4574. sebasma

Lexicon

sebasma: Object of worship, idol

Original Word: σέβασμα
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: sebasma
Pronunciation: seb'-as-mah
Phonetic Spelling: (seb'-as-mah)
Definition: Object of worship, idol
Meaning: an object of worship or veneration.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

an object of worship

From sebazomai; something adored, i.e. An object of worship (god, altar, etc) -- devotion, that is worshipped.

see GREEK sebazomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4574 sébasma – devotion shown to a deity, especially in relation to religious objects of worship. See 4576 (sebomai).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sebazomai
Definition
an object of worship
NASB Translation
object of worship (1), objects of...worship (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4574: σέβασμα

σέβασμα, σεβασματος, τό (σεβάζομαι), whatever is religiously honored, an object of worship: 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (Wis. 14:20); used of temples, altars, statues, etc., Acts 17:23; of idolatrous images, Bel and the Dragon, 27; Wis. 15:17. (Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 1, 30).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the verb σέβω (sebō), meaning "to revere" or "to worship."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for σέβασμα, related concepts can be found in Hebrew terms associated with idolatry and worship, such as:
• Strong's Hebrew 6091: אֲצַב (atsab) • idol, image
• Strong's Hebrew 6456: פֶּסֶל (pesel) • graven image, idol
• Strong's Hebrew 8655: תְּרוּפָה (teruphah) • idol, image

These Hebrew terms similarly convey the idea of objects of worship that are contrary to the worship of the true God, aligning with the New Testament's use of σέβασμα in discussions of idolatry.

Usage: The term σέβασμα is used in the New Testament to denote objects of worship, particularly in the context of idolatry. It appears in discussions about the worship of false gods and the reverence of idols.

Context: The Greek term σέβασμα is found in the New Testament in contexts that address the worship of idols and false gods. It is used to describe objects that are revered or venerated, often in opposition to the worship of the one true God. The term highlights the distinction between the worship of created objects and the worship of the Creator.

In Acts 17:23, the Apostle Paul uses the term when addressing the Athenians at the Areopagus: "For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you." Here, σέβασμα refers to the various idols and altars that the Athenians revered, emphasizing their ignorance of the true God.

The use of σέβασμα underscores the biblical theme of idolatry as a deviation from true worship. It serves as a reminder of the biblical call to worship God alone, rejecting the veneration of idols or any created thing. The term is a critical component in understanding the New Testament's teaching on the nature of true worship and the dangers of idolatry.

Forms and Transliterations

σεβασμα σέβασμα σεβασματα σεβάσματα sebasma sébasma sebasmata sebásmata

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 17:23 N-ANP
GRK: ἀναθεωρῶν τὰ σεβάσματα ὑμῶν εὗρον
NAS: and examining the objects of your worship, I also
KJV: beheld your devotions, I found
INT: beholding the objects of worship of you I found

2 Thessalonians 2:4 N-ANS
GRK: θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα ὥστε αὐτὸν
NAS: or object of worship, so
KJV: God, or that is worshipped; so that he
INT: god or object of worship so as him

Strong's Greek 4574
2 Occurrences

σέβασμα — 1 Occ.
σεβάσματα — 1 Occ.