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    Worship (Proskuneō)

    προσκυνέω (proskuneō)

    To bow down, kiss toward — reverent adoration and submission before God.

    Greek
    Strong's G4352
    Pronunciation: pros-koo-NEH-oh
    Quick Answer

    Proskuneō is the Greek word for worship, meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself in reverent adoration. It pictures a subject falling before a king — total submission, honor, and love directed toward God.

    "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." — John 4:24 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    John 4:24

    “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
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    Revelation 4:10

    “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever.”
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    Matthew 4:10

    “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G4352 — Worship (Proskuneō) (προσκυνέω (proskuneō))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where προσκυνέω (proskuneō) appears.

    Open Strong's G4352

    Etymology and Original Meaning

    Proskuneō combines pros ('toward') and kuneō ('to kiss'). It literally means 'to kiss toward' — the ancient gesture of blowing a kiss toward a deity or falling prostrate to kiss the ground before a superior. The word captures both the physical posture of humility and the inner disposition of reverent love. Worship is the whole person — body and spirit — oriented toward God.

    Worship in Spirit and Truth

    Jesus' teaching in John 4:24 revolutionized worship. It is no longer tied to a location (Jerusalem or Gerizim) but to a disposition — spirit and truth. 'Spirit' means genuine, heartfelt, Spirit-empowered engagement. 'Truth' means worship aligned with God's revealed character. External ritual without internal reality is empty; emotion without truth is misguided. True worship unites both.

    Worship and Idolatry

    The first commandment establishes exclusive worship: 'Thou shalt have no other gods before me' (Exodus 20:3). Jesus reaffirmed this when tempted by Satan: 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only' (Matthew 4:10). Worship directed at anything other than God — whether idols, money, status, or self — is idolatry. The human heart is a worship factory; the question is never whether we worship but whom.

    Eternal Worship

    Revelation pictures worship as the eternal activity of heaven. The living creatures never cease saying 'Holy, holy, holy' (Revelation 4:8). The elders cast their crowns before the throne (4:10). Multitudes from every nation sing the Lamb's praise (7:9-10). Worship is not a temporary earthly obligation but the eternal vocation of all creation — what we were made for and what we will do forever.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does worship mean in the Bible?

    Worship (proskuneō) means to bow down in reverent adoration — total submission, honor, and love directed toward God. It involves both physical posture and inner disposition, engaging the whole person.

    What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?

    Worshiping in spirit means genuine, heartfelt, Spirit-empowered engagement rather than mere ritual. Worshiping in truth means worship aligned with God's revealed character and word. Both are essential (John 4:24).

    Which Bible verse uses the word "Worship (Proskuneō)"?

    John 4:24 — "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (KJV). It also appears in Revelation 4:10, Matthew 4:10.

    Why does the Greek word behind "Worship (Proskuneō)" matter?

    Proskuneō combines pros ('toward') and kuneō ('to kiss'). English uses one word, "Worship (Proskuneō)", where the Greek προσκυνέω (proskuneō) carries the fuller sense: to bow down, kiss toward — reverent adoration and submission before god.

    Related Words

    Praise
    Doxology
    Holy
    Glory (Doxa)

    Related Reading

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    Word Meaning

    Worship (Proskuneō) (προσκυνέω (proskuneō))

    To bow down, kiss toward — reverent adoration and submission before God.

    Strong's

    Strong's G4352 — Worship (Proskuneō)

    προσκυνέω (proskuneō) • To bow down, kiss toward — reverent adoration and submission before God.

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of Gold in a Dream (KJV)

    Divine glory, tested faith, and true riches.

    Commentary

    John 4:24 Commentary

    In-depth study • True Worship

    Commentary

    John 4:23-24 Commentary

    In-depth study • True Worship

    Word Meaning

    Truth (אֶמֶת (Emet) / ἀλήθεια (Alētheia))

    That which is reliable, faithful, and conforms to reality — ultimately God Himself

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