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προσκυνέω

proskynéō

G4352 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To physically prostrate oneself, bow low, kneel, or fall down before someone as an act of reverence, respect, or submission; by extension, to express profound honor or homage, including (but not limited to) rendering veneration or 'worship' in religious contexts. The act can be directed toward humans (such as a king, dignitary, or master) or divine beings (deities, angels, or God). In some contexts, the term describes gestures ranging from formal greeting or supplication to religious adoration.

Semantic Range

to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to kneel, to pay homage, to express reverence, to do obeisance, to show submission or respect, (in religious contexts) to venerate or worship

Root / Etymology

Compound from the preposition πρός ('toward') and a derivative of κυνέω or the unattested verb for 'to kiss' or 'to bow.' The relationship to κύων ('dog') is debated and considered unlikely; the etymology is uncertain beyond clear composition with πρός. The core action involves approaching and performing a physical gesture toward the object of honor.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προσκυνέω was used to describe acts of physical obeisance—such as bowing, kneeling, or prostration—especially as performed before monarchs, superiors, or sacred objects. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint (LXX), προσκυνέω was adopted to render various Hebrew expressions of homage or reverence (notably שָׁחָה, shāchāh), covering both secular gestures (paying respect to a king or elder) and religious veneration (before deities or at altars). In New Testament usage, προσκυνέω frequently describes acts of reverence toward Jesus, God, or other figures, but does not exclusively denote 'worship' in the modern sense—its meaning depends on context, ranging from deep respect to divine adoration. The standard English translation 'worship' narrows the original semantic range; in antiquity, προσκυνέω could be directed toward both human authorities and gods. The physicality of the gesture is often emphasized, and the act could be literal or symbolic. In some sources, the term also contrasted Greek and non-Greek customs of reverence (e.g., Persians prostrating before kings), making its use culturally significant. English translations that render every occurrence as 'worship' may obscure distinctions present in Greek between secular and religious homage.

Translation Consistency

primary "bow" 34 occurrences

’Bow’ is the most natural, versatile English verb that covers the typical physical gestures (bow, bow down, kneel, prostrate) and can also convey acts of homage or reverence when directed toward persons or deity. It matches the majority of common renderings (bow/bowing, prostrated) while avoiding the narrower, more religiously loaded feel of ‘worship’ and the more formal/less common ‘prostrate,’ making it the best single base verb for consistent use across all forms of G4352.

Alternatives (16 occurrences):
"prostrated" (4x) "prostrate yourself" (2x) "might prostrate" (2x) "prostrate oneself" (1x) "might prostrate myself" (1x) "worshipping" (1x) "having prostrated" (1x) "worship" (1x) "prostrate" (1x) "them prostrate" (1x) "prostrate yourselves" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρός and a probable derivative of κύων (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship.

Root Family

προσκυν- (proskynéō) — to prostrate oneself, to bow, to kneel, to do obeisance

Root προσκυν- to prostrate oneself, to bow, to kneel, to do obeisance
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4353 προσκυνητής prostrating reverers

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4352-02 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down 12
G4352-19 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL worship they will bow down they will bow down 7
G4352-21 προσκυνοῦντας proskunountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who worshiped those bowing down those bowing down 5
G4352-01 προσεκύνει prosekunei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG knelt before was bowing down was bowing down 4
G4352-03 προσεκύνησεν prosekunesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG worshipped he prostrated himself he prostrated himself 4
G4352-17 προσκυνήσων proskuneson V FUT ACT PTCP NOM M SG to worship one who will bow down bow down 4
G4352-06 προσκυνεῖν proskunein V PRS ACT INF to worship to prostrate oneself to bow down 3
G4352-08 προσκυνῆσαι proskunesai V AOR ACT INF to worship to prostrate oneself to prostrate oneself 3
G4352-13 προσκυνήσεις proskuneseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall worship you will prostrate yourself you will bow 2
G4352-14 προσκυνήσῃς proskuneses V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG you worship you should prostrate yourself you should prostrate yourself 2

Occurrences in Scripture

60 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4352-08 Matthew 2:2 προσκυνῆσαι proskunesai V AOR ACT INF to worship to prostrate oneself to prostrate oneself
G4352-16 Matthew 2:8 προσκυνήσω proskuneso V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG and worship I might prostrate myself I might prostrate myself
G4352-02 Matthew 2:11 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-14 Matthew 4:9 προσκυνήσῃς proskuneses V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG you worship you should prostrate yourself you should prostrate yourself
G4352-13 Matthew 4:10 προσκυνήσεις proskuneseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall worship you will prostrate yourself you will bow
G4352-01 Matthew 8:2 προσεκύνει prosekunei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG bowed down was bowing down was bowing down
G4352-01 Matthew 9:18 προσεκύνει prosekunei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG knelt before was bowing down was bowing down
G4352-02 Matthew 14:33 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-01 Matthew 15:25 προσεκύνει prosekunei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG knelt before was bowing down was bowing down
G4352-01 Matthew 18:26 προσεκύνει prosekunei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG worshipped was bowing down was bowing down
G4352-23 Matthew 20:20 προσκυνοῦσα proskunousa V PRS ACT PTCP NOM F SG kneeling bowing down worshipping
G4352-02 Matthew 28:9 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-02 Matthew 28:17 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-03 Mark 5:6 προσεκύνησεν prosekunesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG worshipped he prostrated himself he prostrated himself
G4352-04 Mark 15:19 προσεκύνουν prosekunoun V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL worshipped they were bowing down they were bowing down
G4352-14 Luke 4:7 προσκυνήσῃς proskuneses V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG you worship you should prostrate yourself you should prostrate yourself
G4352-13 Luke 4:8 προσκυνήσεις proskuneseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG You shall worship you will prostrate yourself you will bow
G4352-09 Luke 24:52 προσκυνήσαντες proskunesantes V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL having worshiped having prostrated themselves having prostrated themselves
G4352-02 John 4:20 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-06 John 4:20 προσκυνεῖν proskunein V PRS ACT INF to worship to prostrate oneself to bow down
G4352-15 John 4:21 προσκυνήσετε proskunesete V FUT ACT IND 2P PL will you worship you will bow down you will bow down
G4352-07 John 4:22 προσκυνεῖτε proskuneite V PRS ACT IND 2P PL worship you bow down bow down
G4352-20 John 4:22 προσκυνοῦμεν proskunoumen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL worship we bow down bow down
G4352-19 John 4:23 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-21 John 4:23 προσκυνοῦντας proskunountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL worshiping those bowing down those bowing down
G4352-21 John 4:24 προσκυνοῦντας proskunountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL worshipping those bowing down those bowing down
G4352-06 John 4:24 προσκυνεῖν proskunein V PRS ACT INF worship to prostrate oneself to bow down
G4352-03 John 9:38 προσεκύνησεν prosekunesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he worshiped he prostrated himself he prostrated himself
G4352-18 John 12:20 προσκυνήσωσιν proskunesosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL worship they might prostrate themselves they might prostrate themselves
G4352-06 Acts 7:43 προσκυνεῖν proskunein V PRS ACT INF to worship to prostrate oneself to bow down
G4352-17 Acts 8:27 προσκυνήσων proskuneson V FUT ACT PTCP NOM M SG to worship one who will bow down to worship
G4352-03 Acts 10:25 προσεκύνησεν prosekunesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG worshiped he prostrated himself he prostrated himself
G4352-17 Acts 24:11 προσκυνήσων proskuneson V FUT ACT PTCP NOM M SG to worship one who will bow down to bow down
G4352-12 1 Corinthians 14:25 προσκυνήσει proskunesei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG he will worship he will prostrate himself he will prostrate himself
G4352-11 Hebrews 1:6 προσκυνησάτωσαν proskunesatosan V AOR ACT IMP 3P PL let worship let them prostrate themselves let them prostrate themselves
G4352-03 Hebrews 11:21 προσεκύνησεν prosekunesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG worshipped he prostrated himself he prostrated himself
G4352-19 Revelation 3:9 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they will worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-19 Revelation 4:10 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-02 Revelation 5:14 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-02 Revelation 7:11 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-19 Revelation 9:20 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-21 Revelation 11:1 προσκυνοῦντας proskunountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL who worship those bowing down those bowing down
G4352-02 Revelation 11:16 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL worshipped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-02 Revelation 13:4 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-02 Revelation 13:4 προσεκύνησαν prosekunesan-2 V AOR ACT IND 3P PL they worshiped they prostrated themselves they bowed down
G4352-19 Revelation 13:8 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-19 Revelation 13:12 προσκυνήσουσιν proskunesousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL worship they will bow down they will bow down
G4352-18 Revelation 13:15 προσκυνήσωσιν proskunesosin V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL worship they might prostrate themselves they might prostrate themselves
G4352-10 Revelation 14:7 προσκυνήσατε proskunesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL worship Prostrate yourselves Prostrate yourselves
G4352-05 Revelation 14:9 προσκυνεῖ proskunei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG worships bows down bows down
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