προσκυνέω, προσκύνω; imperfect προσεκύνουν; future προσκυνήσω; 1 aorist προσεκύνησα; from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; the Sept. very often for äÄùÀÑúÇÌçÂåÈä (to prostrate oneself); properly, to kiss the hand to (toward) one, in token of reverence: Herodotus 1, 134; (cf. K. F. Hermann, Gottesdienstl. Alterthmer d. Griech. § 21; especially Hoelemann, Die Biblical Gestalt. d. Anbetung in his ’Bibelstudien’ i., 106ff); hence, among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence ("to make a ’salam’"); Latinveneror (Nepos, Conon. 3, 3),adoro (Pliny, h. n. 28, 5, 25; Suetonius, Vitell. 2); hence, in the N. T. by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. It is used a. of homage shown to men of superior rank: absolutely, Mat 20:20 (the Jewish high-priests are spoken of in Josephus, b. j. 4, 5, 2 as προσκυνούμενοι); πεσών ἐπί τούς πόδας προσεκύνησεν, Act 10:25; τίνι (according to the usage of later writings; cf. Winers Grammar, 36, 210 (197); (Buttmann, § 131, 4); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 463), Mat 2:2; Mat 2:8; Mat 8:2; Mat 9:18; Mat 14:33; Mat 15:25; (); (R G); Mar 5:6 (here WH Tr marginal reading have the accusative); ; Joh 9:38; with πεσών preceding, Mat 2:11; Mat 4:9; ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν τίνος, Rev 3:9; (it may perhaps be mentioned that some would bring in here Heb 11:21 προσεκύνησεν ἐπί τό ἄκρον τῆς ῤάβδου αὐτοῦ, explaining it by the (Egyptian) custom of bowing upon the magistrate’s staff of office in taking an oath; cf. Chabas, Melanges Egypt. III. i., p. 80, cf. p. 91f; but see below).

b. of homage rendered to God and the ascended Christ, to heavenly beings, and to demons: absolutely (our to worship) (cf. Winer’s Grammar, 593 (552)), Joh 4:20; Joh 12:20; Act 8:27; Act 24:11; Heb 11:21 (cf. above); Rev 11:1; πίπτειν καί προσκυνεῖν, Rev 5:14; τίνι, Joh 4:21; Joh 4:23; Act 7:43; Heb 1:6; Rev 4:10; Rev 7:11; Rev 11:16; Rev 14:7; Rev 16:2; Rev 19:4; Rev 19:20; Rev 22:8; Rev 13:4 G L T Tr WH (twice (the 2nd time WH text only)); G T Tr WH text; Rev 20:4 Rec.; πεσών ἐπί πρόσωπον προσκυνήσει τῷ Θεῷ, 1Co 14:25; πίπτειν ἐπί τά πρόσωπα καί προσκυνεῖν τῷ Θεῷ, Rev 11:16; preceded by πίπτειν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ποδῶν τίνος, Rev 19:10. in accordance with the usage of the older and better writings with τινα or τί (cf. Matthiae, § 412): Mat 4:10; Luk 4:8; Rev 9:20; Rev 13:12; Rev 14:9; Rev 14:11; also Rev 13:4 (Rec. twice; (WH marginal reading once)), 8 (where Rec. dative), 15 R L WH marginal reading; 20:4a (where Rec. dative), 4b (where Relz dative); Luk 24:52 R G L Tr brackets WH reject; (the Sept. also connects the word far more frequent with the dative than with the accusative (cf. Hoelemann as above, p. 116ff)); ἐνώπιον τίνος, Luk 4:7; Rev 15:4.