Greek · G4352 · unreviewed

προσκυνέω

To worship

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

προσκυνέω G4352

Pronunciation proskynéō

What does προσκυνέω (proskynéō) mean in the Bible?

προσκυνέω (proskynéō) is a Greek word meaning "to worship". προσ-κυνέω, -ῶ (κυνέω, to kiss), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁחָה hith. Demonstrates that Jesus receives royal homage. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for προσκυνέω (G4352) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to worship

Extended definition

Physical prostration expressing reverence or submission to God, Christ, or human superiors.

(κυνέω, to kiss), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁחָה hith. ;] to make obeisance, do reverence to, worship;

aprop. (as in cl., of the gods: Hdt., Æsch., Plat., al.), of God, Christ and supra-mundane beings: absol., Jhn.4:20 12:20, Act.8:27 24:11, Heb.11:21 (Westc., in l), Rev.11:1; πίπτειν καὶ π., Rev.5:14; with dative (of the significance of this constr. as compared with the usual cl., with accusative, see Abbott, JG, 78 f.; JV, 133 ff.), Jhn.4:21, 23, Act.7:43, 1Co.14:25, Heb.1:6, Rev.4:10 7:11 11:16 13:4, 15 14:7 16:2 19:4, 10 19:20 22:8-9; with accusative (see supr.), Mat.4:10, Luk.4:8 24:52 (WH, R, mg., om.), Jhn.4:22, 24, Rev.9:20 13:4, 8 13:12 14:9, 11 20:4; Seq. ἐπώπιον, Luk.4:7, Rev.15:4;

bas in cl., of homage to human superiors (cf. MM, xxi): absol., Mat.20:20, Act.10:25; with dative (see supr.), Mat.2:2, 8 8:2 9:18 14:33 15:25 18:26 28:9, Mrk.15:19, Jhn.9:38; πεσὼν., Mat.2:11 4:9; ἐνώπιον τ. ποδῶν, Rev.3:9; with accusative, Mrk.5:6 (dative T).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Demonstrates that Jesus receives royal homage. Hebrews 1:5-14

Confirms Christ’s divine worthiness. Luke 24:50–53

Shows angels rendering worship to the Son, affirming His divine status. Matthew 2:1–12

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Aorist Future Present Imperfect

Voices

Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 35×

Aorist Active Matt 2:11 · Matt 14:33 · Matt 28:9 · Matt 28:17 · John 4:20 · Rev 5:14 · Rev 7:11 · Rev 11:16 · Rev 13:4 · Rev 19:4 · Rev 20:4 · Mark 5:6 · John 9:38 · Acts 10:25 · Heb 11:21 16×

Future Active John 4:23 · Rev 3:9 · Rev 4:10 · Rev 9:20 · Rev 13:8 · Rev 13:12 · Rev 15:4 · Matt 4:10 · Luke 4:8 · John 4:21 · 1 Cor 14:25 11×

Imperfect Active Matt 8:2 · Matt 9:18 · Matt 15:25 · Matt 18:26 · Mark 15:19 5×

Present Active John 4:22 · Rev 14:9 3×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 10×

Present Active John 4:23 · John 4:24 · Rev 11:1 · Rev 16:2 · Rev 19:20 · Matt 20:20 · Rev 14:11 7×

Future Active Acts 8:27 · Acts 24:11 2×

Aorist Active Luke 24:52 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 6×

Aorist Active Matt 2:2 · Rev 19:10 · Rev 22:8 3×

Present Active John 4:20 · John 4:24 · Acts 7:43 3×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 5×

Aorist Active Matt 4:9 · Luke 4:7 · John 12:20 · Rev 13:15 · Matt 2:8 5×

Imperative command or strong request 4×

Aorist Active Rev 19:10 · Rev 22:9 · Heb 1:6 · Rev 14:7 4×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 60 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

completed 16 ongoing 3 prospective 11 imperative 4 background 5 subjunctive 5 infinitive 6 participle 10

Tense

aorist 29 future 13 present 13 imperfect 5

Voice

active 60

Mood

indicative 35 participle 10 infinitive 6 subjunctive 5 imperative 4

NT Occurrences

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Canonical Themes

Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Hebrews 1:5-14 προσκυνέω proskynéō Imperative · Aorist Active

let them worship

Luke 24:50–53 προσκυνέω proskynéō Participle · Aorist Active

to worship

Matthew 2:1–12 προσεκύνησαν proskynéō Indicative · Aorist Active

they worshiped

Additional Occurrences

Luke 24:36–53 προσκυνήσαντες proskynéō

Having worshiped

Luke 4:1–13 προσκυνήσεις proskynéō

You shall worship

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 9 — The Man Born Blind, the Light of the World, and the Blindness of Religious Unbelief Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 2 — The Messiah Worshiped, Threatened, Preserved, and Called Out of Egypt Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details