Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

EUSEBEO* - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
Worship, to show reverence or respect toward.

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

We have been studying a family of words pertaining to worship that come from σὲβω. We first studied σὲβομαι (Strong's #4576), which relates to religious worship and reverence. Next we studied σεβὰζομαι (Strong's #4573), which denotes the expression of religious veneration as well as general reverential behavior. And last week we studied σὲβασμα (Strong's #4574), which represents a place of worship as well as the objects of worship.

This week we take another from this family of words, εὐσεβὲω (Strong's #2151), which means to worship or to show reverence toward someone. Εὐσεβὲω is made up of the adverb εὖ (Strong's #2095), which means "to fare well, to prosper," and σὲβω (Strong's #4576), which means "to worship, to show reverence." Εὐσεβὲω is only found in two places in the New Testament, Acts 17:23 and 1 Timothy 5:4.

Acts 17:22-23

22)

Now Paul, having stood in the middle of the Areopagus, said, "Men, Athenians, according to all things I am observing you as extremely religious.

23)

"For while going through and looking up at the objects of your worship (σὲβασμα), I also found an altar in which it had been inscribed, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' Whom therefore you are ignorantly worshiping (εὐσεβὲω), this One I am proclaiming to you."

As we did with our study of the word σὲβασμα, we once again study from Paul's speech in front of the Council of the Areopagus, the chief court and supreme authority in Athens, which he visited during his second missionary journey. Paul opens his address by relating his observation that the Athenians are "extremely religious;" because, while walking through their city, he has seen all of their objects of worship (σὲβασμα). He then relates how he found an altar with the inscription, "TO AN UNKNOWN GOD." He then summarizes his observances by stating that "Whom therefore you are ignorantly worshiping, this One I am proclaiming to you." The Greek word translated "worshiping" is εὐσεβὲω. Through the use of this word, Paul is saying that these Athenians have shown respect (or reverence) toward God through the building of an altar to the unknown God, but they have done so without knowledge or information about this God.

1 Timothy 5:3-4

3)

Be honoring widows - the genuine widows.

4)

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first that they should show reverence^F1 (εὐσεβὲω) to their own house, and that they should give back^F2 repayment to the parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.

In this part of Paul's letter to Timothy, we find the second occurrence of εὐσεβὲω as Paul deals with the subject of those who are genuine widows. He describes genuine widows as those who are in service to the Lord and who, after the death of a spouse, have no means of income. Paul calls for the children and grandchildren of such a one to show reverence. This is our word of study, εὐσεβὲω, which is used for showing reverence to God. So Paul is calling for the offspring of a widowed parent to show reverence to that parent as is befitting one who is in God's order. This would express the full scope of the meaning of the word. It means to show respect for God and His order in life. Paul then expresses that this reverence is to be shown by giving back to the parent—in effect repaying the support that the parent once gave to the children.

Εὐσεβὲω comes from the σὲβω family of words that are associated with religious worship. It is used to represent reverence toward God and His ordained order in life. We see Paul using this word to describe the reverence expressed toward an unknown God (or One of whom they were entirely ignorant) by those in Athens who were religious. This establishes for us that a person can have a reverence and respect for God, while still not knowing Him or being saved by Him. Additionally, in Paul's letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:3-4), children and grandchildren are told to show reverence to God's order in life by supporting widows who are genuinely in need, just as the children had been when they were young and needed to be supported by their parents. In giving such support to a genuine widow, offspring are showing reverence to God and His order of authority in life.

* EUSEBEO is the English font spelling of the Greek word εὐσεβὲω.

F1: The infinitive of result εὐσεβεῖν, "to reverence," is translated νὰ͂καθιστῶσιν͂εὐσεβῆ, "that they should show reverence."

F2: The second infinitive of result ἀποδιδὸναι, "to give back," is translated νὰ͂ἀποδὶδωσιν, "that they should give back."

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