G4576
σέβομαι
to revere, i.e. adore
Transliteration
sébomaiPronunciation
(seb'-om-ahee)Everything you need to know.
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to revere, i.e. adore
σέβομαι(sébomai)
Strong’s Definition
to revere, i.e. adore
middle voice of an apparently primary verb;
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
No verses found containing this word study ID.
Strong's G4576: A primary verb meaning "to worship" or "to revere," σέβω expresses deep religious devotion and reverence. In biblical usage, it particularly denotes the act of worship, whether directed toward the true God or false deities, often emphasizing the external manifestation of religious devotion.
U- Unveiling the Word
σέβω represents the fundamental human act of worship and reverence. Its usage in the New Testament often appears in contexts discussing authentic versus inauthentic worship, as seen in Matthew 15:9 where Jesus quotes Isaiah's critique of empty religious observance. The word carries both religious and ethical implications, describing not just ritual acts but a lifestyle of reverence. In early church usage, it became particularly significant in discussions about true worship of God versus emperor worship and pagan practices. Today, it challenges us to examine whether our worship is merely external or flows from genuine heart devotion to God.
N - Necessary Information
Etymology:
D - Defining Meanings
For compound words:
Not applicable as σέβω is a primary verb
Translation Options:
E - Exploring Similar Words
R - Reviewing the Word's Morphology
Verb Features:
Example conjugations:
Present Active: σέβω (I worship), σέβεις (you worship), σέβει (he/she/it worships)
Middle: σέβομαι (I worship for myself)
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S - Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes σέβω's focus on religious devotion and its frequent middle voice usage. Thayer's notes its connection to fear-based reverence. LSJ traces its development from fear to worship. Vine's distinguishes it from other worship terms by its emphasis on the attitude of reverence. Strong's connects it to awe-inspired worship. Moulton-Milligan documents its prevalent use in religious contexts across papyri and inscriptions.
T - Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:9
Additional References:
Mark 7:7, Acts 13:43, Acts 13:50, Acts 16:14, Acts 17:4, Acts 17:17, Acts 18:7, Acts 18:13, Acts 19:27
A - Analyzing Classical Usage
N - Noteworthy Summary
σέβω captures the essence of worship as both an internal attitude and external expression. Jesus' use of the term in critiquing empty worship reminds us that true worship must flow from a heart transformed by the gospel. The word points us to Christ, who alone is worthy of our deepest reverence and whole-life devotion, calling us to worship in spirit and truth.
D - Did You Know?
Strong's G4576: A primary verb meaning "to worship" or "to revere," σέβω expresses deep religious devotion and reverence. In biblical usage, it particularly denotes the act of worship, whether directed toward the true God or false deities, often emphasizing the external manifestation of religious devotion.
Part of speech: Verb
Tags: worship, reverence, devotion, religious practice, true worship, God-fearers, early church, religious devotion, biblical Greek, worship vocabulary, spiritual practice, religious terminology