Worship of God
Jump to: ATSGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Importance
Worship of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, encompassing the reverence, adoration, and devotion directed towards God by His people. It is both a personal and communal act, reflecting the relationship between the Creator and His creation. Worship is not merely an external ritual but an expression of the heart, mind, and soul, acknowledging God's supreme authority, holiness, and love.

Biblical Foundations
The concept of worship is introduced early in the Scriptures. In Genesis 4:26, we read, "At that time, men began to call on the name of the LORD." This calling upon the Lord signifies the beginning of organized worship. The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, built altars and worshiped God, demonstrating their faith and dependence on Him (Genesis 12:7-8; 26:25; 35:1-3).

The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, emphasize the exclusivity of worship due to God alone: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). This command underscores the monotheistic nature of biblical worship, rejecting idolatry and affirming the worship of Yahweh as the one true God.

Forms of Worship
Worship in the Bible takes various forms, including prayer, singing, sacrifice, and obedience. The Psalms, often referred to as the hymnbook of ancient Israel, are rich with expressions of worship through music and song. Psalm 95:6 invites believers, "Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."

Sacrificial offerings were a significant aspect of Old Testament worship, symbolizing atonement and devotion. Leviticus 1-7 details the various offerings prescribed for worship, each with specific purposes and meanings. However, the prophets frequently reminded the Israelites that God desires obedience and a contrite heart over mere ritualistic sacrifices (1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11-17).

Worship in the New Testament
With the coming of Jesus Christ, worship takes on a new dimension. Jesus teaches that true worshipers will worship the Father "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). This teaching emphasizes the internalization of worship, focusing on sincerity and alignment with God's revealed truth.

The early church continued the practice of worship through prayer, teaching, fellowship, and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). The apostle Paul exhorts believers to present their bodies as "a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). This call to a life of holiness and service reflects the comprehensive nature of worship as encompassing all aspects of a believer's life.

Eschatological Worship
The book of Revelation provides a glimpse into the ultimate fulfillment of worship in the heavenly realm. The vision of the throne room in Revelation 4-5 depicts celestial beings and redeemed humanity worshiping God and the Lamb with unceasing praise. Revelation 5:13 declares, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever!"

Conclusion
Worship of God is a profound and multifaceted theme in the Bible, calling believers to a life of devotion, reverence, and obedience. It is both a privilege and a responsibility, reflecting the believer's relationship with God and anticipation of eternal worship in His presence.
ATS Bible Dictionary
Worship of God

Both spiritual and visible, private and public, by individuals, families, and communities, is not only a self-evident duty for all who believe in God, but is abundantly commanded in his word. See PRAYER.

The stated assembling of all people for united worship on the Sabbath, in continuance of the temple and synagogue services enjoined by God and practiced by Christ, is most manifest duty. The very name church, meaning assembly, implies it; and the preaching of the gospel, the great means for promoting Christianity, requires it. The directions of Paul, not to forsake the "assembling of ourselves together," to read his epistles "in all the churches," and to join in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," and his rules for securing the highest spiritual edification of all when they came together in the church, all indicate the established law of Christianity.

"Worship" is sometimes used of the form of homage paid by subjects to kings, or of honor to one held entitled to it, Daniel 2:46 Luke 14:10. In the East, this is still often rendered by prostrating the body and touching the forehead to the ground, Genesis 33:3 Matthew 18:26.

"Will-worship," Colossians 2:23, is a term descriptive of such forms of adoration and service as are not prescribed in God's word, but are offensive in his sight. Such are the masses and penances of Popery.

Greek
1497. eidolon -- an image (ie for worship), by impl. a false god
... idol. From eidos; an image (ie For worship); by implication, a heathen god, or
(plural) the worship of such -- idol. see GREEK eidos. (eidola) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1497.htm - 6k

4574. sebasma -- an object of worship
... an object of worship. From sebazomai; something adored, ie An object of worship
(god, altar, etc) -- devotion, that is worshipped. see GREEK sebazomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4574.htm - 6k

4576. sebo -- to worship
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to worship NASB Word Usage devout (1),
God-fearing (3), worship (4), worshiper (2). devout, religious. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4576.htm - 7k

2999. latreia -- service
... divine service, worship. From latreuo; ministration of God, ie Worship -- (divine)
service. see GREEK latreuo. (latreia) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2999.htm - 7k

3000. latreuo -- to serve
... Transliteration: latreuo Phonetic Spelling: (lat-ryoo'-o) Short Definition: I serve,
worship Definition: I serve, especially God, perhaps simply: I worship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3000.htm - 7k

2151. eusebeo -- to show piety towards
... From eusebes; to be pious, ie (towards God) to worship, or (towards parents)
to respect (support) -- show piety, worship. see GREEK eusebes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2151.htm - 7k

1479. ethelothreskia -- self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted) ...
... This form of "worship," which is accomplished "by " (Souter), is merely a ","
exalting the at God's expense (used only in Col 2:23). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1479.htm - 7k

2212. zeteo -- to seek
... Of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism)
to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life) -- be (go ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2212.htm - 9k

4336. proseuchomai -- to pray
... pray, supplicate, worship. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, ie Supplicate,
worship -- pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer. see GREEK pros. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4336.htm - 9k

2169. eucharistia -- thankfulness, giving of thanks
... From eucharistos; gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship)
-- thankfulness, (giving of) thanks(-giving). see GREEK eucharistos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2169.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
7812. shachah -- to bow down
... in homage to royalty or God) -- bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly
beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. ...
/hebrew/7812.htm - 6k
Library

On the Worship of God in General
... DISPUTATION LXVII ON THE WORSHIP OF GOD IN GENERAL. ... Among the Hebrews, it is called
hrwk [ and ?� yhwlatady the honour or worship, and the fear of God. ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxvii on the worship.htm

The Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth.
... (John, iv.) Section 123. The Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth. ... The true worship
of God, as Spirit, can only spring from Divine affinities in the Spirit. ...
/.../section 123 the worship of.htm

The Worship of God.
... ADDITIONAL DISCOURSES. SECT. IV. THE WORSHIP OF GOD. Religentem esse sportet,
religiosum nefas. Incerti autoris apuid. Aul. Gell. ...
/.../sect iv the worship of.htm

Of the True Worship of God, and Sacrifice.
... Chap. LVIII."Of the True Worship of God, and Sacrifice. ... What then does God require
from man but worship of the mind, which is pure and holy? ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lviii of the true worship.htm

Devout Worship of God.
... INTRODUCTION AND CLOSE OF WORSHIP. 45. " Devout Worship of God. 45. LM
Sir JE Smith. Devout Worship of God. 1 Praise waits in ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/45 devout worship of.htm

God Distinguished from Idols, that He May be the Exclusive Object ...
... For it is plain that the worship which Papists pay to saints differs in no respect
from the worship of God: for this worship is paid without distinction; only ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 12 god distinguished from.htm

Psalm 84 Delight in Ordinances of Worship; Or, God Present in his ...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 84 Delight in ordinances of worship; or, God
present in his churches. v.1-4,10, paraphrased CM. Delight ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 84 delight in ordinances.htm

God Alone a Fit Object of Worship.
... You therefore worship a god without sense, whereas every one who has sense believes
that not even those things are to be worshipped which have been made by God ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xvi god alone a fit.htm

Whether There Can be any Excess in the Worship of God?
... Neither, therefore, can there be in the worship of God. Objection 3: Further, to
worship God consists in offering to Him what we have received from Him. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be any 3.htm

Whether There Can be Anything Pernicious in the Worship of the ...
... Therefore all worship of God is conducive to salvation, and consequently none is
pernicious. ... Therefore now also no worship of God is pernicious. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be anything.htm

Resources
What does the Bible say about the position of worship leader? | GotQuestions.org

Regulative vs. normative principle of worship'which viewpoint is correct? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of Christian worship? | GotQuestions.org

Worship: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Worship

Worship in Private Homes

Worship in the Night

Worship of Abraham

Worship of Angels, Forbidden

Worship of God

Worship of Jacob

Worship of Job

Worship of the Philippian Jailer

Worship of the Wicked Rejected

Worship Service

Worship: "Iniquity of the Holy Things"

Worship: Acceptable to God

Worship: Commanded

Worship: David's Ordinances For

Worship: Family

Worship: God's Presence In

Worship: Jesus Prays all Night Long

Worship: Loved by his People

Worship: On Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal

Worship: Postures in Bowing

Worship: Prostration

Worship: Public, in the Temple

Worship: The Whole Nation Required to Assemble For, Including Men, Women, Children, Servants

Worship: The Word of God Read in Public Assemblies

Worship: To be Rendered Only to God

Worship: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Related Terms

Worship (332 Occurrences)

Sun-worship

Idol-worship (2 Occurrences)

Image-worship (1 Occurrence)

Bacchus

Chemosh (8 Occurrences)

Sunworship

Adoration

Moloch (2 Occurrences)

Place (9195 Occurrences)

Molech (16 Occurrences)

Bent (107 Occurrences)

Devotion (17 Occurrences)

Dulcimer (3 Occurrences)

Musick (10 Occurrences)

Pipes (9 Occurrences)

Psaltery (17 Occurrences)

Bagpipe (4 Occurrences)

Chaldees (13 Occurrences)

Cornet (8 Occurrences)

Sackbut (4 Occurrences)

Sun (1708 Occurrences)

Sambuca (4 Occurrences)

Blazing (27 Occurrences)

Astarte (2 Occurrences)

Prostrate (25 Occurrences)

Communion (8 Occurrences)

Pipe (13 Occurrences)

Baal (94 Occurrences)

Ashtoreth (3 Occurrences)

Bethshemesh (19 Occurrences)

Beth-shemesh (19 Occurrences)

Homage (51 Occurrences)

Kiss (39 Occurrences)

Rudiments (5 Occurrences)

Decently (2 Occurrences)

Meshach (15 Occurrences)

Piety (21 Occurrences)

Brother-servant (2 Occurrences)

Chapel (1 Occurrence)

Adore (1 Occurrence)

Pictured (26 Occurrences)

Splendour (32 Occurrences)

Sex (51 Occurrences)

Attitudes (1 Occurrence)

Praise (487 Occurrences)

Astoreth

Bondservant (34 Occurrences)

Devils (48 Occurrences)

Render (95 Occurrences)

Calf (39 Occurrences)

Service (317 Occurrences)

Purposes (67 Occurrences)

Abed-nego (14 Occurrences)

Ahab (85 Occurrences)

Serve (407 Occurrences)

Rules (160 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Magi (4 Occurrences)

Priesthood (30 Occurrences)

Demons (54 Occurrences)

Shadrach (14 Occurrences)

Moon (70 Occurrences)

Beauty (98 Occurrences)

Colossians (1 Occurrence)

Astrology

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Powers (43 Occurrences)

Rehoboam (42 Occurrences)

Splendor (87 Occurrences)

Eunuch (20 Occurrences)

Court (172 Occurrences)

Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)

Sorts (65 Occurrences)

Connection (72 Occurrences)

Ephesus (20 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Worship of Christ by Angels
Top of Page
Top of Page