Origin of word worship Apr 25, 2011 · The most commonly cited definition of the word “worship” is based on the etymology of the English word: “Worship” is derived from the Old English word “woerthship. The Hebrew word the patriarch uses is shachah meaning to bow down. ); he maintained vigorously the prophetic struggle for the sole worship of Yahweh. ” In a Biblical context, the Hebrew word for worship is shachah, which means to depress, to fall down, or to lay prostrate before a deity. The word is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning to venerate “worship, honour shown to an object, which has been etymologised as “worthiness or worth-ship”—to give, at its simplest, worth to something. Dec 3, 2015 · In my last post on worship terms, What is Worship?, I discussed the English word "worship" and its meaning "to ascribe worth to a person or object. The variety of individuals who use this as their functional definition of “worship” is… The meaning of WORSHIP is to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power. Yet truly defining worship Nov 25, 2020 · What is the origin of the word worship? Etymology. “weordhscipe” and means “worthship,” i. The concept of "worship," as defined by Webster’s dictionary is not Hebraic in any way and is not found in the Bible. " Strong's defines it as "to fawn or crouch to, i. word “worship” derives from the Old Eng. worthiness, dignity, or merit, the recognition accorded or due to these, the paying of homage or respect. The Eng. Definition and Etymology: Worship, in the biblical context, refers to the reverent honor and homage paid to God. If Christianity is the transformation of rebels into worshipers of God, then it is imperative for the Christian to know and understand what constitutes biblical worship. Mar 7, 2023 · The word worship comes from the Old English word “weorþscipe” or “worth-ship” which means “to give worth to. One may always consult Webster's Dictionary for the precise meaning of worship (adore, idolize, esteem worthy, reverence, homage, etc. Learn more. Etymons: worth n. (literally or figuratively)prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore). God commissioned Abraham to travel three days to Mount Moriah and there to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. worship is formed within English, by derivation. worship, n. " This word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*werþiskipōn," which is composed of two elements: Where does the noun worship come from? The earliest known use of the noun worship is in the Old English period (pre-1150). A Definition of Worship from the Bible. One meaning of "worship"--and perhaps the one we associate most immediately with the word--is "praise," "adoration," or "homage. English word worship comes from English -ship, Old English weorþ, Old English -sċiepe, English worth, and later Old English weorþscipe (Hono… Mar 7, 2023 · The word worship comes from the Old English word “weorþscipe” or “worth-ship” which means “to give worth to. However, our modern understanding of the words “worship” and “pray” has evolved to mean “talking and singing to God. Here, in Genesis twenty-two, the Hebrew word “shachah” is first translated worship. The word "worship" comes from the Old English word "weorthscipe," which means "honor, respect, or dignity. The problem comes when we start confusing which meaning of the term we are using at a given point. We have one English word to speak of these three levels of meaning. , xxiii. Worship or praise is one part of a worship service, which is but one part of the worship we render in all of life. Mar 5, 2025 · The etymology of the word “worship” can be traced back to the Old English word “weorthscipe,” which combines “weorth” meaning “worth” or “value” and “scipe” meaning “ship” or “condition. Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb λατρεύω (latreuō), meaning "to serve" or "to worship. Sep 11, 2021 · The English word “worship” The word “worship” normally means that the object of worship is a god; either the true God or a false god (Cambridge, Merriam-Webster). ” Nov 19, 2010 · Imagine these three meanings in (mostly) concentric circles. e. , ‑ship suffix. 1, worth adj. How to use worship in a sentence. " Meaning: service rendered to God, perhaps simply: worship. If the Hebraic meaning of "worship" is to bow down before another, whether Aug 13, 2023 · In biblical times, the terms “worship” and “prayer” had a broader meaning than they do today. Remember the story. At the foot of the mountain . Another form of the word worship is the Greek word therapeuo—from which we get the English word therapy—and this is most often translated “heal” in reference to the healing of WORSHIP definition: 1. Its traditional functions are reflected in three Hebrew synonyms for synagogue: bet ha-tefilla (‘house of prayer’), bet ha-kneset (‘house of assembly’), and bet ha-midrash (‘house of study’). The term is derived from the Old English "weorthscipe," meaning "worthiness" or "respect. Worship definition: . The first time the word “worship” appears in the King James Version is Gen 22:5 when Abraham told his servants he would go worship on the mountain with Isaac. ” In a secular context, the word can mean “to hold something in high esteem. That’s where the word love is first mentioned in the Bible. But the Hebrew word actually appears prior to this first translational The online etymology dictionary (etymonline) is the internet's go-to source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of English words, phrases, and idioms. WORSHIP. Most types of prayer and worship were not solely about communicating words to God; they also involved actions. The Greek word proskuneō, rendered as “worship,” means “to encounter God and praise Him. ” Dec 7, 2023 · The word ‘worship’ derives from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning “worship, honor shown to an object. to go to a…. Worship definition: Ardent admiration or love; adoration. ” Both “worship” and proskuneo refer to reverence in a broad sense while at the same time both are able to encompass religious ritual acts of service like sacrificial offerings. to have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God or a god: 2. , xvi. Jun 7, 2024 · In the Bible, the Hebrew word translated as “worship” is shachah and literally denotes the act of bowing down. , viii. Mar 5, 2015 · “Worship” actually holds up very close to that of proskuneo and this Greek word is the closest to the general English meaning of “worship. See examples of WORSHIP used in a sentence. The word is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning to venerate "worship, honour shown to an object or deity, [2] which has been etymologised as "worthiness or worth-ship"—to give, at its simplest, worth to something. In the religious world the term is used for the reverent devotion, service, or honor paid to God, whether public or individual. Therefore, given these definitions of worship, if Jesus is worshiped, then He is God. " Although understanding the English meaning is valuable, even more important to our understanding of the word "worship", though, is its biblical usage. Mar 8, 2025 · Synagogue, in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place for liturgical services and for assembly and study. The Greek word “proskuneó” The Greek word, translated as “worship” in the New May 16, 2024 · The Greek word translated “serve” here is a form of a Greek word for worship and is used 21 times in the New Testament in the contexts of service and worship. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone. Meaning: I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship. " The picture of being prostrate or bowed down is often associated with worship. ). Thus, the notion of prostration or obeisance is captured by the term. ” So, when we worship God, we are proclaiming (or giving him back) his worth. Oct 22, 2020 · In yesterday’s blog, we looked at the story of Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. While there is nothing wrong with "worship," in the sense that we normally understand this word, we should recognize that it is not a Biblical concept. ” Worship is encountered in religious settings and signifies devotion, reverence, and respect towards a divine being or supernatural power. "high respect, honor, fame," from Old English worðscip, wurðscip (Anglian), weorðscipe… See origin and meaning of worship. His strongest denunciation is directed against the religious practices of the time in Judea - the worship of the Canaanite local deities (the Baals), the Phoenician Tammuz, and the sun and other Babylonian and Assyrian gods (vi. The Greek word most often translated "worship" is proskuneo, meaning "to kiss, make obeisance, reverence. " The Greek translation is proskuneo, and this is It is the word found in John 4:20ff; the meaning of this word is not entirely clear but is thought to be related to the word 'kiss' or 'to kiss forward' and is connected with the Greek practice of kissing the ground in deference to earth deities. Worship. ” Both terms seem to define worship as an activity or an action. " When Psalm 99 says, "Extol the Lord our God; worship at [God's] footstool," the Hebrew word for worship comes from the root wood hawah, which can also mean "bow down. " Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H5656 (עֲבֹדָה, avodah): Service, labor, work, often used in the context of worship or service to God. Word Origin: From πρός (pros, meaning "towards") and κυνέω (kuneó, meaning "to kiss") Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H7812 - שָׁחָה (shachah): To bow down, to prostrate oneself, often used in the context of worship. Synonym Discussion of Worship. 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