In the NWT, every time the Greek word "proskuneo" is used in reference to God, it is translated as "worship"?

Question

(Rev 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4, Jn 4:20, etc). Every time "proskuneo" is used in reference to Jesus, it is translated as "obeisance" (Mt 14:33, 28:9, 28:17, Lk 24:52, Heb 1:6, etc), even though it is the same word in the Greek (see Gr-Engl Interlinear). Especially compare the Greek word "prosekunhsan" used with reference to God in Rev 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, and 19:4 and used with reference to Christ in Mt 14:33, 28:9, and 28:17. What is the reason for this inconsistency? If the NWT was consistent in translating "proskuneo" as "worship", how would the verses above referring to Christ read? Please Jehovahs's Witnesses, can you explain?

Answer 1

As a trained Bible translator I can tell you why "proskuneo" is translated worship when referring to God and obeisance when referring to Jesus, the reason is quite simple, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is biased. It is biased to promote a view of Jesus as an inferior created being unworthy of worship by those whom He created in His own image.

It is a deliberate attempt to wrest the Scriptures, to promote a teaching worthy of Satan himself.



The Kingdom Interlinear Translation (a Watchtower Bible and Tract Society publication) does translate the word "proskuneo" consistently as worship, directly under the Greek word but by the time it travels to the main body of text it is translated inconsistently as either worship or obeisance.



It is always good to read the translators notes which reveal why a particular stance was undertaken to translate in a particular way, for example, the NASB is a word for word translation as much as the translation process allows, this can result in a less flowing style of writing but the accuracy is to the fore, another translation such as the Message (which is not actually a translation but a paraphrase) sacrifices accuracy in order to convey thought for thought. All Bibles have these commentators notes and to some people (me for instance) it is interesting.



That the NWT states that it's aim is to provide a flowing literal word for word translation as far as is possible, is patently not true, the word obeisance is used to convey an inferior form of worship, something the Greek does not support. It can easily be seen that the translators have not been true to their original premise and have allowed a doctrinal bias to enter their work.

As a trained translator I hold little esteem for their work.



A chart showing Bible variations and the translators aims can be found at;

http://www.apbrown2.net/web/TranslationComparisonChart.htm



I am currently reading an NSAB / Message parallel Bible, from one extreme to the other or as my "principles of Bible translation" teacher would say, "From good to not so much as off the wall as sliding down the wall and making a mess on my nice new carpet!"

I would not recommend the Message to be read by itself.



My credentials as a trained Bible translator are from New Tribes Mission, the second largest Bible translation group in the world and the largest "unreached groups" missionary society.



I do know of what I speak, I have not posted opinion or dogmatic bias but simple facts.

Answer 2

Proskuneo Meaning

Answer 3

You state the word "proskuneo" as a means to point out what you perceive to be an inconsistency in the NWT, yet you don't provide the definition of the word for those that aren't familiar with the original Greek.



proskunevw: from (4314) and a probable derivative of (2965) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand);



Modern Definition-to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank to the Jewish high priests, to God, to Christ, to heavenly beings, to demons

(Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance)



According to Strong's, the KJV INCONSISTENTLY renders "proskuneo" seven times as words other than obeisance or worship.



Rather than take one word out of one scripture, why not do real Bible research and consider the entire text, within context of the discussion that was taking place, to get the accurate meaning and understanding of the use of the original Greek word?

Answer 4

Are you silly or something, you are not allowed to worship Christ so where God said to worship Christ, He must have meant something else so the WBTS needed to change God's word to make it agree with their truth.



Up until the 1971 re-translation of God's word it was perfectly OK to worship Christ according to the NWT, but they had stopped worshiping Christ a few years earlier, it just took a few years to see that the old translation needed to be re-translated as it was not matching up to the teachings of the WBTS so it was changed to agree with their new teachings.



But they would never change God's word unless it was wrong, so it is only where God's word is wrong that they made changes, like adding the made-up name Jehovah to the NT where it is not shown in the Greek they are supposed to have translated from?????

Answer 5

For somebody that wants to read an unbiased use of the word worship, or proskeneo, in the Bible, please go to the following websites:



http://searchforbibletruths.blogspot.com/2010/11/worship.html



http://www.jehovah.to/xlation/wo.html



http://examiningthetrinity.blogspot.com/2009/08/worship-as-used-in-scripture.html



http://onlytruegod.org/defense/proskyneo_worship.htm

Answer 6

The main understanding in the New Testament is “obeisance”. (see Thayer)

It can also mean worship when directed to Jehovah.



G4352 προσκυνέω proskuneō Thayer Definition:

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence

2) among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication

3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank

3a1) to the Jewish high priests 3a2) to God 3a3) to Christ 3a4) to heavenly beings 3a5) to demons



[Compare definition 3a1) to Hebrew 3:1]



In 1611 when the KJV was translated, the word “worship” reflected Proskuneō perfectly, basically meaning “to bow down” and was directed to men and God. (See “Truth in Translation” page 29)



The word “Worship” in the Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English is not limited to the narrow understanding people apply to it today. (As compared to my 1985 The American heritage Dictionary)



In all usages of the word ‘worship’ in 1611 & 1828, you had to choose one of its two basic definitions –

1) That to do with ‘civil honor’ (see * above) (Matt 18:26 KJV & Rev 3:9 KJV)

2) The religious honor to be directed solely to Jehovah. (Matt 4:10)



According to the book “Truth in Translation” by Jason BeDuhn:



“When the word [Proskuneō] is used to refer to the actions of [non-believers] most translations stick to the literal meaning of kneeling or bowing. But when the disciples of Jesus are the actors, suddenly we see “worship” everywhere.”



“In the cultural context of the events, the gesture [to bow down] makes perfect sense. In the ancient world, one bows to power. Most translation choose to import the modern meaning of “worship” into the passage(s) because of the recognition by the disciples that they are in the presence of “a son of God.” This title was used of someone especially chosen and protected by God, and bestowed with power by him – especially a king. The idea was used of Solomon (2 Sam. 7:14) . . . By misreading the words used of Jesus by the disciples, by wrongly making them in light of the Christian doctrine about Jesus’ divinity as “the Son of God”, most translations add to the text the false idea that the disciples are depicted worshiping Jesus, when in fact, . . . they are reacting to his evident powers with awe.” (Also see Acts 2:22)



This creates a circular reasoning. “I believe Jesus is God, so to bow down to him must be worship, thus translating [Proskuneō] ‘bow down’ as worship. Then reading that people worshiped Jesus proves to us that Jesus is God. So bow down must be worship, worship must mean Jesus is God . . . (on and on and on)”



When Modern Bibles translate this word as ‘worship’ when applied to Jesus, this is based on the ‘interpretation’, of the trinity, not according to historical and scriptural context.



Thus the honest or ‘unbiased’ translation of Proskuneō in today’s English, when applied to Jesus is ‘obeisance’ the basic meaning of the word and not ‘worship’. ~ “most translations add to the text the false idea that the disciples are depicted worshiping Jesus,”

Answer 7

Well all the bibles are different. They are all inconsistent, sad but true. I have a few different versions. Their is not one true bible they are all different. Their really is no gospel truth its a myth