Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 5/18/2006

Question
---no that didnt help, you forgot to tell me why the watchtower used different meaning when your greek interlinear has the same pronounication as (worship) look up this in your purple greek interlinear and compare the greek grammer on the left of the book./----------------------
Followup To
Question -
hey friend please tell me why the watchtower robs jesus of being worship.  lets examine this, compare rev 7:11 to matt 14:33 now i want you to use your purple greek interlinear on these verses and read from the greek writings on the left of the page. they are the same writings and meanings but the watchtower wrote did obiesance. please test all things and hold fast to what is good, as the word of god says and respond to my question. thanxs
Answer -
Hello Jorge

First I want to apologise for the delay as the automatic system of letting "experts" know that there is a question has not been letting me know about pending question, and I find out only when I log on.

Thank you for your question. Yes some do wonder why the difference.

In the New Testamnt there are 6 diferent Greek words that are rendered into English as "worship".  Mosy of these words have other renderings into English besides worship

The word rendered worship in both Matt 14:33 and Rev 7:11 is "proskuneo"

The menaing, according to "The Online Bible" Greek lexicon software I have is

Qoute  
to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand;

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2) among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
3a1) to the Jewish high priests
3a2) to God
3a3) to Christ
3a4) to heavenly beings
3a5) to demons

end quote

So that particular word can and is used for all manner of people in the Bible, but it does not mean to worship in a religous way as one would a God, but to show that one honour for the possition they have.

We rightly show honour to Jesus for the possition he has as our saviour but do not overstep that mark and worhip him in the same way as we would his Father


The word you refere to in those 2 texts appears in the Authorised Version (AV) 60 times and is rendered worship 60 times.


Below are the other words the the AV renders as worship along with the number of times it is used and the different renderings that each word also has in the AV.  meanings as per Strongs Greek Lexicon with Strongs reference numbers.

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 AV

AV-worship 6, devout 3, religious 1;

___________________

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;
___________________________________

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.

This word appears 21 times in the AV

AV-serve 16, worship 3, do the service 1, worshipper 1; 21

___________________________________

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
______________________________

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 times in the AV

AV-will worship 1;  
_______________________________-



I hope that helps

Brenton

Answer
Hello Jorge

Sorry for missing that point. In my first answer I was attempting to show that what we read in our English Bibles is not always what the Greek word meant.  Translators have to use their discretion, and, at times, their theological bias comes to the fore when it comes to translating some words into English. (Theological bias is present is ALL translations to some degree)

First I would like to clarify something you said which suggest to me a misunderstanding on your part. You made the following statement....

Quote

"look up this in your purple greek interlinear and compare the greek grammer on the left of the book."

end quote

The left hand side of the book is not a Greek grammar. It is a rendering into English of Greek words to what the translator felt was the best equivalent of the word.

The translators of the NWT did what every one else does.  They used the words that they felt fit a situation.

Look back at some of the other Greek words that are rendered "worship" as used in the AV and will notice that the translators of the AV used different meanings at different places. (If you would like I will supply you with a list of all the scriptures where those words are used and the way they are rendered)

Personally, I think ALL translators have used their bias in the case of rendering Greek words into English. Yes for me that also includes the translators of the NWT.

Today in English we generally take the word "worship" to be used in a religious sense as in place of worship, worship of God etc.  However as the various Greek words rendered show it can become confusing by using the generic word worship to cover a lot of situations.

As noted above the Greek word "proskuneo" is NOT related to religious worship.  It simply means to show honor.  For me, the best ONE English word to describe that is "obeisance".  But sometimes that can become confusing.

Looking back at the definition of the word it was used for all sorts of people in higher positions. Remember it had this meaning

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
3a1) to the Jewish high priests
3a2) to God

So for me, translators would do better to express "proskuneo" not as in one word like "worship" or "obeisance" but in a phrase such as "bow down in honor of" (or similar) when "proskuneo" is to be rendered into English. Note how the word is sometimes rendered in some other translations.

The Darby 1884, Diaglot 1865, Weymouth 1912, Phillips 1972
Use the word “homage” in some places

Rotherhams 1902, and Youngs
Use the phrase “bow down to” in some places

The Douay
Uses “adore” in some places

Now does the difference in the rendering in the NWT take away from Jesus any honor due to him?  No it does not.  As the only begotten Son of God and our savior he deserves to be honored, but not worshiped in a religious manner.  JWs give jesus the honour due to him, we just do not worship him as we do his Father, and his God, Jehovah.

Because of the way we generally understand the word worhip, to use that word in relation to Jesus would put him in the same category as his Father, to be worshiped in a relgous way.  The word "obeisance" does not take away the honor that is due to Jesus but stops us getting confussed with the word "worship".  And as already noted "proskuneo" does not mean worhip in a religous sense, but does mean to show honor.

I hope that has answered your question.

If not Please ask for more clarification.

Brenton