Prostration, in biblical terms, refers to the act of lying face down on the ground in a gesture of deep reverence, worship, submission, or supplication before God. This physical posture is a profound expression of humility and acknowledgment of God's supreme authority and holiness. Throughout the Scriptures, prostration is depicted as a natural response to divine encounters, moments of intense prayer, and acts of worship.

Old Testament Instances

In the Old Testament, prostration is frequently associated with worship and the acknowledgment of God's majesty. One of the earliest instances is found in Genesis 17:3, where Abram falls facedown as God speaks to him, signifying his reverence and submission to God's covenant. Similarly, in Exodus 34:8, Moses quickly bows to the ground and worships after God reveals His glory and proclaims His name.

The act of prostration is also evident in the worship practices of the Israelites. In 2 Chronicles 7:3, after witnessing the glory of the LORD filling the temple, "all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, 'He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.'"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, prostration continues to be a significant expression of worship and reverence. The Magi, upon finding the young Jesus, "fell down and worshiped Him" (Matthew 2:11), recognizing His divine kingship. This act of prostration underscores the recognition of Jesus' authority and the fulfillment of messianic prophecy.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Himself demonstrates a form of prostration in prayer. Matthew 26:39 records, "Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.'" This moment highlights Jesus' submission to the Father's will, even in the face of impending suffering.

Symbolism and Significance

Prostration symbolizes the worshiper's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and their own humility. It is an outward manifestation of an inward attitude of the heart, reflecting a deep sense of awe and reverence. In biblical narratives, those who prostrate themselves often do so in response to a direct encounter with the divine or in moments of intense spiritual significance.

The act of prostration also serves as a reminder of humanity's position before God. It is a physical demonstration of the believer's recognition of their dependence on God's grace and mercy. In Revelation 7:11 , the angels, elders, and living creatures fall on their faces before the throne and worship God, illustrating the eternal posture of worship in the presence of the Almighty.

Cultural and Liturgical Practices

In various Christian traditions, prostration has been incorporated into liturgical practices, particularly during times of confession, repentance, and adoration. While the physical act may vary across denominations, the underlying principle remains the same: a humble submission to God's will and an acknowledgment of His holiness.

Prostration, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a powerful reminder of the believer's relationship with God. It is an act that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, inviting worshipers to approach the throne of grace with humility and reverence.1. (n.) The act of prostrating, throwing down, or laying fiat; as, the prostration of the body.

2. (n.) The act of falling down, or of bowing in humility or adoration; primarily, the act of falling on the face, but usually applied to kneeling or bowing in reverence and worship.

3. (n.) The condition of being prostrate; great depression; lowness; dejection; as, a prostration of spirits.

4. (n.) A latent, not an exhausted, state of the vital energies; great oppression of natural strength and vigor.

PROSTRATION

pros-tra'-shun. See ATTITUDES.

2476. chalushah -- weakness, prostration
... 2475, 2476. chalushah. 2477 . weakness, prostration. Transliteration: chalushah
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-oo-shaw') Short Definition: defeat. Word Origin fem ...
/hebrew/2476.htm - 6k

7252. reba -- lying down
... Word Origin the same as raba, qv. lying down From raba'; prostration (for sleep) --
lying down. see HEBREW raba'. 7251, 7252. reba. 7253 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/7252.htm - 5k

2669. chophshuth -- freedom, separateness
... several. And chophshiyth {khof-sheeth'}; from chaphash; prostration by sickness
(with bayith, a hospital) -- several. see HEBREW chaphash. see HEBREW bayith. ...
/hebrew/2669.htm - 6k

The Seventh vision "In Heaven"
... Yet the structure, as a whole, is perfect, and the utterances are significantly
marked by being alternated with prostration and worship: first, of the Elders ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the seventh vision in heaven.htm

Prayer Takes in the Whole Man
... praying attitude in prayer. Prostration of the body becomes us in praying
as well as prostration of the soul. The attitude of the ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/i prayer takes in the.htm

Going to Gethsemane, and Agony Therein.
... The nervous prostration of Jesus was such as to endanger his life, and
the watching of the apostles may have been doubly needful. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxiii going to gethsemane and.htm

The Manich??an System.
... In the second prostration let him say: Thou highly praised, O thou enlightening
one, Mani, our Leader, thou root of enlightenment, stem of honorableness, thou ...
/.../chapter iii name manichaean system.htm

Concerning Things done in Illumination.
... he has received, as the sheep upon his shoulders, the two men, and has first worshipped,
glorifies with a mental thanksgiving and bodily prostration the One ...
/.../dionysius/ecclesiastical hierarchy/caput ii i concerning things.htm

Justification by Faith --Illustrated by Abram's Righteousness
... The word of Jehovah came to him with power, and he felt that same prostration of
spirit which made the beloved John fall at the feet of his Lord in the Isle of ...
/.../justification by faithillustrated by abrams.htm

Concerning the Outward Manifestations by which this Second ...
... appeased. And thus exomologesis is a discipline for man's prostration and
humiliation, enjoining a demeanor calculated to move mercy. ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter ix concerning the outward manifestations.htm

Strength and Indwelling.
... noteworthy. As a rule the Jews stood for prayer (Luke 18:11-13), and
prostration seems to have been an exceptional posture. But ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/viii strength and indwelling.htm

A Nightly Prayer. 1831.
... good there is in me, and from thee good alone,"from myself and my own corrupted
will all evil and the consequents of evil,"with inward prostration of will ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/a nightly prayer 1831.htm

The Nature and Value of Prayer, and How the Heart Should be ...
... lay before him with complete confidence the dangers that are besetting us on all
sides, completely grief-stricken in ourselves, in humble prostration of mind ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 13 the nature and.htm

Prostration
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of prostrating, throwing down, or laying
fiat; as, the prostration of the body. ...PROSTRATION. pros-tra'-shun. ...
/p/prostration.htm - 7k

Adoration
... The chief attitudes referred to in the Bible are the following: 1. Prostration:
Among the Orientals, especially Persians, prostration (ie falling upon the knees ...
/a/adoration.htm - 20k

Faint (76 Occurrences)
... Paghar is the prostration of utter fatigue whereby one is unable to raise himself
or to proceed on a journey, as were some of David's little band (1 Samuel 30 ...
/f/faint.htm - 38k

Worship (332 Occurrences)
... or to Jesus as God. The root idea of bodily prostration is much less prominent
than in the Old Testament. It is always translated ...
/w/worship.htm - 66k

Attitudes (1 Occurrence)
... We shall call attention to just four postures: (1) standing, (2) bowing,
(3) kneeling, and (4) falling on the face or prostration. ...
/a/attitudes.htm - 20k

Protect (32 Occurrences)

/p/protect.htm - 15k

Indicate (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To show or manifest by symptoms; to point to as the proper remedies; as,
great prostration of strength indicates the use of stimulants. ...
/i/indicate.htm - 8k

Reverence (42 Occurrences)
... 19:30; Leviticus 26:2. So the group of ideas there would be "fear," "awe," "reverence."
The root idea of the second is "falling down," as prostration of the ...
/r/reverence.htm - 21k

Prostrating (2 Occurrences)

/p/prostrating.htm - 7k

Adore (1 Occurrence)
... The forms of adoration among the Jews were putting off the shoes (Exodus 3:5; Joshua
5:15), and prostration (Genesis 17:3; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 44:15, 17, 19; 46 ...
/a/adore.htm - 7k

What are the satanic verses? | GotQuestions.org

Prostration: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus