Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

PROSKUNEO* - Part 8 - 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.

This week we return to the second chapter of Matthew for a special in-depth study of προσκυνὲω (Strong's #4352), which means, "to worship." Προσκυνὲω is a compound word representing a person's expression of reverence and submission to someone or something. The entire focus of the Old Testament concept of worship changed at the birth of the Christ child.

Matthew 2:1-3

1)

Now after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east came into Jerusalem,

2)

saying, "Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and we came to worship (προσκυνὲω) Him.

The term Magi is the plural form of Magus (μὰγος, Strong's #3097). Μὰγος is a word used to describe a caste of Persian priests of the Babylonian area. It denotes one who is both a priest and an interpreter of dreams. In the Septuagint Old Testament, Daniel 5:11 tells us that Daniel was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar as ruler of the Magi in Babylon, because Daniel was able to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream. It is evident that the Persian Magi, who arrived in Bethlehem seeking the Christ child, knew Daniel's writings and prophecies, because they understood that the King of the Jews would be born at that time. When His star appeared, they came to Jerusalem, not just to honor the King of the Jews, but also to worship Him. By using προσκυνὲω to express the desire of the Magi to worship the Christ, Matthew is conveying the understanding that the Magi came to Jerusalem to honor and to submit to the Christ.

3)

And after Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him.

Three years prior to the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem, Herod, a Roman government official, was given the title King of the Jews by the Roman government. History records that Herod was paranoid about his position as king, even having many of his relatives killed, because he thought they were plotting to overthrow him. So, when the Magi came to Jerusalem seeking to worship the baby born King of the Jews, Herod was troubled. All the people in Jerusalem were troubled as well, because they knew Herod's murderous paranoia.

Matthew 2:8

8)

And when he sent them into Bethlehem he said, "After you have gone, search accurately concerning the young child; and when you should find Him, report to me, so that after having come, I myself also might worship (προσκυνὲω) Him.

After learning from the Jewish chief priests and scribes that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, Herod informed the Magi of the location and sent them to find the child. He asked them to report the child's whereabouts to him saying that he desired also to worship Him. Herod managed to deceive the Magi into thinking that he also had a desire to bow the knee and submit to the Christ as King; but Herod's true intent was to murder the child, to remove this threat to his throne.
Matthew 2:11

11)

And after having come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and after falling down they worshiped (προσκυνὲω) Him, and after having opened their treasures they offered to Him gifts; gold and frankincense and myrrh.

According to Matthew's account of the birth of Christ, when the Magi arrived in Bethlehem, the Christ child was living in a house; He was no longer in the stable. Therefore, it is estimated that the child was most likely close to one year old when they found Him, but not more than two years old. This is reasoned from the fact that Herod had all of Bethlehem's children, who were two years old and younger, killed when he realized that the Magi were not coming back to report the child's location to him. This indicates that all of the events from Matthew 2:1 through 2:16 took place over a time span of just less than two years.

Once in the presence of the Christ child, the Magi fell to the ground and worshiped Him. The word προσκυνὲω used here expresses the fact that they bowed down to the ground and were expressing reverence and submission to their King. After this expression of worship, they opened their treasures and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—gifts representing three aspects of the Christ: His kingship, His humanity, and His death. Subsequently, the Magi returned home without going through Jerusalem, because they had been warned in a dream about Herod's true intentions toward the child.

During this Christmas season, as many flock to churches for the purpose of remembering and celebrating the birth of Christ, it is important to understand that Scripture teaches reverence and submission alone constitute true worship—all other worship is futile. When the Magi came to Jerusalem, they were not looking to attend a church service in honor of the King of the Jews; they were looking for the Christ child Himself. They desired to be in His presence so that they could give Him their reverence, so that they could express surrender and submission to Him as their King. At this time of the year, we must remember that a one-day commemoration is not an acceptable form of worship to the King of Kings. The only worship acceptable to Him is an expression from a heart of surrender and the submission of one's life.
Next week we will continue our 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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