Proskyneo and the English word "Worship."

In Greek, there are two words which have been translated as "worship." Neither one of these Greek words do themselves contain the whole constellation of ideas which are usually associated with the English word "worship." In many minds, the English word "worship" is something one only does to the one God. This article deals with the Greek word proskyneo (you may also see this word written in the English alphabet as proskuneo).

How the Greek word proskyneo is used in the Bible.

The following examples show how the Greek word proskyeno and its correlating Hebrew word shachah were understood by ancient minds. Proskyneo was the Greek word the ancient Jews used to translate the Hebrew word shachah in their Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures known as the Septuagint a century or two before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This Jewish translation of the Old Testament into Greek is vitally important because it shows how ancient Jews before Christ understood the word proskyneo. Their use of the word proskyneo plainly shows Trinitarians are falsely claiming that this word referred to an act one should only do toward the God of Israel. The facts clearly show the Trinitarian claim is wretchedly false.

As you read through these examples, bear in mind that the word in question in the following examples is the word Trinitarians are translating as "worship" in the New Testament. This word is translated both as "to bow down before" as well as "worship" in each example to illustrate clearly the serious problem with the Trinitarian claim.

1. Old Testament Testimony: Hebrew shachah, Septuagint Greek proskyneo

Lot "worships" two angels

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth, and said, "My Lords, turn aside, I pray you, to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise up early and go on your way. (Genesis 19:1-2).

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and worshiped them, and said, "My Lords, turn aside, I pray you, to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise up early and go on your way. (Genesis 19:1-2).

Abraham "worships" the Hittites

Abraham rose and bowed down before the Hittites, the people of the land.....then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. (Genesis 23:7,12).

Abraham rose and worshiped the Hittites, the people of the land.....then Abraham worshiped the people of the land. (Genesis 23:7,12).

Isaac blesses Jacob to have everyone "worship" him

'Let peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be every one who curses you, and blessed be every one who blesses you!' As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. (Genesis 27:29).

'Let peoples serve you and nations worship you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons worship you. Cursed be every one who curses you, and blessed be every one who blesses you!' As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. (Genesis 27:29).

Jacob "worships" Esau

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. And he put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down. Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down. And he said, "What do you mean by all this company which I have met?" And he said, "To find favor in the sight of my Lord." (Genesis 33:1-4).

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. And he put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, worshiping seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." Then the maids came near with their children, and they worshiped. Leah likewise came near with her children, and they worshiped; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they worshiped. And he said, "What do you mean by all this company which I have met?" And he said, "To find favor in the sight of my Lord." (Genesis 33:1-4).

Joseph's brothers will "worship" him

Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, Behold I had still another dream; and lo, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me. He related it to his father and to his brothers and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down to the ground before you? (Genesis 27:9-10).

Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, Behold I had still another dream; and lo, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me. He related it to his father and to his brothers and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to worship you?(Genesis 27:9-10).

The ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him." So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the ruler over the land and he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. (Genesis 42:3-6).

The ten brothers of Joseph went down to buy grain from Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him." So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. Now Joseph was the ruler over the land and he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and worshiped him.(Genesis 42:3-6).

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, "Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still living?" They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." They bowed down to the ground before him. (Genesis 43:26-28).

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, "Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still living?" They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." They worshiped him. (Genesis 43:26-28).

However one is not to "worship" anyone else as his God but our Jealous God.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down before them or serve them; for I, YAHWEH your God, am a jealous God.
(Exodus 20:4-5). (Leviticus 26:1).

You shall not bow down before their gods, nor serve them. (Exodus 23:24).

They have already turned away from the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have bowed down before it and have sacrificed to it and said, `This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.' (Exodus 32:8).

You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down before it for I am YAHWEH your God.

Ruth "worships" Boaz

Then Ruth fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to Boaz, 'Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?' (Ruth 2:10).

Then Ruth fell on her face, worshiping and said to Boaz, 'Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?' (Ruth 2:10).

Abigail "worships" David's servants.

When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, 'David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.' She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord's servants. (1 Samuel 25:40-41).

When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, 'David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.' She arose and worshiped them and said, "Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord's servants. (1 Samuel 25:40-41).

Saul "worships" the dead man Samuel

And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground before him. (1 Samuel 28:14).

And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he worshiped him. (1 Samuel 28:14).

A man "worships" David

Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag. On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And when he came to David that he fell to the ground and bowed down before him. (2 Samuel 1:1-2).

Now after the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, that David remained two days in Ziklag. On the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. And when he came to David that he worshiped him. (2 Samuel 1:1-2).

Mepibosheth, the son of Jonathan, "worships" David

And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and bowed down before him...And he bowed down before him, and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am? . (2 Samuel 9:6-8).

And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and bowed down before him...And he worshiped him, and said, What is your servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog as I am? . (2 Samuel 9:6-8).

A woman "worships" David

And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the King, she fell on her face to the ground, and bowed down before him, and said, Help, O King.... And the King said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back. And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed down before him, and blessed the King
(2 Samuel 14:4).

And when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the King, she fell on her face to the ground, and worshiped him, and said, Help, O King.... And the King said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back. And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed down before him, and blessed the King
(2 Samuel 14:4).

The sons of the prophets "worship" Elisha

And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, 'The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.' And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. (2 Kings 2:15).

And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, 'The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.' And they came to meet him, and worshiped him. (2 Kings 2:15).

David "worships" the Temple

But as for me, by the abundance of your lovingkindness I will come into your house. In your fear will I bow down before your holy temple. (Psalm 5:7).

But as for me, by the abundance of your lovingkindness I will come into your house. In your fear will I worship your holy temple. (Psalm 5:7).

2. The New Testament Testimony: proskyeno

King of Israel, King of the Jews.

Now the Magi also bowed down (proskyneo)before the man Jesus. And of course this was just as acceptable here as it was in the Old Testament. He was the King of the Jews. God promised David he would put his seed on the throne. In fact, we are explicitly told that this is why the Magi bowed down before Jesus. They came to "worship" the King of the Jews. The very fact that these Magi came to bow down before (proskyneo) the King of the Jews. They did not come to "worship" God as if these pagan men were the first Trinitarians. They were non-Jewish pagan astrologers who had seen Jesus' star in the heavens. They came to bow down before, and to, a human baby, the King of the Jews, clearly demonstrating that this kind of proskyneo "worship" was very befitting human beings. In fact, it was Peter who first confessed that Jesus was the Son of the Living God, not the Magi, and so to presume they knew they were bowing down before God is just a bit ridiculous especially in light of the fact they were not looking for God but the human King of the Jews.

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 2:2)

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his Kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. (2 Samuel 7:12-14).

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:32-33).

Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel. (John 1:41).

And over his head they put his charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus the King of the Jews. (Matthew 27:37)

And Herod sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and bow down before (proskyneo) Him." After hearing the King, they went their way and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. (Matthew 2:8-11).

Why the Angels bow down to the risen Jesus.

The Trinitarian claim at Hebrews 1:6 is highly misleading. Jesus being a man was made a little lower than the angels but now this man has been exalted to the right hand of the throne of God and sits on his Father's throne (Rev 3:21). In this way, we are told that he had become better than the angels because he had inherited a better name than the angels (1:4). God doesn't become better than angels or inherit a better name than angels. The reference here is to the resurrected man Jesus who is exalted above all angelic rule with all the angels subjected to him (1 Peter 3:22). Because he had loved righteousness God says to him, "God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your comrades," namely, the angels. Because the man Jesus had ascended to the throne of God, his positional authority was now over the angels and they were therefore commanded to bow down before Jesus in subjection to him.

At Hebrews 1:6, it is common for Trinitarians to claim that Jesus must be God because all the angels must bow down before him. But notice carefully what Hebrews chapter one is about. It is about Jesus exaltation to the right hand of the throne of God with all authority in heaven and earth, God having "made him Lord" (Acts 2:36), and that is why the angels are to bown down before him. (cf. Matthew 28:18; 1 Peter 3:22). They must bow down before him because he now has, in his risen glory, the authority of sitting on his Father's throne (Rev 3:21). The man Jesus, once positionally lower than the angels, is not positionally above the angels in terms of authority. And this is why they must bow down to him.

Israel worshiped David and Solomon.

Observe how King David himself sat on the throne of YAHWEH and the people of Israel "worshiped" God and King David. This is the very same Hebrew and Greek word.

Then King David said to the entire assembly... Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless YAHWEH your God." And all the assembly blessed YAHWEH, the God of their fathers, and bowed low and WORSHIPED (LXX proskyneo) YAHWEH and the King.... Then Solomon sat on the Throne of YAHWEH as King instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David pledged allegiance to King Solomon. (1 Chronicles 29).

All Israel worshiped (proskyneo) both God and King David/Solomon. This is because David and Solomon sat on the "throne of YAHWEH." They were anointed to exercise Yahweh's authority over Israel just as the resurrected man Jesus was anointed to be over the angels (Heb 1:9). It should be clear to any reasonable person that the Greek word proskyneo was used to bow down in submission to any higher authority.

Jews worshiping the Philadelphian Christians.

At Revelation 3:9, Jesus uses the word proskyneo to refer to Jews worshiping Christians.

I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept my word, and have not denied My name. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie--I will make them come and worship (proskyneo) at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.

Concluding Remarks

Despite the overwhelming wealth of Scriptural information which shows the word proskyneo was not confined to worship of YAHWEH, Trinitarians continue to ignore the facts and continue to perpetuate a manufactured lie for the sake of Trinitarian propaganda.

How the Greek word proskyneo was used in the Bible by Jews

Last Updated: June 14, 2012