4573. sebazomai

Lexicon

sebazomai: To worship, to venerate, to revere

Original Word: σεβάζομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sebazomai
Pronunciation: seb-AD-zom-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (seb-ad'-zom-ahee)
Definition: To worship, to venerate, to revere
Meaning: I worship, stand in awe of.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

worship.

Middle voice from a derivative of sebomai; to venerate, i.e. Adore -- worship.

see GREEK sebomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4573 sebázomai – to revere; be in awe by one's own twisted definition of what deserves reverence (used only in Ro 1:25). See 4576 (sebomai).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from a derivation of sebó
Definition
to fear, spec. to have reverential awe
NASB Translation
worshiped (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4573: σεβάζομαι

σεβάζομαι: (σέβας reverence, awe);

1. to fear, be afraid: Homer, Iliad 6, 167. 417.

2. in later authors equivalent to σέβομαι (Winers Grammar, § 2, 1 b.), to honor religiously, to worship: with 1 aorist passive ἐσεβασθην in an active sense, Romans 1:25 (the Orphica, Argon. 554; ecclesiastical writings).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Middle voice from a derivative of σέβας (sébas), meaning "reverence" or "awe."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H3372 יָרֵא (yare') • to fear, revere, or be afraid. This Hebrew term is often used in the context of reverence or awe towards God.
• H7812 שָׁחָה (shachah) • to bow down, prostrate oneself, often in worship or reverence. This term is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe acts of worship and reverence towards God.

These Hebrew terms, like σεβάζομαι, emphasize the importance of directing reverence and worship towards God, highlighting a consistent biblical theme across both the Old and New Testaments.

Usage: The verb σεβάζομαι is used in the New Testament to describe the act of revering or worshiping, often in the context of idolatry or misplaced reverence. It appears in contexts where individuals are described as giving undue reverence to created things rather than the Creator.

Context: The Greek verb σεβάζομαι is found in the New Testament in contexts that highlight the misdirection of worship and reverence. In Romans 1:25, the Apostle Paul uses this term to describe the actions of those who "exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen." (BSB). This passage underscores the human tendency to misplace reverence, directing it towards creation rather than the Creator, which is a central theme in Paul's argument about the fallen state of humanity and the need for redemption through Christ.

The use of σεβάζομαι in the New Testament serves as a caution against idolatry and emphasizes the importance of directing worship and reverence towards God alone. It reflects a broader biblical theme that true worship is reserved for God, who is the source of all creation and worthy of all honor and praise. The term also serves as a reminder of the consequences of idolatry, which leads to spiritual and moral decay.

Forms and Transliterations

εσεβασθησαν εσεβάσθησαν ἐσεβάσθησαν esebasthesan esebasthēsan esebásthesan esebásthēsan

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 1:25 V-AIM-3P
GRK: ψεύδει καὶ ἐσεβάσθησαν καὶ ἐλάτρευσαν
NAS: for a lie, and worshiped and served
KJV: a lie, and worshipped and served
INT: falsehood and reverenced and served

Strong's Greek 4573
1 Occurrence

ἐσεβάσθησαν — 1 Occ.