Worship

G4352. proskuneo; contracted proskuno, fut. proskuneso, from pros (G4314), to, and
kuneo (n.f.), to kiss, adore. To worship, do obeisance, show respect, fall or prostrate before.
Literally, to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or homage. The ancient
oriental (especially Persian) mode of salutation between persons of equal ranks 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 and touched his forehead to the ground or
prostrated himself, throwing kisses at the same time toward the superior. It is this latter mode of
salutation that Gr. writers express by proskuneo. In the NT, generally, to do reverence or homage
to someone, usually by kneeling or prostrating oneself before him. In the Sept. it means to bow
down, to prostrate oneself in reverence, homage (Gen. 19:1; 48:12). (I) Generally towards a
person as superior to whom one owes reverence and homage or from whom one implores aid.
Used in an absolute sense in Acts 10:25. In Matt. 20:20 used with the word aiteo (G154) which
means to beg, to ask as from an inferior to a superior (Sept.: Gen. 33:6, 7). Followed by the dat.
of person and with words expressing prostration (Matt. 2:11; 4:9; 18:26; 28:9; Mark 15:19).
Used simply (Matt. 2:2, and came to worship Him [a.t.]; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:17; Mark
5:6; John 9:38; Sept.: Gen. 27:29; 43:26, 28). Followed by the acc. (Luke 24:52; Sept.: Gen.
37:7, 9); by enopion (G1799), before, and the gen. of a person, in front of someone (Luke 4:7;
Rev. 3:9; Sept.: Ps. 22:30; 86:9). (II) Spoken of those who pay reverence and homage to deity,
render divine honors, worship, adore, with the basic idea of prostration, which, however, is often
dropped (cf. Sept.: Gen. 47:31; 1 Kings 1:47). (A) Of God, used in an absolute sense (John 4:20,
24; 12:20; Acts 8:27; 24:11; Heb. 11:21, meaning he worshiped leaning upon the top of his staff,
in allusion to Gen. 47:31 [cf. 1 Kings 1:47; Rev. 11:1; Sept.: Ps. 95:6; 138:2]). Followed by the
dat. and with the words expressing prostration (1 Cor. 14:25; Rev. 4:10; 5:14 [TR]; 7:11; 11:16;
19:4). Used simply (John 4:21, 23; Rev. 14:7; 19:10; 22:9; Sept.: Gen. 24:26; 1 Sam. 1:19; Isa.
27:13). Followed by the acc. (Matt. 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:22-24); by enopion (G1799), before,
and sou, you (Rev. 15:4); by auton (acc. of autos (G846), he), him. (B) Of the Messiah with the
dat. (Heb. 1:6). (C) Of angels with epeson, the aor. of pipto (G4098), to fall, and emprosthen
(G1715), before, with the gen. (Rev. 19:10; 22:8). (D) Of false gods, idols, followed by the dat.
(Acts 7:43; Rev. 13:8; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). Followed by the acc. (Rev. 9:20; 13:4, 12, 15; 14:9,
11). Deriv.: proskunetes (G4353), worshiper. Syn.: sebomai (G4576), to revere, stressing the
feeling of awe or devotion; sebazomai (G4573), to honor religiously; latreuo (G3000), to
worship in the sense of serving; eusebeo (G2151), to act piously toward; eulabeomai (G2125), to
reverence. Ant.: asebeo (G764), to be impious or wicked, ungodly; blasphemeo (G987), to vilify,
speak impiously or evil, blaspheme.

G2999. latreia; gen. latreias, fem. noun from latreuo (G3000), to worship. Service for
hire or as a slave, divine service (only in John 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6; Sept.: Ex.
12:25, 26; Josh. 22:27). That sacrifice seems especially to be the service denoted is clear from
Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6. In Rom. 12:1, with logike (G3050), logical, latreia is service which
conforms to human reason. Deriv.: eidololatreia (G1495), idolatry. Syn.: threskeia (G2356),
religion, worship; ethelothreskeia (G1479), voluntarily adopted worship; eusebeia (G2150),
piety; theosebeia (G2317), godliness; diakonia (G1248), service, ministry; leitourgia (G3009),
public ministry.

G2356. threskeia; gen. threskeias, fem. noun from threskeuo (n.f.), to worship God,
which is from threskos (G2357), religious, pious. Worshiping or worship. In Col. 2:18, mentions
the worship of angels. This is probably a gen. of association and alludes to the false, gnostic
doctrine of celestial exaltation in which human worshipers were permitted to share in the
worship activities of various grades of angelic beings. It also refers to the true worship of God
(Acts 26:5; James 1:26, 27). Threskeia is contrasted with theosebeia (G2317), external worship,
meaning reverential worship, and eusebeia (G2150), piety or godliness, and eulabeia (G2124),
devotion arising from godly fear or acceptance of what God directs or permits. Threskeia may
thus refer only to ceremonial service or worship as Paul refers to the religion of the Jews (Acts
26:5). James refers to pure religion (James 1:26, 27), indicating there is also an impure religion
which would be external worship but not the practice of that which God demands of man.
Related words: deisidaimonia (G1175), fear of the gods other than the true God, superstition;
sebasma (G4574), an object of worship. Deriv.: ethelothreskeia (G1479), religion that is adopted
in worship by the will of a person instead of being bidden by another source, what one chooses
to worship on his own. Ant.: asebeia (G763), impiety, ungodliness; anomia (G458), defiance of
Gods laws; apistia (G570), unbelief; blasphemia (G988), vilification against God, blasphemy;
hubris (G5196), insolence, reproach.