Word Study: Worship (rough draft)

The primary imagery of this word, προσκυνέω (proskuneo), is one of physically kneeling down before a great king, often times connected to offering a sacrifice.  Many different ways to worship are mentioned, but most listed do not imply singing.  At the end of the list of verses is a list of just the Scripture reference.  Notice the majority of the references come from the Gospels and Revelation.

60 occurrences; 54 verses
Matthew 2:2

[2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (ESV)

Matthew 2:8

[8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (ESV)

Matthew 2:11

[11] And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (ESV)

Matthew 4:9

[9] And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (ESV)

Matthew 4:10

[10] Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’” (ESV)

Matthew 8:2

[2] And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (ESV)

Matthew 9:18

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

[18] While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” (ESV)

Matthew 14:33

[33] And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (ESV)

Matthew 15:25

[25] But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” (ESV)

Matthew 18:26

[26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ (ESV)

Matthew 20:20

A Mother's Request

[20] Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. (ESV)

Matthew 28:9

[9] And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. (ESV)

Matthew 28:17

[17] And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (ESV)

Mark 5:6

[6] And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. (ESV)

Mark 15:19

[19] And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. (ESV)

Luke 4:7

[7] If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” (ESV)

Luke 4:8

[8] And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’” (ESV)

Luke 24:52

[52] And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, (ESV)

John 4:20

[20] Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” (ESV)

John 4:21

[21] Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. (ESV)

John 4:22

[22] You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. (ESV)

John 4:23

[23] But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (ESV)

John 4:24

[24] God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (ESV)

John 9:38

[38] He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (ESV)

John 12:20

Some Greeks Seek Jesus

[20] Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. (ESV)

Acts 7:43

[43] You took up the tent of Moloch
and the star of your god Rephan,
the images that you made to worship;
and I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’ (ESV)

Acts 8:27

[27] And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship (ESV)

Acts 10:25

[25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. (ESV)

Acts 24:11

[11] You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, (ESV)

1 Corinthians 14:25

[25] the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. (ESV)

Hebrews 1:6

[6] And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God's angels worship him.” (ESV)

Hebrews 11:21

[21] By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. (ESV)

Revelation 3:9

[9] Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. (ESV)

Revelation 4:10

[10] the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (ESV)

Revelation 5:14

[14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (ESV)

Revelation 7:11

[11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, (ESV)

Revelation 9:20

[20] The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, (ESV)

Revelation 11:1

The Two Witnesses

[1] Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, (ESV)

Revelation 11:16

[16] And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, (ESV)

Revelation 13:4

[4] And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (ESV)

Revelation 13:8

[8] and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. (ESV)

Revelation 13:12

[12] It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. (ESV)

Revelation 13:15

[15] And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. (ESV)

Revelation 14:7

[7] And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (ESV)

Revelation 14:9

[9] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, (ESV)

Revelation 14:11

[11] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (ESV)

Revelation 15:4

[4] Who will not fear, O Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (ESV)

Revelation 16:2

[2] So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. (ESV)

Revelation 19:4

[4] And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” (ESV)

Revelation 19:10

[10] Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (ESV)

Revelation 19:20

[20] And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (ESV)

Revelation 20:4

[4] Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (ESV)

Revelation 22:8

[8] I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, (ESV)

Revelation 22:9

[9] but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” (ESV)




Matthew 2:2
Matthew 2:8
Matthew 2:11
Matthew 4:9
Matthew 4:10
Matthew 8:2
Matthew 9:18
Matthew 14:33
Matthew 15:25
Matthew 18:26
Matthew 20:20
Matthew 28:9
Matthew 28:17
Mark 5:6
Mark 15:19
Luke 4:7
Luke 4:8
Luke 24:52
John 4:20
John 4:21
John 4:22
John 4:23
John 4:24
John 9:38
John 12:20
Acts 7:43
Acts 8:27
Acts 10:25
Acts 24:11
1 Corinthians 14:25
Hebrews 1:6
Hebrews 11:21
Revelation 3:9
Revelation 4:10
Revelation 5:14
Revelation 7:11
Revelation 9:20
Revelation 11:1
Revelation 11:16
Revelation 13:4
Revelation 13:8
Revelation 13:12
Revelation 13:15
Revelation 14:7
Revelation 14:9
Revelation 14:11
Revelation 15:4
Revelation 16:2
Revelation 19:4
Revelation 19:10
Revelation 19:20
Revelation 20:4
Revelation 22:8
Revelation 22:9