Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 6/30/2006

Question
Thank you for your response. However, my question was specifically regarding why they changed the wording from "worship" to "do obeisance". As you noted the two have very different connotations in English, and the Watchtower Society did not change all occurrences.

I have a copy of the Kingdom Interlinear Translation from 1969 and it uses the word "worship" in the verse I questioned.

Why was this particular occurrence altered in the 1984 revision of the New World Translation?

Thank you.
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Followup To

Question -
Brenton,

The New World Translation originally translated "proskunesatosan" as "let all God's angels WORSHIP him."

Since the meaning is the same as that appearing in Matthew 4:10, where the word is also translated WORSHIP on the ocassion of Satan inviting an act of worship, why did the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society change the wording of Hebrews 1:6 in 1984 to read "let all God's angels do obeisance to him?"

Thank you.

Answer -
Greetings B. Harper,

Thank you for your question.

This is not one I can answer with a certainty.

The truth is no Bible today represents 100% the originals.  All Bible translations have some degree of theological bias in them.  Some are a lot worse that others.

To tell the truth I do not like the fact that the NWT did not use the word  obeisance or similar (e.g. bow down before) in all places that "proskunesatosan" appears. For me this is the main criticism I have of the NWT.  They have only used, what I see as a more correct rendering, in reference to Jesus. The way we in English understand the word worship, by not using obeisance or bow down before, tends to cloud the meaning and give the impression of a religious action.

For me, because there are several Greek words rendered as worship into English, all Bibles have the opportunity to be  more careful and selective in the way they render the words.  These are the 6 Greek words rendered into English in the Authorized version as worship

4352. proskunew proskuneo pros-koo-neh’-o; from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):— worship.

This word appears 60 times in the AV and in all times as worship
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4576. sebomai sebomai seb’-om-ahee; middle voice of an apparently primary verb; to revere, i.e. adore:— devout, religious, worship.

This word appears 10 times in the Autherised version (AV)

AV-worship 6, devout 3, religious 1;
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1391. doxa doxa dox’-ah; from the base of 1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):— dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.

This word appears 168 times in the AV

AV-glory 145, glorious 10, honour 6, praise 4, dignity 2, worship 1;
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3000. latreuw latreuo lat-ryoo’-o; from latriv latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. render, religious homage:— serve, do the service, worship(-per).

This word appears 21 times in the AV

AV-serve 16, worship 3, do the service 1, worshipper 1; 21
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2151. eusebew eusebeo yoo-seb-eh’-o; from 2152; to be pious, i.e. (towards God) to worship, or (towards parents) to respect (support):— show piety, worship.

This word appears 2 times in the AV

AV-worship 1, show piety 1; 2
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1479. eyeloyrhskeia ethelothreskeia eth-el-oth-race-ki’-ah; from 2309 and 2356; voluntary (arbitrary and unwarranted) piety, i.e. sanctimony:— will worship.
This word appears 1 time only in the AV

AV-will worship 1; 1
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The above shows me that translators can have, at times, some difficulty in determining just what English expression to use.

As a general rule the translators of the NWT have been very careful (in my opinion more careful than most translators) in their renderings and trying to keep theological bias out of their translation.

Brenton

Answer
Greetings B. Harper,

I an sorry my first reply did not answer your question to your satisfaction

I will try again, but please remember, this is not one I can answer with a certainty. It is entirely my opinion from what I have discovered.

I did some research through older material, and, found that there had been questions raised by readers about the text with the word "worship" in it as to just what sort of "worship" Jesus would have received.  The answers discussed the various meanings of worship and in particular the meaning of "proskuneo".

So, I can only assume that, after receiving these inquiries, that the "translators" decided to use a word that better describes the meaning of the Greek word "proskuneo" into English.

I hope that better answers your question

Brenton

PS

For me the difficulty is in the way we, in English, understand the word "worship"  I would say most English speaking people would immediately think of religious worship.  However as per the different Greek words rendered into English as "worship" there can be shades of meaning.

My personal view, is that the word "proskuneo" should not be rendered as worship in any place by any Bible, but, words or phrases such as  obeisance, bow down before, pay homage to or similar, should be used in all cases.