“And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him”
(Hebrews 1:6. King James Version (KJV))
There are some questions which answers cannot be binary, that is, answered with a simple “yes” or “no”. Answering this question with a simple « yes », can create several misunderstandings. For example, for some Christians, this would mean suggesting that we can worship him by directly addressing prayers to Jesus Christ (The more precise vocalization of his name, which contains the entire Tetragrammaton (YHWH), is Yeshua), in the same way as to the Heavenly Father, Jehovah God (The more precise vocalization of the Divine Name YHWH is Yehouah, (The Divine Name, YHWH, is pronounced as it is written)). Or again, it would suggest that the Father and the Son are two persons in one, according to the dogma of the Trinity which is not biblical. Added to this confusion is that in most Christian churches, there is a reluctance or even a refusal, to pronounce the Divine Name (YHWH), Yehouah, in their public prayers, replacing it with Lord (Adonai). In the latter situation, Christians who hear these public prayers can be confused, as to whom the teacher who publicly prays, is addressing, to God, the Heavenly Father or to his Son? On the other hand, to answer with a simple « no », would contradict the text of Hebrews (1:6), mentioned above. The answer must be based on the biblical context, but also on the definition that the verb « to worship » can have in the Greek and Hebrew text (and Aramaic).
First of all, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, therefore, he is not God, the Heavenly Father (Matthew 16:13-20). Jesus Christ said that his Heavenly Father is greater than him: « If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am » (John 14:28). Furthermore, the apostle Paul said that God is the Head of Christ while he was in heaven with his Heavenly Father: « But I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn, the head of a woman is the man; in turn, the head of the Christ is God » (1 Corinthians 11:3). Some take the inaccurate shortcut of saying that to deny that Jesus Christ is God, the Heavenly Father, is to deny His divinity or divine origin.
Now, this is not the case, because to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, is also to believe in his divine origin: « In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god” (John 1:1). This text, that many believers in the Trinity use to say that Jesus Christ is God, shows that such a statement is nonsense. The context shows that one cannot be with someone and at the same time, to be this same person; if Jesus Christ is God, how can he be at the same time “with” God? On the other hand, as this translation shows, Jesus Christ is a god in the sense that he has a divine origin, that is to say that he is the only Heavenly Son whom God directly created: « This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence » (John 1:2,3). Thus, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and not God Himself, does not prevent one from believing in the divinity or the divine origin of Christ…
Let us focus on the verb « to worship », in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. In the Bible there are two large parts: the Old Testament, the original text of is generally written in Hebrew (and some parts (more rarely) in Aramaic), and the New Testament is generally written in Greek. The text of Hebrews (1:6), at the beginning of the article, is translated from the Greek text.
The verb « to worship », translated from the Hebrew language is שָׁחָה shâchâh, shaw-khaw’; a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship (Strong’s Concordance – H7812). This verb, depending on the context, can have the meaning of worshiping God, paying homage, render obeisance. The biblical references mentioned in the following parenthesis allude to the exclusive worship due to Jehovah God (Genesis 22:5; 2 Chronicles 20:18; Psalms 97:7). In Daniel 2:46, the verb « to worship », in the original aramaic text (Syriac language), is translated as paying homage, depending on the context (סְגִד « çêgid » Strong’s Concordance – H5457 (which comes from the Aramaic word « çâgad « , which means, to prostrate oneself in homage and to worship)): « Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell down with his face to the ground before Daniel and paid homage (« çêgid ») to him. And he gave the order to offer a present and incense to him » (Daniel 2:46). This text is very interesting, because it shows that a subordinate human, Daniel, is honored by a human who is superior to him in office, King Nebuchadnezzar. It is quite obvious, according to the context that the verb « to worship » in its literal sense (like worshiping a god), would have been inappropriate and that the expression « pay homage » is entirely consistent with the context.
The verb to worship, translated from the Greek, is « proskynéô », as it appears in the text, at the beginning of the article, of Hebrews 1:6 (προσκυνέω proskynéō, pros-koo-neh’-o; from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (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) (Strong’s Concordance – G4352) (Strong’s Concordance – G4352). As with the word of Hebrew and Aramaic origin, it can have the meaning of exclusive worship to Jehovah God, or the meaning of bowing to pay homage to a human being. For example, Jesus Christ said at Matthew 4:10, regarding the exclusive worship to His Heavenly Father: « For it is written: ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship (« proskynéô »), and it is to him alone you must render sacred service’ » (Matthew 4:10). It is not difficult to understand, depending on the context, that this is the exclusive worship to Jehovah God, the Heavenly Father, with a sacred service. This is not a simple homage that one could pay to a human being, according this context.
However, there are other biblical quotes where this same Greek verb appears, regarding people paying homage and which, depending on the context, is not an act of worship to a god. Here are some biblical texts:
The narrative of Matthew chapter 2, mentions the astrologers rendering obeisance to the child Jesus: « After Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, look! astrologers from the East came to Jerusalem, 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 obeisance to him” (“proskynéô”) (…) When sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go make a careful search for the young child, and when you have found him, report back to me so that I too may go and do obeisance to him” (“proskynéô”) (…) And when they went into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and falling down, they did obeisance to him (“proskynéô”). They also opened their treasures and presented him with gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:1,2,8,11). According to the context of this biblical quote, the astrologers did not perform an act of worship to the child Jesus, as for a god, because Joseph and Mary, the parents in charge of this child, would not have accepted such a thing. It is indeed a simple homage to the child Jesus.
In Mark 15:19, it is written that the soldiers of Governor Pilate mocked Jesus Christ by pretending to pay homage to him as king, it is the same Greek verb « proskynéô », which is mentioned.
It is written in Luke (24:50-53), that the disciples paid homage to the resurrected Jesus Christ after his ascension: « Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. As he was blessing them, he was parted from them and taken up to heaven. And they did obeisance to him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple, praising God ».
In John (9:38), it is written that when a man was healed of his blindness, he paid homage to Jesus Christ: “He said: “I do put faith in him, Lord.” And he did obeisance to him » (« proskynéô »). In this case, the former blind man must have thanked Jesus Christ, maybe by bowing down before him. The narrative in the Gospel of Luke, shows how a man healed from leprosy came to render obeisance to Jesus Christ: « One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. And he fell facedown at Jesus’ feet, thanking him. Furthermore, he was a Samaritan. In reply Jesus said: “All ten were cleansed, were they not? Where, then, are the other nine? Did no one else turn back to give glory to God except this man of another nation?” » (Luke 17:15-18). It is written that he gave glory to God, giving thanks to Jesus Christ, bowing facedown at the feet of him. This man obviously paid homage to Christ, however, for him this act of thanks addressed to him, was a way of giving glory to his Heavenly Father (verse 18).
In Acts (10:25), it is written that Cornelius paid homage to Peter: « As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and did obeisance to him » (« proskynéô »). However, the apostle Peter pointed him out by answering that he was only his alter ego, and that therefore, he did not deserve Cornelius to fall at his feet, as he could have done in the presence of Christ, for example: “But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Rise; I too am just a man”” (Acts 10:26).
The last biblical example shows, in this case, that the apostle John, under the influence of emotion, bowed down in an inappropriate way before the angel who gave him the revelations, which indicated an act of worship as for a god, and not as a simple homage: « At that I fell down before his feet to worship him (“proskynéô”). But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who have the work of witnessing concerning Jesus. Worship God! (“proskynéô”) For the witness concerning Jesus is what inspires prophecy.” (…) Well I, John, was the one hearing and seeing these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship (“proskynéô”) at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things. But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! I am only a fellow slave of you and of your brothers the prophets and of those observing the words of this scroll. Worship God” (“proskynéô”) » (Apocalypse 19:10 ; 22:8,9). In both cases, the angel told him to worship God, while he mentions Christ as the inspiration of the prophecies, the Logos of God.
Given the information above, we can better understand the meaning of Hebrews 1:6, according to the King James Version (KJV)) Translation: « And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6 (KJV)). However, the Young’s Literal Translation renders this verse as follows: « And when again He may bring in the first-born to the world, He saith, `And let them bow before him — all messengers of God’ » (Hebrews 1:6. Young’s Literal Translation).
Thus, Hebrews 1:6 is often translated directly by the verb « to worship », which in fact has the meaning of paying homage or of prostrating oneself before Christ, according to the context. Moreover, the book of Revelation clearly shows that we must make this difference between worshiping God and paying homage to Christ. In Revelation 3:9, it is written that Jesus Christ announces that the enemies of one of the seven congregations would pay homage (« proskyneô ») to his disciples: « Look! I will make those from the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying—look! I will make them come and bow before your feet (« proskyneô ») and make them know that I have loved you”.
Therefore, Hebrews 1:6, is an invitation to pay homage, to render obeisance to Christ and not in the same way that one is to worship the Heavenly Father. It is only to Jehovah God, the Heavenly Father, that we must pray in an exclusive way of worship, through Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
We must only worship Jehovah God, the Heavenly Father, with an exclusive way: « Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship the One who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created” » (Apocalypse 4:9-11).
Jehovah God, the Heavenly Father, wants all intelligent creatures, both in heaven and on earth, to pay homage, to render obeisance to His Son Jesus Christ: « And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.” And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, and they were saying with a loud voice: “The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying: “To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.” The four living creatures were saying: “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshipped” (Apocalypse 5:9-14).
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The Basic Teachings of the Bible (Hebrews 6:1-3)
How to Pray to God (Matthew 6:5-13)
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Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
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