Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSKUNEO* - Part 7 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To worship, to bow down, to show reverence and submission

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from the literal translation produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

We are continuing our study of προσκυνὲω (Strong's #4352), which is rendered in the English translations of the Bible as "worship." Προσκυνὲω is a compound word meaning "to kiss toward" and represents a form of worship that shows reverence and submission to someone or something by bowing to the ground and kissing his feet, the hem of his clothing, or the ground.

We have studied, from the Old Testament, that προσκυνὲω represented an expression of reverence and submission through a physical posture of bowing to the ground. This physical act was also practiced in early New Testament times, until Jesus used the word προσκυνὲω to signify an attitude of the heart or spirit toward God. He said, in John 4:23, "But an hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship (προσκυνὲω) the Father in spirit and truth; for indeed the Father is seeking such ones worshiping (προσκυνὲω) Him." Here Jesus established that the only true worshipers of the Father are those whose spirits are in submission and reverence to the Spirit of God and His truth.

We also saw, in Matthew 4:8, that the Devil tempted Jesus by displaying before Him all the kingdoms of the world in their glory. In his dialogue with Jesus, Satan presented the prerequisite for obtaining these kingdoms (verse 9): "All these things I will give to you, if after falling down, you should worship (προσκυνὲω) me." These scriptures show that worship —the devotion of one's life— is the prerequisite for obtaining the things of this world. This worship does not necessarily entail attendance at satanic worship services, but does require the devotion and commitment of one's life to the devil and his worldly system in order to gain the things of the world. Jesus, in His answer to the devil, repudiated this kind of worship by stating that His submission was to God alone. He said: "Go away, Satan; for it has been written, 'You yourself shall worship (προσκυνὲω) the Lord your God, and Him only you will serve.'" After this expression of submission to worshiping God only, the devil left Jesus.

This week we continue to study the depth and seriousness of the meaning of worship as we study from the Book of Revelation. In the ninth chapter, the Lamb is at the throne of God with a book sealed with seven seals. When the Lamb breaks the seventh seal, seven angels are seen who have been given seven trumpets. John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, sees events transpire as each of these seven angels sounds his trumpet. When he hears the sixth angel sounding his trumpet, John sees demonic forces being unleashed upon mankind on the earth. A third of the people on the earth are killed as a result. Revelation 9:20 summarizes the condition of those who have survived the first six plagues.

Revelation 9:20

20)

And the rest of the men, who were not killed in these plagues, did not repent from the works of their hands, in order that they should not worship (προσκυνὲω) demons, and gold, and silver, and bronze, and stone, and wooden idols, which are neither able to see, nor to hear, nor to walk.

As God's judgment is unfolding from heaven to the earth upon mankind, the survivors of His judgment do not repent. Their lack of repentance is described as "the works of their hands" which are said to be worshiping demons and idols. Προσκυνὲω is used here to describe a devotion of one's hands to demons and idols. Therefore, the condition of mankind is described as the surrendering of their hands to demons and to those things that man creates out of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood.

In the twelfth chapter of the Book of Revelation, John witnesses the Devil being cast out of heaven. John says, "And the great dragon was cast out, that ancient serpent, the one being called Devil and Satan," (Revelation 12:9). In Revelation 13, John witnesses a beast rising up from out of the sea. He then says, "And the dragon gave to it his power, and his throne, and great authority", (Revelation 13:2). Then we are told:

Revelation 13:5-8

5)

And a mouth was given to it speaking great things and blasphemies. And authority was given to it to function forty-two months.

6)

And it opened its mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and the ones tabernacling in Heaven.

7)

And it was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And authority was given to it over every tribe and tongue and nation.

8)

And all the ones dwelling upon the earth will worship (προσκυνὲω) it, of whose names have not been written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb, which has been slain from the foundation of the world.

At this point during the Tribulation Period, the beast is given authority to blaspheme God, His name, His dwelling place, and all of those dwelling in Heaven. It is also given authority "to make war with the saints, and to overcome them." Then, the condition of those dwelling on the earth is presented: "All the ones dwelling upon the earth will worship it," that is — the ones whose names have not been written in the Book of the Life of the Lamb.

Verses 15-17 describe how those dwelling upon the earth will worship the beast.

Revelation 13:15-17

15)

And it was given to it to give a spirit to the image of the beast, in order that the image of the beast might even speak, and might cause in order that, as many as would not worship (προσκυνὲω) the image of the beast, might be killed.

16)

And it makes everyone, small and great, and rich and poor, and free and slaves, in order that it might give to them a mark upon their right hand, or upon their foreheads.

17)

In order that not anyone would be able to buy or to sell, except the one having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name.

John observes, during the Tribulation Period, a second beast that is given authority to
give a spirit to the image of the first beast to do three things: to make the image speak; to cause those not worshiping the image to be put to death; and to make everyone take a mark upon their hand or their foreheads. The purpose for this mark is given in verse 17: the one having the mark of the beast will be able to buy and sell. Most Christians know about the mark of the beast and its significance, but do not know that worship is the prerequisite for obtaining that mark. Προσκυνὲω is synonymous here with enrollment in Satan's economic, political and religious system. In order to buy and sell, one must pay homage to the image of the beast, submitting and surrendering to Satan's political authority and economic system. Refusal to worship the image of the beast will bring physical death.

As can be seen from the preceding scriptures, true worship entails devoting and committing one's mind, strength, and time to a lifestyle that is serving either the Lord Jesus Christ or the Devil. The seriousness of this depth of meaning cannot be over emphasized because Jesus has declared that Man has been given the capacity to serve only one master. He said: "No one is able to serve two lords; for he will either hate the one, and he will love the other; or else he will hold to one and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24) All of history is heading toward the final stages of mankind's choices. And the spiritual battle is not being waged for just a few actions of each human being, but for his whole devotion and entire submission. The Heavenly Father is seeking worshipers, but Satan is also gathering worshipers. This makes it imperative that we understand what true worship is. We have seen that it is not defined in scripture as being the songs we sing in church on Sunday; instead, it is defined by whom we live in submission to— who and what we serve daily with our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Next week we will continue this same study of the meaning and seriousness of worship from the Book of Revelation.

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

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