Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSKUNEO* - Part 2 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To worship, to bow down, to show reverence and submission

Please note that all Biblical quotes are presented from the Literal Translation.

For many Christians today the word worship means, "to sing"; but the true meaning of the word as it is used in scripture means something very different. Since worship is an important function in the Church, we should study its Biblical meaning so that our understanding is what the Lord intended for it to be.

Several Greek words are translated as "worship" in the Bible. However, the Greek word most often used for its translation (in the English versions) is προσκυνὲω, Strong's #4352. Προσκυνὲω is compounded from the preposition πρὸς (Strong's #4314) meaning "to" or "towards", and κυνὲω, meaning "to kiss." (Κυνὲω itself is derived from the Greek word κὺων (Strong's #2965), which means, "dog.") Κυνὲω came to mean, "kiss" from a dog licking the hand. So the basic meaning of προσκυνὲω is to "bow down to the ground before someone and the kissing of his feet, the hem of his garment, or the ground in front of him." In both the Old and New Testaments, the meaning conveyed by this word represents both the outward physical expression and the internal attitude of reverent submission on the part of the worshipper.

In the Classical Greek period, προσκυνὲω was used as a technical term for worship of the gods. The Persians would fall to the ground in reverence before their kings, and the Greeks would prostrate themselves before anyone whom they considered to be divine or holy.

In the Septuagint — the Greek Old Testament — προσκυνὲω is used to express the concept of bowing to show respect to a person in a position of authority; but it is also used to convey the concept of showing reverence and submission, either to the true God of Israel or to the false gods of paganism. About seventy-five percent of the occurrences of προσκυνὲω in the Septuagint express the concept of worship, whether it be of the God of Israel or of the gods of paganism. The following are examples of this word being used to express the concept of worship to the God of Israel: the servant of Abraham bowed down in worship (προσκυνὲω) of the Lord after he found a wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:26); the Israelites in Egypt bowed in worship of God when they heard that God was going to deliver them (Exodus 4:31); during the dedication of Solomon's Temple—when the people saw the temple filled with the glory of the Lord—they fell face down upon the ground and worshipped (προσκυνὲω) the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:3).

The preceding scriptures add greatly to our understanding of the meaning of the word "worship," but the twelfth chapter of Exodus, in the Greek Old Testament scriptures, gives the classic example of the meaning of προσκυνὲω. In verses 21-28, Moses directs the people to kill the Passover Lamb and to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. He also institutes the Passover meal and commands them to recite how the Lord delivered them and struck the Egyptians. In response to his instructions, verse 27 tells us "and when the people bowed they worshipped" (LXX translation) in an expression of reverence and submission to the command given by the Lord through Moses.

The concept of worship, as established in the Old Testament, that conveys the meaning which embraces the physical act of bowing to the ground, as well as the expression of the internal attitude of reverence and submission to the Lord, is carried over into the New Testament usage of προσκυνὲω. We will begin our study of "worship" in the New Testament scriptures next week.

* PROSKUNEO is the English font spelling of the Greek word προσκυνὲω.

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