[B-Greek] PROSKUNEW

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Wed Oct 8 09:09:14 EDT 2003


At 10:42 PM -0500 10/7/03, Hammond wrote:
>Is PROSKUNEW made up of two words, PROS (meaning toward) and KUNE (meaning
>?) with W being the first person singular? I have heard the explanation of
>the word originating from a Hebrew word meaning "to bow" or "to pay homage
>to" and that according to Moulton and Milligan reference to the use of
>this word in a letter of a slave performing service to a master (maybe
>that is what is missing in most definitions, that worship is really
>referring to serving with the attitude of obeisance). Again, realizing
>that context is the key to choosing the definition that most closely fits
>that context, if it is two words, understanding the second word root KUNE
>might help in choosing the definition.

The verb derives from PROS and KUNEW; the latter verb means "to kiss" and
although not found in the GNT is well exemplified in older Greek. The verb
PROSKUNEW is used of gestures of reverence in 5th century B.C. accounts of
practice in the non-Greek cultures to the east, then becomes a regular word
for "worship" BDAG gives: "Freq. used to designate the custom of
prostrating oneself before persons and kissing their feet or the hem of
their garment, the ground, etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of
their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or someth. holy.) "

While the Greek word may have been used to translate a Hebrew word into
Greek, there's no evidence whatsoever that the Greek word itself derives
from Hebrew.
-- 

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/



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