Can someone explain why the NWT translates this word as "Worship" in 42 of the 60 occurances in the new testament while translating it "do obedience to" in the 18 instances where Jesus is the recipient? This seems so blatantly wrong. Do they think no one will notice or do they have an explanation? Thanks....
Translation of the Greek word "proskuneo"
by bob1999 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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uninformed
I used to give a talk that the meaning of the Greek word "proskeneo" (sp) was used. In my research, if memory serves me, the root of the word is "doglike" and refers to the way a dog will cower before its master.
There is another word, something like "leuitral" (badly spelled) that had to do with more "formal worship".
I will check the condordances and see if I can add anything to that.
BRant
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TJ Curioso
Hello. If you see the context where that word is used, its almost always use in the context of someone who recognize Jesus as the Messiah or a Rabi, someone with autorithy and power, not as The God.
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onacruse
Insight, volume 2, pp. 523-4, has as good an explanation as it gets. Since it's on the WTS CD, I won't post it here (unless you need it posted).
Basically, the word has an ambiguous meaning, and requires a degree of circumstantial interpretation to properly translate its intended use.
What's of some interest here is that for a good number of years the WTS translated the word as "worship" in Hebrews 1:6, and went to great lengths to explain how Jesus could be worshipped in any sense, even by angels. They subsequently, and rather quietly, changed that verse in the NWT to read "obeisance."
edit to add: This is worth c&p:
*** w54 5/15 pp. 317-319 Questions from Readers ***
Questions from Readers
• In the January 1 issue of TheWatchtower the question from Ethiopia, "Should we worship Jesus?" is answered. In paragraph five Hebrews 1:6 is quoted with regard to the angels of God worshiping Jesus, but in the final paragraph it says: "The answer to the above question must be that no distinct worship is to be rendered to Jesus Christ now glorified in heaven. Our worship is to go to Jehovah." Does this not contradict the statement of Hebrews 1:6?—T. P., United States.
In reply to the several questions on this point in a few letters received, we ask: Are you an angel of God in heaven? If you are, then Hebrews 1:6 applies to you. If you are not one of God’s angels in heaven, then Hebrews 1:6 is not directed to you, for at Hebrews 1:6 and its two preceding verses the writer says concerning the gloried Jesus: "So he has become better than the angels to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs. For example, to which one of the angels did he ever say: ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’? And again: ‘I shall be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me’? [6] But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: ‘And let all God’s angels worship him.’" (Heb. 1:4-6, NW) Here the apostle Paul quotes from Psalm 97:7, which, in the words of AnAmericanTranslation, reads: "All who serve wrought images are put to shame, they who prided themselves on their nonentities. Worshiphim,allyougods!" In the Greek SeptuagintVersion (LXX) these italicized words read: "Worship [pros·ky·ne´o] him, all ye his angels." (Bagster’s edition; also Thomson) The apostle may also have been quoting from the SeptuagintVersion of Deuteronomy 32:43, the opening part of which reads: "Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, andletalltheangelsofGodworshiphim; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; . . ." (Bagster; similarly Thomson) By examining the context of both Psalm 97:7 and Deuteronomy 32:43 we note that the reference is to Jehovah God as the one to be worshiped. Does this mean that Jesus is the same as Jehovah because of how the writer of Hebrews 1:6 applies the quotation?
In translating Hebrews 1:6 AnAmericanTranslation does not follow its rendering of Psalm 97:7 and use "worship" but says: "And let all God’s angels bow before him." The NewWorldTranslation says: "And let all God’s angels worship him." Is the NewWorldTranslation inferior here, or has it violated its general rule of endeavoring as far as possible to render each Greek word of the Christian Greek Scriptures by one English equivalent? The answer to these questions is No! What, then, is the reason for its saying "worship" instead of "bow down" or "do obeisance"?
As already stated in the above-mentioned Watchtower article the Greek word here rendered "worship" is the word pros·ky·ne´o. Strange as it may seem, this word is drawn from the Greek word for "dog," kýon, and hence means, properly, "to crouch, crawl, fawn," as a dog would at his master’s feet. Practically applied, therefore, the word basically means "to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to do obeisance." And in the lands of the Bible this was the proper attitude both of civil veneration and homage and also of religious worship. This appears from the Bible, both in the Hebrew original text and in the Greek.
In the King James or Authorized Version of the Bible pros·ky·ne´o is, without exception, in its 60 occurences, rendered "worship." However, in the NewWorldTranslationpros·ky·ne´o is rendered "do obeisance" and "worship." For example, the magi from the east and King Herod said they wanted to "do obeisance to" (pros·ky·ne´o) the babe that had been born king of the Jews. "Do obeisance" is preferable here because neither the magi nor King Herod meant to worship the babe as God. (Matt. 2:2, 8, 11) Pros·ky·ne´o is properly rendered "do obeisance" at times, because often in the Greek Septuagint Version of the Bible the action of this verb is directed to men; for example, where the patriarch Abraham bowed down (pros·ky·ne´o) to the pagan natives of Canaanland, the Hittites, the sons of Heth. (Gen. 23:7, 12, LXX) Or, as when the patriarch Jacob and his wives and his children all bowed down repeatedly (pros·ky·ne´o) to his twin-brother Esau, whom Jehovah God said He hated. (Gen. 33:3, 6, 7, LXX) Or, as when Emperor Nebuchadnezzar bowed down (pros·ky·ne´o) to the prophet Daniel. (Dan. 2:46, LXX) Other examples, such as Revelation 3:9, could be given where pros·ky·ne´o is not properly rendered "worship" but should be rendered "bow down" or "do obeisance."
In the NewWorldTranslationoftheChristianGreekScriptures when this word pros·ky·ne´o is directed toward God, then it is properly rendered "worship," as when Jesus answered the Tempter and said: "Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship [pros·ky·ne´o], and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’" (Matt. 4:10, NW) To the Samaritan woman Jesus said: "The genuine worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for such kind to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship [pros·ky·ne´o] with spirit and truth." (John 4:23, 24, NW) In each of these cases pros·ky·ne´o might have been rendered "bow down" or "do obeisance," but certainly when we bow down or do obeisance to Jehovah God we do not do it in the same sense as when Abraham, Jacob and others bowed down or did obeisance to men. At John 4:23, 24, above, even Dr. Young’s literal translation of the Bible changes from "bow down" to "worship." So the NewWorldTranslation is no more inconsistent than Dr. Young’s literal Bible translation. Bowing to men does not necessarily mean worship.
In the NewWorldTranslation we note that when this Greek verb pros·ky·ne´o is applied to Jesus as a man on earth or materializing as a man after his resurrection, it is translated "do obeisance." However, when referring to the glorified Jesus in the invisible heavens in the presence of the holy angels, the NewWorldTranslation makes a change and renders pros·ky·ne´o as applied to him by the English word "worship." (Heb. 1:6) This is properly and consistently done. This Greek verb occurs only twice in the book of Hebrews, here at Hebrews 1:6 and at Hebrews 11:21 where Jacob is described as worshiping Jehovah God: "By faith Jacob, when about to die, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped [pros·ky·ne´o] leaning upon the top of his staff." (NW; referring to Genesis 47:31, where the LXX also uses pros·ky·ne´o) So in the book of Hebrews pros·ky·ne´o is both times rendered "worship" and the angels of God are instructed to "worship" the glorified Jesus. Why is this? Because Jesus has been made so much higher than the angels, even higher than he was before he became a man on earth. (Phil. 2:5-11) It is the command of Jehovah God that they do this toward his Son. What does this mean? This, that even the angels are to render their worship of Jehovah God through Jesus Christ, whom Jehovah God has made the Head of his universal organization. That is why it is stated on page 85 of the book "MakeSureofAllThings", column 1: "Christ to Be Worshiped as a Glorious Spirit, Victorious over Death on the Torture Stake," with three scriptures accompanying to prove that he is now a glorified spirit, and now no more flesh.
It is because the glorified Jesus Christ acts as the appointed representative of Jehovah God that worship must go to God through him, even on the part of the angels. This explains why Psalm 97:7 and Deuteronomy 32:43, which, according to their context, evidently refer to Jehovah God, are applied by the writer of Hebrews to Jehovah’s Son Jesus Christ. The Son of God is Jehovah’s High Priest, hence subordinate to Jehovah God; but as High Priest according to the likeness of Melchizedek the glorified Jesus Christ leads all creation in the worship of Jehovah God. Hence worship of all creation must go to the one living and true God Jehovah through him. In the present-time fulfillment of Deuteronomy 32:43 and Psalm 97:7, the High Priest Jesus Christ acts as the direct representative for his Father Jehovah and, therefore, Hebrews 1:6 properly involves Jesus Christ glorified in the application of these scriptures. Well, then, since the angels are commanded to worship the glorified Jesus at his second coming, should not we, who, as humans, are so much less than angels, likewise worship him? In answer we say, We must render to him what God’s Word says we must.
At Revelation 19:10 and 22:9 the angel whom the glorified Jesus sent to the apostle John said to John: "Worship [pros·ky·ne´o] God," meaning Jehovah God. Jesus’ angel (Rev. 1:1, 2; 22:16) told John, a man on earth, to worship, not Jesus, but God, Jehovah God the Father of Jesus. That is the One whom Jehovah’s witnesses worship. But we remember that such worship has to be rendered to Jehovah God through his High Priest Jesus Christ. For this reason it is that Jehovah’s witnesses follow the instruction of Philippians 2:10, 11: "So that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven [angels] and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [not the Almighty God, but Lord] to the glory of God the Father." (NW) Jehovah’s witnesses "honor the Son just as they honor the Father," for, "he that does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (John 5:23, NW) Jehovah’s witnesses give to Jesus all the honor, respect, consideration, obedience, imitation, love and loyalty that Jehovah God calls upon them to render to his Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name they render their prayers and worship to Jehovah God. And the angels of heaven obey the command of God and "worship" his Son only as their worship of the Son is related to the worship of his Father Jehovah God. But, keeping things in their relative positions, angels and Jehovah’s witnesses worship Jehovah God as the one Almighty God, uncreated, unbegotten, "from everlasting to everlasting."—Ps. 90:2.
In the light of the foregoing it will be profitable to reread the article in the above-mentioned Watchtower, pages 30, 31, in answer to the question "Should we worship Jesus?"
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abbagail
I'm thinking they assume nobody will actually check out what they say and do a count like you did, which btw, is great. I like your specifics!
As for do they have an explanation? I'm betting it's that they do not want anybody to get the idea that JESUS is GOD THE SON and is most assuredly deserving of WORSHIP.
But since they can't have JESUS being GOD THE SON, but just a "created spirit being" of lesser "value" than GOD THE FATHER, then they figure he doesn't "deserve" WORSHIP like GOD THE FATHER.
In other words, they do not want any JW to "catch on" that JESUS IS GOD, too. Or that JESUS is part of a TRIUNE GOD. That would blow their whole erroneous "Jewish based" premise that GOD is NOT a "COMPOSITE GOD."
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However, Messianic Jews (believers in JESUS) DO understand that GOD is a TRIUNE GOD. This is an excellent explanation re: the SHEMA at Deut. 6:4 which the WT is FAMOUS for using to try to "Prove" that there is only a ONE-PERSON-GOD (ie, the FATHER ONLY) vs. a TRIUNE/COMPOSITE GOD (Father-Son-Holy Spirit):
THE PLURALITY OF GOD
The Scriptures tell us quite clearly that there is one Creator God of the universe. There is only one Being that is to remain supreme over our lives. Yet at the same time while there is but one God, Elohim, as He is referred to in the Hebrew Scriptures, is a plural word. This is evidenced by the first line of the Shema which says "Yahweh is our Elohim, Yahweh is One." The Hebrew word for "one" is ECHAD and denotes a COMPOSITE - NOT an absolute oneness. We affirm that in this COMPOSITE ONENESS God has revealed Himself to humanity in the manifestations of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We also cede the possibility that there may be additional components of the Godhead that He has chosen not to reveal to us at this present time.
[...] Source: http://www.godsanswers.com/Data_Links_Articles/AIM-statementofbelief.htm
And this one...
[...]
II. GOD
We believe that the Shema, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4), teaches that God is Echad, as so declared: a UNITED ONE, a COMPOSITE UNITY, eternally existent in plural oneness [Gen. 1:1 (Elohim: God); Gen. 1:26 "Let us make man in OUR image"; Gen. 2:24 Adam & Eve were created to be as ONE flesh (basar echad)], that He is a personal God who created us (Gen. 1 & 2), and that He exists forever in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Romans 8:14-17 (Father, Spirit, and Messiah - Son) and Matt. 28:18-20 (immersing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
A. GOD THE FATHER (Abba) - John 6:27b; I Cor 1:3; Gal. 1:1; Rev. 3:5, 21; Jer. 3:4, 19; 31:9; Mal. 1:6; Matt. 6:9, 32; Luke 10:21-22; John 1:14; 4:23; 5:17-26; 6:28-46; Rom. 8:14-15.
B. GOD THE SON (HaBen)
1. God does have a Son [Ps. 2; Prov. 30:4-6 (cf. Heb. 1); Luke 12:35-37; John 1:29-34, 49; 3:14-18].
2. The Son, called Yeshua (Jesus), meaning salvation, came to this world born of a virgin [Isa. 7:14 (cf. Luke 1:30-35)].
3. The Son is God (Deity), and is worshipped as God, having existed eternally [Ps. 110:1 (cf. Heb. 1:13); Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 28:18-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Col. 1:15-19; Rev. 3:21 (Heb. 1 - worshipped by angels); Rev. 4:8, 5:5-14].
4. This One is the promised Mashiach (Messiah) of Israel [Is. 9:6-7; 11:1; Dan. 9 (esp. verses 20-26); Isa. 53; John 1:17, 40-41, 45, 49; Mark 8:29].
5. He is the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star (Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16).
6. He is our Passover, the Lamb of God (I Cor. 5:7; Rev. 5; John 1:29).
C. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT (Ruach HaKodesh)
1. Introduced in Gen. 1:2b.
2. In the Tenach, the Spirit of God came upon individuals during the times of our forefathers, like Moses, David (see II Sam. 23:1-3), and the Prophets, for the specific purposes.
3. In the New Covenant, the Messiah, Yeshua, promised His disciples that "the Comforter" would come to them after He was gone, described as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, 26), who was with them and would be in them. Yeshua further declared that the Spirit of Truth, would guide us into all truth and would glorify Him - the Messiah - not Himself (John 16:13-15). He empowers us (Acts 1:8). He seals us [Eph. 1:13; 4:30 (see NIV and Jewish New Testatment versions)]. If we have not the Spirit, we are not His (Rom. 8:9). He leads us and teaches us (Rom. 8:14-17). His indwelling enables us to live a godly life. Acts 2:38 says, "Repent, be immersed, and receive the Holy Spirit."
[...] Source: http://www.iamcs.org/WhatWeBelieve.php
Seek and Ye Shall Find! ... A Pearl of Great Value! (yes, I realize I am mixing scriptures).
Oh Happy Day!
When Jesus Washed...
My Sins Away...
Oh Happy Day!
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Apostate Kate
Nobody notices because when in a cult the leader is all knowing. If they say proskuneo means do obeisance to Jesus and the same word means to worship Jehovah then that is what they will believe.
Worship as applied to Jesus by the WT;
Matthew 2:2 Saying <lego>, Where <pou> is <esti> he that is born <tikto> King <basileus> of the Jews <Ioudaios>? for <gar> we have seen <eido> his <autos> star <aster> in <en> the east <anatole>, and <kai> are come <erchomai> to worship <proskuneo> him <autos>. KJ
NWT; 2 saying: “Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star [when we were] in the east, and we have come to do him obeisance.”
As applied to the Father;
KJ John 4:23 But <alla> the hour <hora> cometh <erchomai>, and <kai> now <nun> is <esti>, when <hote> the true <alethinos> worshippers <proskunetes> shall worship <proskuneo> the Father <pater> in <en> spirit <pneuma> and <kai> in truth <aletheia>: for <kai> <gar> the Father <pater> seeketh <zeteo> such <toioutos> to worship <proskuneo> him <autos>.
NWT John 4: 23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.
Worship Jesus ; Hebrews 1:6 And <de> again <palin>, when <hotan> he bringeth in <eisago> the firstbegotten <prototokos> into <eis> the world <oikoumene>, he saith <lego>, And <kai> let <proskuneo> all <pas> the angels <aggelos> of God <theos> worship <proskuneo> him <autos>.
NWT; Hebrews 1: 6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.”
They do this because it is what keeps millions of people blinded to who the Bible says Jesus really is. That way they can make people slaves to them instead of friends of Jesus.
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abbagail
Very good Kate and VERY CLEAR and OBVIOUS. Wow. Terrible. The Lord gets the 2nd rate treatment from the WT.
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Apostate Kate
Matthew 8:2-3 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 8:2 And <kai>, behold <idou>, there came <erchomai> a leper <lepros> and worshipped <proskuneo> him <autos>, saying <lego>, Lord <kurios>, if <ean> thou wilt <thelo>, thou canst <dunamai> make <katharizo> me <me> clean <katharizo>.
Jesus never told the leper NOT to worship him.
the same word is used for the worship of God.
4352. proskuneo
Search for G4352 in KJVSLproskunew proskuneo pros-koo-neh'-o
from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965 (meaning to
kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or
crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself
in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship.See Greek 4314
See Greek 2965 -
Apostate Kate
Finding the authentic truth set me free too Abby.
I've never had a better friend than Jesus.
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bob1999
My question was not one of doctrine. There can be no excuse to translate a word one way, when it suits one's doctrine, and another way when it does not. This is disingenuous, a lie plain and simple.