Worship in Biblical Hebrew & Greek

Worship in Biblical Hebrew

shakhah (7812) – “to worship, bow down, prostrate oneself (170x)” Ex 34:8; 1Sam 15:25; Jer 7:2; *Is 2:20

avad (5647) – “work, serve, offer, worship” Ex 3:12; 20:5; Num 8:11; Deut 6:13; 11:13; Ps 100:2; 72:11

barak (1288 ) – “kneel, bless from God, worship from man” 2Chron 6:13; Gen 9:26; 14:20; *Job 1:5 (curse)

kara (3766) – “bow down, worship” 1Ki 8:54; Ps 95:6; Ezra 9:5; Is 45:23

yare (3372) – “to fear, reverence, serve, worship” Gen 3:10; 22:12; 28:17; Ex 14:31; 20:20; Is 29:13

qadad (6915) – “to bow down in worship, bend down to show respect” Gen 24:26

kahan (3547) – “in Piel stem: to act, serve, or minister as priest; to minister to or serve Me” Ex 28:1

sharat (8334) – “to serve or minister (60 of 97x in worship)” 1Sam 2:11; Ex 29:30; Deut 10:8; *Eze 20:32; *44:12

segid (Aramaic; 5457) – “to prostrate oneself, to do homage, worship” Dan 3:5-15

pelach (Aramaic; 6399) – “to pay reverence to, serve, worship” Dan 3:12-17; Ezra 7:24

Worship in Biblical Greek

proskuneō (4352) – “to make obeisance, do act of homage/reverence to” (Vine’s, 686). Jn 4:21; *Rev 13:4

sebomai (4576) – “to revere, feeling of awe of devotion” (Ibid., 686). Mt 15:9; Mk 7:7; Acts 16:14; *19:27

sebazomai (4573) – “to honor religiously” (Ibid., 686). Rom 1:25

latreuō (3000) – “to serve, to render religious service or homage” (Ibid., 686). Phil 3:3; Acts 7:42; Heb 10:2

eusebeō (2151) – “to act piously towards” (Ibid., 686). Acts 17:23

Theology of Prayer

When should I pray?
1. Early in morning (Mk 1:35; Lk 4:42)
2. Late in evening (Lk 6:12; Mt 14:23; Acts 16:25; Ps 42:8; Ps 119:62)
3. Three times a day (Daniel 6:10)
4. Seven times a day (Ps 119:164)
5. Day and Night (2 Tim 1:3)
6. Before Meals (Mt 14:19; Mt 15:36; Mk 6:41; Mk 8:6; Lk 9:16; Lk 24:30; Jn 6:11)
7. After Tragic News (Mt 14:13; Mk 6:32)
8. In Times of Trouble (Jam 5:13; Ps 46:1; 1 Tim 5:5)
9. In Times of Happiness (Jam 5:13)
10. In Times of Sickness (Jam 5:14)
11. Continually/Always (Lk 18:1; 1 Thess 5:17; 2 Tim 1:3)

Where should I pray?
1. Private/Secret Place (Mt 6:5-6; Lk 9:18 )
2. Solitary place (Mk 1:35; Lk 4:42; Mt 14:13; Mk 6:32)
3. Closet/Room (Mt 6:5-6)
4. Mountainside (Mt 14:23; Mk 6:46)
5. Prison (Acts 16:25)
6. Anywhere (Ps 139:7-10)

What postures can I assume for prayer?
1. Kneel (Dan 6:10)
2. Bow (Ps 5:7; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10)
3. Fall Down/Lie Prostrate (Deut 9:18; Job 1:20-22; 1 Kg 18:39)
4. Sit (2 Sam 7:18 )
5. Stand (Neh 12:24)
6. Raise Hands (1 Tim 2:8 )

Who should I pray with?
1. Alone (Mt 14:23; Mk 6:46; 1 Cor 7:5)
2. With believers (Lk 9:18; Acts 2:42; Col 4:2; Is 56:7; Mk 11:17)
3. Understand that you are joining a prayer meeting where Jesus (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25) and the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:26) are praying/interceding for you.

Who should I pray to?
1. To God the Father (Mt 6:9; Eph 5:20; Col 3:17)
2. Through the name of Jesus Christ (Eph 5:20; 1 Cor 5:4; Col 3:17; 2 Thess 1:12; Heb 13:15)
3. In the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:18; 2 Cor 13:14)

How should I pray?
1. Confession
a. Repentant Heart (Ps 66:18; Ps 51)
b. Forgiving Attitude to Others (Mt 6:14-15; Mk 11:26; Lk 23:34)
c. Without Anger and Disputing (1 Tim 2:8 )
d. Humility (Jam 4:6-10)

2. Adoration
a. Joyful spirit (1 Thess 5:16)
b. Praise & Thanksgiving (Ps 100; Col 1:3; Col 3:17; 1 Thess 5:18 )

3. Supplication
a. Boldly with Confidence (Heb 4:16)
b. Guarding Words Carefully (Mt 6:7-8; Mt 12:36; Eccl 5:1-7)
c. Silence/Solitude (Ps 46:10)
d. Fasting (Mt 6:16-18 )
e. Fervently/Persistently (Lk 18:1-8; Jam 5:16)
f. Without Doubting, when asking for wisdom (Jam 1:5-8 )
g. Sober/Self-Controlled & Clear Minded (1 Pt 4:7)
h. Alert/Watchful Perspective (Lk 21:36; Eph 6:18; 1 Pt 4:7)

What should I pray for?
1. Example of Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:9-13)
2. God would be glorified (1 Pt 4:11; 2 Thess 1:12)
3. Christ would be magnified in our bodies and lives (Phil 1:20)
4. Protection from the evil one (Jn 17:15)
5. Not fall into temptation (Lk 22:39-46)
6. Faith would not fail (Lk 22:32)
7. Christian Unity (Jn 17:20-21)
8. All the saints (Eph 6:18; Phil 1:4; 1 Thess 5:25)
9. Everyone/All People (1 Tim 2:1)
10. Authority/Kings/Leaders (1 Tim 2:2)
11. Those who persecute/mistreat you (Mt 5:44; Lk 6:28 )
12. Unbelievers (Rom 9:1-5)
13. Salvation of Jews (Rom 10:1)
14. Peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6)
15. Opportunities to Witness (Col 4:3-4)
16. Confidence/Fearlessness/Clarity in Sharing the Gospel (Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:3-4)
17. Message of the Lord would spread rapidly and be honored (2 Thess 3:1)
18. Opportunities for Ministry (Rom 1:10)
19. Deliverance from wicked and evil men (2 Thess 3:2)
20. Love would abound more and more (Phil 1:9)
21. Lord would direct your hearts in God’s love (2 Thess 3:5)
22. Lord would direct your hearts in Christ’s perseverance (2 Thess 3:5)
23. Grace and Mercy (Heb 4:16)
24. Discernment (Phil 1:10)
25. Peaceful and Quiet Lives (1 Tim 2:2)
26. Purity/Holiness (Phil 1:10; 1 Tim 2:2)
27. Spiritual Fruit (Phil 1:11)
28. Help from God (1 Tim 5:5)
29. Wisdom (Jam 1:5)
30. Healing (Jam 5:14)
31. God would count us worthy of His calling (2 Thess 1:11)
32. By His power he would fulfill every good purpose of yours (2 Thess 1:11)
33. By His power he would fullfill every act prompted by your faith (2 Thess 1:11)
34. All kinds of prayers and requests (Eph 6:18 )