Lexical Summary
latreuó: To serve, to worship
Original Word:λατρεύω
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:latreuó
Pronunciation:lah-treh'-o
Phonetic Spelling:(lat-ryoo'-o)
KJV: serve, do the service, worship(-per)
NASB:serve, offer, served, service, serving, worship, worshiper
Word Origin:[from latris "a hired menial"]
1. to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
serve, do the service, worship
From latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), i.e. Render religious homage -- serve, do the service, worship(-per).
HELPS Word-studies
3000latreúō (fromlatris, "someonehired to accomplish a technical task becausequalified") – properly, to render technical, acceptable service because specificallyqualified (equipped).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom latris (a hired servant)
Definitionto serve
NASB Translationoffer (1), serve (15), served (1), service (1), serving (1), worship (1), worshiper (1), worshipers (1).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3000: λατρεύωλατρεύω; future
λατρεύσω; 1 aorist
ἐλάτρευσα; (
λάτρις a hireling, Latin
latro in
Ennius and
Plautus;
λάτρον hire); in Greek writings a.
to serve for hire;
b. universally,to serve, minister to, either gods or men, and used alike of slaves and of freemen; in the N. T.to render religious service or homage, to worship (Hebrewעָבַד,Deuteronomy 6:13;Deuteronomy 10:12;Joshua 24:15); in a broad sense,λατρεύεινΘεῷ:Matthew 4:10 andLuke 4:8, (afterDeuteronomy 6:13);Acts 7:7;Acts 24:14;Acts 27:23;Hebrews 9:14;Revelation 7:15;Revelation 22:3; of the worship of idols,Acts 7:42;Romans 1:25 (Exodus 20:5;Exodus 23:24;Ezekiel 20:32). Phrases relating tothe manner of worshipping are these:Θεῷ (soRG)λατρεύεινπενυματι (dative of instrumentality), with the spirit or soul,Philippians 3:3, butLTTrWH have correctly restoredπενυαμτιΘεοῦ, i. e. prompted by, filled with, the Spirit of God, so that the dative of the person (τῷΘεῷ) is suppressed;ἐντῷπνεύματιμουἐντῷεὐαγγελίῳ, in my spirit in delivering the glad tidings,Romans 1:9;τῷΘεῷἐνκαθαράσυνειδήσει,2 Timothy 1:3;μετάαἰδοῦςκαίεὐλαβείας or (soLTTrWH)μετάεὐλαβείαςκαίδέους,Hebrews 12:28;ἐνὁσιότητικαίδικαιοσύνη,Luke 1:74; (without the dativeΘεῷ)νηστείαιςκαίδεήσεσι,Luke 2:37;λατρεύειν, absolutely,to worship God (cf.Winer's Grammar, 593 (552)),Acts 26:7. in the strict sense; "to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship": absolutely,Hebrews 9:9;Hebrews 10:2; specifically, of the priests,to officiate, to discharge the sacred office: with a dative of the sacred thing to which the service is rendered,Hebrews 8:5;Hebrews 13:10. (Euripides, others.)
Topical Lexicon
Definition and ScopeThe verb λατρεύω occurs twenty-one times in the Greek New Testament and always relates to rendering religious service. It ranges from formal temple ministry (Hebrews 8:5) to the continual life-devotion of believers (Philippians 3:3), reaching its climax in the eternal worship of the redeemed (Revelation 22:3).
Old Testament Foundations
In the Greek Septuagint λατρεύω regularly translates Hebrew avad (“serve, worship”). From Israel’s call out of Egypt—“when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain” (Exodus 3:12)—the word denotes covenant loyalty expressed in sacrificial service. New Testament writers draw on this background to affirm that the God who once received earthly temple ministry now receives spiritual service through Jesus Christ.
Exclusive Devotion: Worship versus Idolatry
1. The first two uses in the Gospels quoteDeuteronomy 6:13: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only” (Matthew 4:10;Luke 4:8). This sets an absolute boundary: λατρεύω belongs to God alone.
2. Paul describes the pagan inversion: “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).
3. Stephen warns that Israel’s fathers “turned away and gave themselves over to the worship of the host of heaven” (Acts 7:42), showing that idolatry is not merely Gentile but a perennial human temptation.
Christ, the Mediator of Acceptable Worship
Hebrews develops the theme that only through the redemptive work of Christ is worship acceptable:
• “How much more will the blood of Christ… cleanse our consciences from dead works, so that we may serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).
• The former regulations were “only a matter of food and drink and ceremonial washings—external regulations applied until the time of reformation” (Hebrews 9:10). These pointed forward to the perfect service inaugurated by Jesus.
Because of the cross, what was restricted to Levitical priests is opened to all who draw near “by a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20).
The Priesthood of All Believers
Philippians 3:3 identifies the church as the true circumcision, “who worship by the Spirit of God, glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” Paul’s own example underscores continual priestly service: “For God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness” (Romans 1:9; cf.2 Timothy 1:3). Similarly, Paul before Felix testifies, “I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way” (Acts 24:14).
Worship Expressed in Daily Life and Mission
•Luke 1:74 looks forward to a redeemed people “to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness.”
• Anna “never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:37), illustrating that devoted service transcends gender and age.
• On a storm-tossed ship Paul can still say, “the God whose I am and whom I serve” (Acts 27:23), showing that worship is not confined to sacred spaces.
•Acts 26:7 notes Israel’s tribes “earnestly serve God night and day,” an intensity now realized in the church’s missionary zeal.
Corporate Worship with Reverence and Awe
“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). The exhortation links gospel grace (“receiving”) with liturgical response (“offer”), grounding gathered worship in the finished work of Christ while requiring heartfelt devotion.Hebrews 13:10 reminds believers that their altar is Christ Himself, conferring priestly privilege yet demanding holiness.
Eschatological Fulfillment
The final two appearances of λατρεύω lift the reader’s gaze to eternity:
• “For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple” (Revelation 7:15).
• “There will no longer be any curse… His servants will serve Him” (Revelation 22:3).
Here the earthly shadows give way to unending, unobstructed service. The saints’ worship is undivided, their access immediate, and their joy complete.
Practical Implications for Ministry Today
1. Worship is whole-life service; vocation, witness, and gathered praise are unified acts offered to God alone.
2. Any form of idolatry—materialism, self-exaltation, or syncretism—contradicts the exclusive allegiance demanded by λατρεύω.
3. All ministry flows from the cleansing accomplished by Christ; therefore, confidence rests not in ritual precision but in His mediating work.
4. Corporate gatherings should cultivate reverence, yet they prefigure heavenly joy; liturgy is both solemn and celebratory.
5. Suffering and mission contexts, like Paul’s voyage or imprisonment, are arenas for worship, proving that λατρεύω is resilient and missionary in nature.
Summary
Strong’s Greek 3000 portrays worship as covenantal service rendered exclusively to the living God, purified through Christ’s sacrifice, empowered by the Spirit, expressed in every sphere of life, and perfected in the age to come.
Forms and Transliterations
ελάτρευον ελατρεύσαμεν ελατρευσαν ελάτρευσαν ἐλάτρευσαν ελάτρευσας ελάτρευσεν λατρευειν λατρεύειν λατρεύεις λατρεύετε λατρευόμεν λατρεύομεν λατρευον λατρεύον λατρεῦον λατρευοντα λατρεύοντα λατρευοντας λατρεύοντας λατρευοντες λατρεύοντες λατρευουσα λατρεύουσα λατρεύουσι λατρευουσιν λατρεύουσιν λατρεύσαι λατρεύσατε λατρεύσει λατρευσεις λατρεύσεις λατρεύσετε λατρεύσης λατρεύσητε λατρεύσομεν λατρεύσουσί λατρευσουσιν λατρεύσουσιν λατρεύσουσίν λατρεύσω λατρεύσωμεν λατρεύσωσι λατρεύσωσί λατρευω λατρεύω λατρευωμεν λατρεύωμεν λαφύρων λαχανείας elatreusan elátreusan latreuein latreúein latreuo latreuō latreúo latreúō latreuomen latreuōmen latreúomen latreúōmen latreuon latreûon latreuonta latreúonta latreuontas latreúontas latreuontes latreúontes latreuousa latreúousa latreuousin latreúousin latreuseis latreúseis latreusousin latreúsousin latreúsousínLinks
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