Greek Form Guide

Θεῷ (Theo) in Revelation 22:9: Noun Dative Singular Masculine

Θεῷ (Theo) in Revelation 22:9

Textual Witness

Θεῷ Theo Noun Dative Singular Masculine

The witness reads τῷ Θεῷ προσκύνησον in Revelation 22:9, and the form Θεῷ is the dative singular of θεός.

How The Form Affects Interpretation

The form helps the sentence sound like a direct and exclusive command of worship toward God, which sharpens the reverent force of the verse.

How To Communicate It

For readers, the grammar supports a clear rendering such as worship God, while leaving the main emphasis on the commanded action and its proper recipient.

What Not To Say

  • Grammatical form should serve context, not override it.
  • Do not turn masculine grammatical gender into a theological gender claim.
  • Do not overread the dative case beyond the immediate command and its recipient.

What Does The Label Mean?

Part of Speech

Noun: this word names a person, reality, or referent, and here it points to God in the sentence.

Case

Dative: the form usually marks an indirect object or other dative relation, and here it stands with the command to indicate the one toward whom the action is directed.

Number

Singular: the form is grammatically singular in this occurrence, so the address is to one referent rather than many.

Gender

Masculine: the noun belongs to the masculine grammatical class, which is a grammatical feature and does not itself make a theological gender claim.

What The Form Does In This Verse

Attached To

προσκύνησον

Governed By

The dative Θεῷ is governed by the worship command and identifies the recipient or focus of the action in this verse.

Role In The Phrase

It functions as the object of devotion in the clause, showing who is to be worshiped rather than describing the worshiper.

What It Is Not Doing

It is not a subject, and it does not by itself introduce a new topic or alter the meaning of the lemma.

How Much The Form Matters Here

Interpretive Weight

High: The dative noun names the proper recipient of worship in the angel's corrective command.

Syntax Profile

Dative singular noun with a worship command. identifies God as the one toward whom worship is directed. Attached to the command to worship in Revelation 22:9. Governed by the imperative that redirects worship. The form marks the worship recipient; the command supplies the action and exclusivity in the scene.

Reader Question

Whom is the hearer commanded to worship? The dative identifies God as the one to be worshiped.

Translation Effect

Direct: The dative construction directly supports wording such as "worship God."

Where Caution Is Needed

The dative marks the recipient or focus of worship here because of the imperative and context. The form should not be detached from the angel's refusal of misplaced worship.

Fallacies To Avoid

Dative always has one fixed English equivalent: The worship command determines the dative's force as recipient or focus in this occurrence. grammar alone carries the doctrine of worship: The dative names the recipient; the correction and command carry the worship claim.

How The Interpretation Is Derived

Textual Witness

The witness reads τῷ Θεῷ προσκύνησον in Revelation 22:9, and the form Θεῷ is the dative singular of θεός.

Lexical Identity

The lemma is θεός, which in this context denotes God as the one to be worshiped.

Grammar In Context

The dative works with the imperative to show the target of worship, and the surrounding refusal of misplaced honor makes the reference clear.

Passage Meaning

The verse instructs the hearer to worship God alone, not the speaker or any other servant figure in the scene.

Canonical Fit

This fits the wider biblical pattern in which worship is directed to God, and the scene uses grammar to keep that distinction clear.

Communication Use

In translation and teaching, the dative can be rendered naturally as the one worshiped, so readers hear the command plainly.

Do Not Derive

Do not infer from the dative case alone that the noun changes meaning, that gender implies biology, or that grammar replaces the immediate context.