Bible Study Discovery
Definition of Worship and Word Origin
Learn the meaning and the etymology of the word worship, along with sample quotes.
Jump to: Smith’s Dictionary
Meaning for Worship
1. (a.) Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness.
2. (a.) Honor; respect; civil deference.
3. (a.) Hence, a title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and others of rank or station.
4. (n.) The act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; religious reverence and homage; adoration, or acts of reverence, paid to God, or a being viewed as God.
5. (a.) Obsequious or submissive respect; extravagant admiration; adoration.
6. (n.) An object of worship.
7. (v. t.) To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
8. (v. t.) To pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honor of; to adore; to venerate.
9. (v. t.) To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission, as a lover; to adore; to idolize.
10. (v. i.) To perform acts of homage or adoration; esp., to perform religious service.
Origin before 900-14 century
from Middle English. wors(c)hipe, worthssipe
from Old English. worthscipe, variant of weorthscipe; see worth1, -ship;
from Middle English. derivative of the noun
“I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” – A.W. Tozer
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:28-29 KJV
“The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature
“Human beings by their very nature are worshipers. Worship is not something we do; it defines who we are. You cannot divide human beings into those who worship and those who don’t. Everybody worships; it’s just a matter of what, or whom, we serve.” – Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change
a translation of the Greek word neocoros, used once only, (Acts 19:35) in the margin, “temple-keeper.” The neocoros was originally an attendant in a temple probably in trusted with its charge. The term neocoros became thus applied to cities or communities which undertook the worship of particular emperors even during their lives.
The first occurrence of the term in connection with Ephesus is on coins of the age of Nero, A.D. 54-68.
Smith’s Dictionary (1884 edition) is a public domain dictionary. Original Name is Dictionary of the Bible by William Smith. 4 volume set. This dictionary was published by Boston Company.
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Take Time to Worship the Lord!
The Lord God is deserving of our worship. Let put our heart into our act of worship. Bow our head, or bow our kneel to the Holy one, Elohim. Humble ourselves in prayer to Him. Each and everyday, He is worthy of our prayers, praise, and thanksgiving. Today is a good day to express our love toward God. So what are you waiting for? You do not need my help. Stop what you’re doing, and time this moment to worship Him.