Greek – Worship

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The 8 most prominent Greek words used for worship in Scripture are listed below in detail, there are a further 37 words in the entire list!

Proskuneo - προσκυνέω

60 occurrences; phonetic, pros-koo-neh'-o; to kiss the hand toward one in reverence, to fall onto the knees with the forehead touching the ground as an expression of profound reverence, to adore, to worship, to pay homage; 

  • Matthew 2:1b-2 - … wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”.
  • John 4:24 - “… God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
  • Revelation 5:14 - The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

Agalliao - ἀγαλλιάω

11 occurrences; phonetic, ag-al-lee-ah'-o; jump for joy, exult, be exceedingly glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice greatly; 

  • Luke 10:21 - In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure.
  • Acts 16:34 - He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.
  • 1 Peter 1:8 - You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.

Oide - ᾠδή

7 occurrences; phonetic, ode o-day'; a chant or ode (the general term for any words sung), a song;

  • Ephesians 5:19 - … speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
  • Colossians 3:16 - Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.
  • Revelation 5:9 - And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.’

Psalmos - ψαλμός

7 occurrences; phonetic, psal-mos'; a set piece of music, a sacred ode accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument;

  • 1 Corinthians 14:26 - What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.
  • Ephesians 5:19 - … speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
  • Colossians 3:16 - Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Psallo - ψάλλω

5 occurrences; phonetic, psal'-lo; to strike a chord on a stringed instrument, to celebrate and worship God with music and lyrics, to make a melody, singing psalms;

  • 1 Corinthians 14:15 - What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.
  • Ephesians 5:19 - … speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
  • James 5:13 - Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.

Humneo - ὑμνέω

4 occurrences; phonetic, hoom-neh’-o; to sing a hymn, to celebrate God in song, to praise;

  • Matthew 26:30 - After singing psalms, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
  • Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
  • Hebrews 2:12 - … saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.

Kampto - κάμπτω

4 occurrences; phonetic, kamp’-to; to bend, bow the knee in honour/veneration;

  • Romans 14:11 - For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to  Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.
  • Ephesians 3:14 - For this reason I kneel before the Father.
  • Philippians 2:10 - … so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — of those who are in Heaven and on Earth and under the earth —

Humnos - ὕμνος

2 occurrences; phonetic, hoom'-nos; to celebrate, one of the psalms, hymn;

  • Ephesians 5:19 - … speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music from your heart to the Lord,
  • Colossians 3:16 - Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.