from pros = before + kuneo = kiss or adore) means to prostrate oneself in homage before another in the full sense of worship, not mere reverence or courtesy. When Jesus Christ was born into this world, He was attended and worshipped by angels. (Lu 2:13f).
Proskuneo represents the most common Near Eastern act of adoration and reverence and also carries the idea of profound awe and respect. Some believe that the root word kuneo may be related to kuon which is the Greek word for dog and which then could be picturing a dog licking his master's hand.
The word proskuneo literally means to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or homage, to prostrate oneself in homage, to do reverence to, to adore and so to worship and show respect. In the ancient Oriental (especially Persia) the mode of salutation between persons of equal rank was to kiss each other on the lips. When the difference of rank was slight, they kissed each other on the cheek. When one was much inferior, he fell upon his knees touched his forehead to the ground or prostrated himself, and as he was bowing down he would be throwing kisses toward the superior. It is this latter mode of salutation that is intended by the Greek writers in the use of the verb proskuneo .
Notice that proskuneo is a command (aorist imperative) meaning to carry this out effectively and fully. The angels are to do this now! (Worship).
TDNT notes that proskuneo...
is an ancient term for reverent adoration of the gods, which in the case of chthonic deities would mean stooping to kiss the earth. The Greeks abandon the outward gesture but keep the term for the inner attitude. Later the word takes on a much more general sense expressing love and respect.
Wuest writes that proskuneo means...
to prostrate one’s self, to kiss the hand to (towards) one in token of reverence, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence (to make a salam), by kneeling or prostration to do homage to one or make obeisance, either in order to express respect or make supplication.” It is used of homage shown to men of superior rank, or of homage shown to God. Here (Mark 5:6 - see verse below) it speaks of homage to God, the act of worship, for the demon recognizes our Lord as the Son of God. Here we have a being, incorrigible in his nature, destined to be damned for all eternity, one of the cohorts of Satan, bending the knee to God the Son. This is that of which Paul was speaking when he referred to the universal adoration of the Lord Jesus, even by beings under the earth (Php 2:10-note). They are even now bending the knee to the Son of God. In the last analysis, it was not the demoniac who was prostrating himself before the Lord Jesus. He was under the control of the demon, and the latter was the source of the homage paid the Son of God. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)
Detzler adds that originally proskuneo...
meant "to kiss reverently," which involved stooping down to kiss. Early Greek writers spoke of stooping to kiss the ground, as an expression of thanksgiving for a safe arrival. (This is the gesture Pope John Paul II makes on arriving in a foreign land.)
Later, proskuneo came to mean prostration, throwing oneself on the ground to show awe or respect before some deity. This was seen not only with regard to pagan gods or goddesses. It also was practiced when appearing before rulers, such as Alexander the Great. The idea was one of reverence, and this attitude of submission was signaled by falling prostrate on the ground.
In the Septuagint Greek Old Testament such worship was reserved for Jehovah God. In fact, it was considered sacrilege for a Jew to express worship toward any other pagan god or person. One recalls that Daniel's friends refused to bow to their ruler's idol (Da 3:1-12). (Detzler, Wayne E: New Testament Words in Today's Language. Victor. 1986)
The NIDNTT adds that...
The basic meaning of proskuneo, in the opinion of most scholars, is to kiss. The prefix indicates a connection with cultic practices going back beyond Greek history. On Egyptian reliefs worshippers are represented with outstretched hand throwing a kiss to (pros-) the deity. Among the Greeks the verb is a technical term for the adoration of the gods, meaning to fall down, prostrate oneself, adore on one’s knees. Probably it came to have this meaning because in order to kiss the earth (i.e. the earth deity) or the image of a god, one had to cast oneself on the ground. Later proskuneo was also used in connection with the deification of rulers and the Roman emperor cult. In addition to the external act of prostrating oneself in worship, proskuneo can denote the corresponding inward attitude of reverence and humility. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan)
Wayne Barber writes that...
We hear much today about worship. It is defined everywhere from emotions felt during a song to chill bumps when the preacher gives an illustration. But, what is true worship? How do we know we have worshipped? Well, there are three Greek words for worship in the NT. The first word is proskuneo, the word used when the "magi" came from the east to worship the Christ child. [Mt 2:2] This is the word that means to lie down prostrate before one that is worthy to be worshipped. It involves the attitude of humility of the person who is bowing. And on the other hand it involves an understanding and recognition that one is in the presence of the One that is worthy. It is a response word, not an emotion, but an immediate response in the presence of deity.
There are 59 uses of proskuneo in the NT (Mt. 2:2, 8, 11; 4:9, 10; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 18:26; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mk. 5:6; 15:19; Lk. 4:7f; 24:52; Jn. 4:20, 21, 22; 9:38; 12:20; Acts 7:43; 8:27; 10:25; 24:11; 1 Co. 14:25; Heb. 1:6; 11:21; Rev. 3:9; 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:20; 11:1, 16; 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:7, 9, 11; 15:4; 16:2; 19:4, 10, 20; 20:4; 22:8, 9).
Note the preponderance of uses in the Revelation (24 times) - most refer to worship of God, but at least 6 refer to worship of the Antichrist. Here are some representative uses of proskuneo in the NT...
Matthew 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."
Matthew 2:8 And he (Herod the liar and murderer) sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him."
Matthew 2:11 And they ("Wise Men") came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 4:9 and he (Satan the liar and murderer) said to Him (Jesus), "All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'"
Matthew 8:2 And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." (Comment: From the reverential nature of his request it seems that the leper addressed Jesus as Lord not simply in the sense of “Sir,” but as an acknowledgment of deity. What irony -- an unclean leper recognized something about Jesus that most of His own people, including the "religious" ones, were blinded to! Note also that Christ never refused to accept worship, for He knew Who He was still fully God and deserving of worship.)
Matthew 9:18 While He was saying these things to them, behold, there came a synagogue official, and bowed down before Him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live." (Comment: Here proskuneo describes the act of prostrating oneself before the honored person and kissing his feet, the hem of his garment, or the ground in front of him. Such acts of reverence were not, of course, always completely sincere, but everything Jairus did proved his humility and sincerity. Contrast his bowing down with that of James and John's mother in Mt 20:20 below)
Matthew 14:33 And those (Jesus' disciples) who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"
Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John) came to Him with her sons, bowing down, and making a request of Him. (Comment: Here proskuneo pictures the woman's seeming act of reverence but it entirely external and self-serving. She did not desire Jesus’ honor and glory but only that He would grant that “in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left” - Mt 20: 21)
Matthew 28:9 (After His resurrection) And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet (to take hold of His feet indicates they would have had to be on the ground) and worshiped Him....17 And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
Mark 5:6 And seeing Jesus from a distance, he (the Gadarene demoniac) ran up and bowed down before Him (Did reverence,’ ââ¬Ëmade obeisance, bowed down to, but not in the technical Christian sense of worshipping Jesus, but in the general sense of paying Him reverence)
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (Comment: Not only did Jesus accept worship, but He also taught the essentials of worship. The Samaritan woman was preoccupied with the place of worship, but Jesus taught her that true worship was spiritual, not spatial )
John 9:38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. (The appropriate response when our eyes are opened is to fall down before Him as Lord).
Acts 7:43 'You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship them. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.'
Hebrews 11:21 (note) By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Revelation 3:9 (note) 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie-- behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Revelation 4:10 (note) the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 5:14 (note) And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 7:11 (note) And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
Revelation 9:20 (note) And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;
Revelation 11:1 (note) And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, "Rise and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. (Note that this is one of the verses that indicates the Temple must be rebuilt on Temple Mount!)
Revelation 11:16 (note) And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,
Revelation 13:4 (note) and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast (Antichrist); and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
Revelation 13:8 (note) And all who dwell on the earth will worship him (the beast = Antichrist), everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Revelation 13:12 (note) And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
Revelation 13:15 (note) And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Comment: This is the source of martyrs in the Great Tribulation - those who refuse to bow down in perverted worship to the Antichrist or even his image).
Revelation 14:7 (note) (This is God's last warning at the midpoint of the Tribulation, just prior to the Great Tribulation. This is the proclamation of the Gospel to all the World - see note Revelation 14:6) and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters."
Revelation 14:9 (note) And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand
Revelation 14:11 (note) "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
Revelation 15:4 (note) "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed."
Revelation 16:2 (note) And the first angel went and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.
Revelation 19:4 (note) And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"
Revelation 19:10 (note) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Revelation 19:20 (note) And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. (Comment: Worship in the New Testament is a two-edged sword. On one hand, those who worship the Lord will live forever in heaven. Those who submit to any other worship are doomed to eternal damnation. It is eternally important to watch what we worship.)
Revelation 20:4 (note) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Revelation 22:8 (note) And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Revelation 22:9 (note) And he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book; worship God.
Proskuneo is used 177 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Gen. 18:2; 19:1; 22:5; 23:7, 12; 24:26, 48, 52; 27:29; 33:3, 6f; 37:7, 9f; 42:6; 43:26, 28; 47:31; 48:12; 49:8; Exod. 4:31; 11:8; 12:27; 18:7; 20:5; 23:24; 24:1; 32:8; 33:10; 34:8, 14; Lev. 26:1; Num. 22:31; 25:2; Deut. 4:19; 5:9; 8:19; 11:16; 17:3; 26:10; 29:26; 30:17; 32:43; Jos. 23:7, 16; Jdg. 2:2, 12, 17, 19; 7:15; Ruth 2:10; 1 Sam. 1:3, 19; 2:36; 15:25, 30f; 20:41; 24:8; 25:23, 41; 28:14; 2 Sam. 1:2; 9:6, 8; 12:20; 14:4, 22, 33; 15:5, 32; 16:4; 18:21, 28; 24:20; 1 Ki. 1:16, 23, 31, 47, 53; 2:13; 9:6, 9; 16:31; 19:18; 22:53; 2 Ki. 2:15; 4:37; 5:18; 17:16, 35f; 18:22; 19:37; 21:3, 21; 1 Chr. 16:29; 21:21; 29:20; 2 Chr. 7:3, 19, 22; 20:18; 24:17; 25:14; 29:28ff; 32:12; 33:3; Neh. 8:6; 9:3, 6; Est. 3:2, 5; 4:17; 8:12; Job 1:20; Ps. 5:7; 22:27, 29; 29:2; 45:11; 66:4; 72:11; 81:9; 86:9; 95:6; 96:9; 97:7; 99:5, 9; 106:19; 132:7; 138:2; Isa. 2:8, 20; 27:13; 37:38; 44:15, 17, 19; 45:14; 46:6; 49:7, 23; 66:23; Jer. 1:16; 8:2; 13:10; 16:11; 22:9; 25:6; 26:2; Ezek. 8:16; 46:2f, 9; Dan. 2:46; 3:5ff, 10ff, 14f, 18, 28; 6:26f; Mic. 5:13; Zeph. 1:5; 2:11; Zech. 14:16f). Study the following representative uses to give you a sense of how proskuneo was used in the Septuagint (LXX) ...
Genesis 18:2 (Context = verse 1 Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day) And when he (Abraham) lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men (one of those "Men" was a theophany, very likely the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus - see related study of Angel of the LORD) were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) himself to the earth
Genesis 19:1 Now the two angels (the third "Man" described above did not appear to Lot) came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) with his face to the ground.
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) and return to you."
Genesis 49:8 "Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father's sons shall bow down (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) to you.
Ruth 2:10 (note) Then she fell on her face, bowing (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
Psalm 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will worship (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) before Thee.
Isaiah 66:23 "And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down (Hebrew = shachah = bow down; Lxx = proskuneo) before Me," says the LORD. (Comment: This event will occur when Christ establishes His Millennial Kingdom)
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
AND HEBREWS 1:6
It is interesting to read that the older editions of the Jehovah's Witness publication of their New World Translation translates Hebrews 1:6 as follows:
But when he again brings his First-born into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels worship him.” (NWT, editions of 1953, 1960, 1961, and 1970) (Bolding added)
When the editions of the Watchtower Bible cited above were printed, somehow this reference to worshiping Jesus Christ managed to escape the censor’s knife (One of those providential "accidents"!). Every other mention of worshiping Jesus was removed from the New World Translation, except the one in Hebrews 1:6. However, beginning with the 1971 revision of the NWT, all future editions were changed to read as follows
and let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.
Obeisance is defined in our English dictionary as to give reverence to, to bow or to curtsy, so it takes away somewhat from the idea inherent in the stronger word "to worship".
Notice once again the importance of interpreting Scripture in context. The entire first chapter of Hebrews is devoted to contrasting Jesus Christ with the angels—showing the superiority of the Son of God over the angelic creation. But the Jehovah's Witness Watchtower Society teaches that Jesus Christ is an angel. It is little wonder that they changed Hebrews 1:6, so that they might eliminate any thought of worshiping Him as the Creator rather than the creature! If you have an older edition of the New World Translation, turn to Hebrews 1 and let the Jehovah's Witness member read verse 6. If you don't have access to this out of print version you can still invite the Jehovah's Witness to turn to Re 22:8-note; Re 22:9-note in his own Kingdom Interlinear Translation, where the same word proskuneo is used in the original Greek. There the apostle John says,
“I fell down to worship [proskuneo] before the feet of the angel.ââ¬Â¦ But he tells me: ââ¬ËBe careful! Do not do that! ââ¬Â¦ Worship [proskuneo] God.’
You can point out that the worship the angel refused to accept, but told John to give to God, is the same Greek verb proskuneo used in Hebrews 1:6 where the Father commanded this act and action be given to His Son Jesus. Clearly, the Son is certainly not an angel but is superior to the angels (and not a "superior angel" but the Creator of the angels!). Would it be appropriate to give the Son the same worshipful honor that is given to the Father? Let John 5:23 answer that question:
in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (New World Translation) (Bolding added)
We know from Exodus 20:5 that only God is to be worshipped.
You shall not (absolute negation in the Septuagint) worship (Septuagint = same verb proskuneo) them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me (Exodus 20:5)
In spite of this strong OT warning to worship no one other than God, note that Jesus always accepted such worship (not just obeisance) when it was offered! For example in one of His post-resurrection appearances to His disciples Matthew records...
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped (proskuneo) Him. (Mt 28:7) (See also Mt 14:33, Mark 14:3-9)
The blind man who had been healed by Jesus and subsequently was cast out of the presence of the Jewish religious leaders then encountered Jesus, John recording that...
Jesus heard that they had put him out; and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered and said, "And who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." 38 And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped (proskuneo) Him. (John 9:35-38 )
Finally compare two parallel passages in the Revelation which use the word proskuneo...
Revelation 4:10 (note) the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship (proskuneo) Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 5:14 (note) And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. (proskuneo). (Comment: Read the context beginning in verse 11 and you will note that the Lamb that was slain and that in verse 13 the object of the worship of the elders is Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, so here in one verse Jesus the Lamb of God [John 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7] and the Father receive worship.)
Note that there is no justification for translating proskuneo as worship in contexts dealing with the Father and as obeisance in contexts dealing with Jesus. In both contexts worship is the clear and obvious meaning because Jesus is God! And He is better than the angels, who are called to worship Him as God!
Hebrews 1:7 And of the angels He says, "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE." (NASB: Lockman)
Greek: kai pros men tous aggelous legei, (3SPAI) O poion (PAPMSN) tous aggelous autou pneumata, kai tous leitourgous autou puros phoga;
ICB: This is what God said about the angels: "God makes his angels become like winds. He makes his servants become like flames of fire. (ICB: Nelson)
KJV: And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Phillips: This is what he says of the angels: 'Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire' (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: And with reference to the angels He says, Who makes His angels spirits, and His servants a flame of fire. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: and unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, 'Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;'
AND OF THE ANGELS HE SAYS "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE: kai pros men tous aggelous legei, (3SPAI) O poion (PAPMSN) tous aggelous autou pneumata, kai tous leitourgous autou puros phoga; : (Heb 1:14; 2Ki 2:11; 6:17; Ps 104:4; Isa 6:2;Ezek 1:13 14; Da 7:10; Zec 6:5)
Ps 104:4 is a song of creation (heavens, seas, earth, sun, moon, angels)...Thou hast made them all
Ps 104:4 He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.
Spurgeon comments on Psalm 104:4 (note)
Who maketh his angels spirits; or wields, for the word means either. Angels are pure spirits, though they are permitted to assume a visible form when God desires us to see them. God is a spirit, and he is waited upon by spirits in his royal courts. Angels are like winds for mystery, force, and invisibility, and no doubt the winds themselves are often the angels or messengers of God. God who makes his angels to be as winds, can also make winds to be his angels, and they are constantly so in the economy of nature.
His ministers a flaming fire. Here, too, we may choose which we will of two meanings: God's ministers or servants he makes to be as swift, potent, and terrible as fire, and on the other hand he makes fire, that devouring element, to be his minister flaming forth upon his errands. That the passage refers to angels is clear from Hebrews 1:7; and it was most proper to mention them here in connection with light and the heavens, and immediately after the robes and paltree of the Great King. Should not the retinue of the Lord of Hosts be mentioned as well as his chariot? It would have been a flaw in the description of the universe had the angels not been alluded to, and this is the most appropriate place for their introduction. When we think of the extraordinary powers entrusted to angelic beings, and the mysterious glory of the seraphim and the four living creatures, we are led to reflect upon the glory of the Master whom they serve, and again we cry out with the psalmist, "O Lord, my God, thou art very great."
God calls his angels
"messengers swift as the wind, and servants made of flaming fire. (NLT)
Who makes His angels spirits (NKJV)
He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire (NIV)
Who is making His messengers spirits (YLT)
Makes (4160) (poieo) means to create and since Jesus is the Creator of all things (see note on Colossians 1:18), the angels were created by Him and therefore Jesus is better than the angels.
Some translators have read this statement as
God made the winds His messengers, and the fires His servants.
The inspired NT writer here quotes it properly
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire
The angels are spiritual not physical beings though they can assume physical bodies on occasion. Angels are commonly associated in Scripture with the stars (which are "flaming fires") (Cp Jdg 5:20-note; Job 38:7; Isa 14:12,14 [which many feel describes Satan]; Rev 1:20-note; Re 12:3-9-note)
Spurgeon comments that...
Angels are servants and not kings, they fly upon the divine errands like flames of fire, but they do not sway a sceptre, neither have they a throne existing for ever and ever. Jesus is the anointed king, and though we share in the anointing yet is He far above us. Christ is infinitely greater than Christians. We are right glad to have it so.
"Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion."
http://www.preceptaustin.org/hebrews_16-7.htm#worship
