A Study of Proskuneō
Proskuneō is a Greek word that comes from two contractions that mean “towards” and “to kiss,” which imply prostrating oneself before the object of one’s worship. In the New Testament, it symbolizes a posture of worship that displays an utter dependence upon God, a recognition that we need God, and an admission that God is the only One deserving of worship.
Proskuneō is used multiple times in the New Testament, where it is synonymous with worship. We see the first instance in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2 where the Wiseman are seeking the Christ child (the long-awaited Savior), so that they might worship Him as such. In the book of Mark, chapter 5, a demon-possessed man bows before Jesus before he is delivered of the evil spirits.
In Luke chapter 4, Jesus is being tested in the wilderness by Satan, who uses the same word Proskuneō to tempt Jesus to worship him. He says, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus responds in verse 8, “It is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.” (NASB) It is important to note here that the word Proskuneō does not explicitly imply that the object of worship is worthy. Mankind has a history of bowing themselves before idols of all sorts, but the truth remains, only God is worthy of worship.
In John chapter 4, we encounter the story of the Samaritan woman who is enquiring of Jesus the proper place to worship. Jesus answers her in verses 21–24,
Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (NASB)
In this story, Jesus demonstrates the Father’s heart that worship must be concerned with the posture of the heart. It is not enough to outwardly show displays of worship but to worship internally first.
While in our modern church settings, the physical gesture of bowing down is not as common, this practice of worship still is observed in other ways. Today Proskuneō is largely materialized through the posture of a believer’s heart in worship. Our worship is to be in Spirit and Truth, which also implies that outward expressions alone are not enough; worship must begin and arise from a heart fully submitted to the Lord. The outward expressions flow from an inward obedience and adoration. God is concerned with the heart of the worshipper before he is concerned with the outward exhibitions of worship.
In corporate worship, our songs aid this posture. Our songs allow us the intellectual recognition that we are wholly reliant upon God. When we sing songs like “I Need Thee Every Hour” we proclaim our need for God every hour. Songs of confession such as “Lord, I Need You, “allow us to express our need for a Savior; songs of surrender such as “I Surrender All” give us an opportunity to bow our hearts before the Lord. Songs of praise like, “How Great Thou Art,” allow us to express our adoration for the Lord, showing that He alone is worthy of such adoration.
