Adore
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Definition and Etymology:
The term "adore" is derived from the Latin word "adorare," which means "to worship" or "to honor." In a biblical context, adoration refers to the deep love, reverence, and worship directed towards God. It encompasses both the attitude of the heart and the outward expressions of worship.

Biblical Context:
Adoration is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting the relationship between God and His creation. It is an expression of the highest form of love and reverence that believers are called to offer to God. The act of adoration is often associated with worship, praise, and thanksgiving.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, adoration is frequently expressed through worship and praise. The Psalms, in particular, are rich with language of adoration. For example, Psalm 95:6 invites believers to worship: "Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." This verse highlights the physical posture of kneeling as an expression of adoration and submission to God.

The first commandment, found in Exodus 20:3 , underscores the exclusivity of adoration due to God: "You shall have no other gods before Me." This commandment establishes that adoration is reserved for God alone, rejecting idolatry and the worship of false gods.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, adoration is exemplified in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Magi's visit to the infant Jesus is a notable example of adoration. Matthew 2:11 states, "On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him." This act of worship by the Magi signifies recognition of Jesus' divine nature and worthiness of adoration.

Jesus Himself teaches about the nature of true worship in John 4:23-24 : "But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth." This passage emphasizes that adoration is not merely a physical act but a spiritual one, requiring sincerity and truthfulness.

Theological Significance:
Adoration is a vital aspect of the believer's relationship with God. It acknowledges God's supreme authority, holiness, and love. Through adoration, believers express their devotion, gratitude, and dependence on God. It is both a personal and communal act, as seen in individual prayers and corporate worship settings.

The Book of Revelation provides a glimpse of heavenly adoration, where celestial beings and redeemed saints worship God continuously. Revelation 4:10-11 describes this scene: "The twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and came to be.'"

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to cultivate a lifestyle of adoration, integrating it into daily life through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and participation in worship. Adoration can be expressed through singing, prayer, and acts of service, reflecting a heart fully devoted to God. It serves as a reminder of God's greatness and the believer's call to live in a manner that honors Him.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
To worship; to express reverence and homage. The forms of adoration among the Jews were putting off the shoes (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15), and prostration (Genesis 17:3; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 44:15, 17, 19; 46:6). To "kiss the Son" in Psalm 2:12 is to adore and worship him. (See Dan. 3:5, 6.) The word itself does not occur in Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to honor as deity or as divine.

2. (v. t.) To love in the highest degree; to regard with the utmost esteem and affection; to idolize.

3. (v. t.) To adorn.

Greek
4576. sebo -- to worship
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sebo Phonetic Spelling: (seb'-om-ahee) Short
Definition: I reverence, worship Definition: I reverence, worship, adore. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4576.htm - 7k

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... from 4314 , "towards" and , ""-- properly, to kiss the ground when prostrating before
a superior; to , ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4352.htm - 10k

4573. sebazomai -- to fear, spec. to have reverential awe
... to have reverential awe NASB Word Usage worshiped (1). worship. Middle voice from
a derivative of sebomai; to venerate, ie Adore -- worship. see GREEK sebomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4573.htm - 6k

2323. therapeuo -- to serve, cure
... From the same as therapon; to wait upon menially, ie (figuratively) to adore (God),
or (specially) to relieve (of disease) -- cure, heal, worship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2323.htm - 9k

Strong's Hebrew
7624. shebach -- to laud, praise
... praise. (Aramaic) corresponding to shabach; to adulate, ie Adore -- praise. see
HEBREW shabach. 7623b, 7624. shebach. 7625 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7624.htm - 6k
Library

O Come Let us Adore
... O come let us adore. tr., John Brownlie 6,6,8,6. Deute agalliasometha to kurio.
(Stichera Idiomela). I. O come let us adore. The Lord of all the earth,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/o come let us adore.htm

Thee Prostrate I Adore
... No. 48 Thee prostrate I adore. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Thee prostrate
I(adore (Adoro Te devote). St. Thomas Aquinas Translated ...
/.../the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 48 thee prostrate i.htm

The Father we Adore,
... GLORIA PATRIA. Hymn 104 The Father we adore,. John Newton 6,6,8,6. The Father we
adore,. And everlasting SON; The SPIRIT of his love and pow'r,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 104 the father we.htm

The God whom earth and heaven adore
... The God whom earth and heaven adore. LM 8,8,8,8. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,.
The God whom earth and heaven adore,. Be glory, as it was of old,. ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/the god whom earth and.htm

Come Ye People, Come Adore Him,
... Come ye people, come adore Him,. tr., John Brownlie 8,7,8,7. ... By the Emperor Leo VI.,
died 911 AD. I. Come ye people, come adore Him,. God in Holy Trinity; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/come ye people come adore.htm

Trinity. Thee Fount of Blessing we Adore!
... TRINITY. Thee Fount of blessing we adore! [129]1. Thee Fount of blessing
we adore! [130]2. O Father-eye, that hath so truly watch ...
/.../trinity thee fount of blessing.htm

Come, Ye People, Come, Adore Him,
... PENTECOST IV Come, ye people, come, adore Him,. 8,7,8,7 Deute laoi, ten trisupostaton
Theoteta proskunesomen. Come, ye people, come, adore Him,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/iv come ye people come.htm

Whether it was Becoming that the Magi Should Come to Adore Christ ...
... OF THE MANIFESTATION OF THE NEWLY BORN CHRIST (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether it was becoming
that the Magi should come to adore Christ and pay homage to Him? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was becoming that.htm

What was the First Cause of Making Images; of the True Likeness of ...
... But they fear lest their religion should be altogether vain and empty if they should
see nothing present which they may adore, and therefore they set up images ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap ii what was the first.htm

We have Heard the Wondrous Story
... Christ the risen Lord adorn. Let us worship and adore Him,. Let us now fall down
before Him. ... For the good that Thou hadst done; Come, upon the Cross adore Him,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/we have heard the wondrous.htm

Thesaurus
Adore (1 Occurrence)
... Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15), and prostration (Genesis 17:3; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 44:15,
17, 19; 46:6). To "kiss the Son" in Psalm 2:12 is to adore and worship him. ...
/a/adore.htm - 7k

Worship (332 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) To pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration;
to perform religious exercises in honor of; to adore; to venerate. ...
/w/worship.htm - 66k

Adoration

/a/adoration.htm - 20k

Glorify (49 Occurrences)
... vt) To make glorious in thought or with the heart, by ascribing glory to; to
acknowledge the excellence of; to render homage to; to magnify in worship; to adore...
/g/glorify.htm - 23k

Adoring (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp Adored (/); p. pr. & vb. n.) of Adore.
Multi-Version Concordance Adoring (1 Occurrence). Luke ...
/a/adoring.htm - 6k

Honor (240 Occurrences)
... or treat with honor, esteem, or respect; to revere; to treat with deference and
submission; when used of the Supreme Being, to reverence; to adore; to worship. ...
/h/honor.htm - 37k

Resources
What is adoration in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is a biblical theology of worship? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jesus a myth? Is Jesus just a copy of the pagan gods of other ancient religions? | GotQuestions.org

Adore: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Adore (1 Occurrence)

Song of Songs 1:4
Take me to you, and we will go after you: the king has taken me into his house. We will be glad and full of joy in you, we will give more thought to your love than to wine: rightly are they your lovers.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Adore

Related Terms

Adorn (13 Occurrences)

Adoration

Worship (332 Occurrences)

Noah (55 Occurrences)

Lips (199 Occurrences)

Praising (35 Occurrences)

Calves (34 Occurrences)

Adore (1 Occurrence)

Cured (62 Occurrences)

Zoan (7 Occurrences)

Gospels

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Seeing (442 Occurrences)

Apocryphal

Adoration and Worship
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