Topical Bible: Obeisance

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Meaning:
Obeisance refers to a gesture of respect, submission, or reverence, often demonstrated through bowing or prostration. In biblical contexts, it signifies an acknowledgment of authority or divinity, and it is a physical expression of worship, honor, or allegiance.

Biblical Context and Usage:
In the Bible, obeisance is frequently depicted as a physical act of bowing down or prostrating oneself before a person of higher status or before God. This act is a visible demonstration of humility and recognition of the other's authority or holiness.

Old Testament Examples:
1. Abraham and the Three Visitors: In Genesis 18:2, Abraham shows obeisance to the three visitors by bowing low to the ground. "And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground." This act of obeisance reflects Abraham's recognition of their divine nature and his respect for them.

2. Joseph and His Brothers: In Genesis 42:6, Joseph's brothers show obeisance to him, fulfilling his earlier dreams. "Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground." This act signifies their submission to Joseph's authority, albeit unknowingly.

3. David and Saul: In 1 Samuel 24:8, David shows obeisance to King Saul, despite Saul's pursuit to kill him. "Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, 'My lord the king!' When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground." David's act of obeisance demonstrates his respect for Saul's position as the Lord's anointed king.

New Testament Examples:
1. The Magi and Jesus: In Matthew 2:11, the Magi show obeisance to the young Jesus. "On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Their act of obeisance signifies their recognition of Jesus' kingship and divinity.

2. The Disciples and Jesus: In Matthew 14:33, after Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, the disciples show obeisance to Him. "Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God!'" This act of obeisance is an acknowledgment of Jesus' divine authority and power.

Theological Significance:
Obeisance in the Bible is not merely a cultural or social gesture but carries deep theological significance. It is an outward expression of an inward attitude of reverence, submission, and worship. In the biblical narrative, obeisance is often directed towards God or His representatives, highlighting the importance of recognizing divine authority and the proper response of humility and worship.

Cultural and Historical Context:
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, obeisance was a common practice to show respect and submission to kings, leaders, and deities. The biblical accounts reflect this cultural practice, yet they also elevate it to a spiritual act when directed towards God, emphasizing the unique relationship between the Creator and His creation.

Conclusion:
While the act of obeisance is culturally rooted, its biblical application transcends mere tradition, serving as a profound expression of faith and devotion. Through obeisance, believers demonstrate their acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and their commitment to His will.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Homage or reverence to any one (Genesis 37:7; 43:28).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Obedience.

2. (n.) A manifestation of obedience; an expression of difference or respect; homage; a bow; a courtesy.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

OBEISANCE

o-ba'-sans: It is used 9 times in the King James Version in the phrase "made (or did) obeisance" as a rendering of the reflexive form of (shachah), and denotes the bow or curtsey indicative of deference and respect. The same form of the verb is sometimes translated "to bow one's self" when it expresses the deferential attitude of one person to another (Genesis 33:6, 7, etc.). Occasionally the vow of homage or fealty to a king on the part of a subject is suggested. In Joseph's dream his brother's sheaves made obeisance to his sheaf (Genesis 43:28; compare also 2 Samuel 15:5 2 Chronicles 24:17). But in a large number of instances the verb denotes the prostrate posture of the worshipper in the presence of Deity, and is generally rendered, "to worship" in the King James Version. In all probability this was the original significance of the word (Genesis 24:26, etc.). Obeisance (= obedience) originally signified the vow of obedience made by a vassal to his lord or a slave to his master, but in time denoted the act of bowing as a token of respect.

T. Lewis

Greek

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... Verb Transliteration: proskuneo Phonetic Spelling: (pros-koo-neh'-o) Short Definition:
I worship Definition: I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4352.htm - 10k

Strong's Hebrew

7812. shachah -- to bow down
... ie Prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God) -- bow (self) down,
crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence ...
/hebrew/7812.htm - 6k

Library

The Recipient of Prayer in Its Four Moods
... Should anyone, however who believes that prayer ought to be made to Christ himself,
confused by the sense of the expression make obeisance, confront us with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter x the recipient of.htm

Chapter xlii
... people of the land. Now the brethren of Joseph came and did obeisance before
him with their faces to the ground. We are made aware ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlii.htm

The Trials and visions of Devout Youth
... we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright;
and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the trials and visions of.htm

Chapter xxxvii
... sheaves in the midst of the field, and, look, my sheaf rose up, and even remained
standing, and, look, your sheaves gathered around it and made obeisance to my ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvii.htm

The Testament of Zebulun Concerning Compassion and Mercy.
... For when they came into Egypt they were unloosed by the servants of Joseph before
the gate, and so made obeisance to Joseph after the fashion of Pharaoh. ...
/.../vi the testament of zebulun concerning.htm

Joash
... Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to
the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.'"2 Chronicles 24:2, 17. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/joash.htm

On Kings.
... Even this, however, will not suffice. How, he urges further, did Saul
recognise (what appeared), and do obeisance? Well, Saul did ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on kings.htm

As we Allege, However, that He Has Fallen into Confusion in ...
... to bow down to the heaven and the angels in it, such a practice is not at all Jewish,
but is in violation of Judaism, as it also is to do obeisance to sun, moon ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter viii as we allege.htm

God Distinguished from Idols, that He May be the Exclusive Object ...
... 10), there was no question of latria. For all that Satan asked was
prosku`nesis (obeisance). In like manners when John is rebuked ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 12 god distinguished from.htm

Ephesians ii. 3-Jan
... one is actually raised, [220] excepting that inasmuch as as the Head hath risen,
we also are raised, just as in the history, when Jacob did obeisance, his wife ...
/.../homily iv ephesians ii 3-jan.htm

Thesaurus

Obeisance (45 Occurrences)
...OBEISANCE. ... In Joseph's dream his brother's sheaves made obeisance to his sheaf
(Genesis 43:28; compare also 2 Samuel 15:5 2 Chronicles 24:17). ...
/o/obeisance.htm - 22k

Prostrated (29 Occurrences)
... the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to
the earth, and did obeisance. (See JPS NAS NIV). 1 Samuel ...
/p/prostrated.htm - 15k

Boweth (53 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:26 And the man boweth, and doth obeisance to Jehovah, (YLT). ... Exodus
34:8 And Moses hasteth, and boweth to the earth, and doth obeisance, (YLT). ...
/b/boweth.htm - 22k

Symphony (3 Occurrences)
... ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery,
the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the ...
/s/symphony.htm - 8k

Reverence (42 Occurrences)
... disposition to revere; veneration. 2. (n.) The act of revering; a token
of respect or veneration; an obeisance. 3. (n.) That which ...
/r/reverence.htm - 21k

Abed'nego (14 Occurrences)
... have not made of thee, O king, 'any' regard; thy gods they are not serving, and
to the golden image thou hast raised up -- are not making obeisance.' (See RSV). ...
/a/abed'nego.htm - 10k

Nebuchadnez'zar (55 Occurrences)
... Daniel 2:46 Then hath king Nebuchadnezzar fallen on his face, and to Daniel he hath
done obeisance, and present, and sweet things, he hath said to pour out to ...
/n/nebuchadnez'zar.htm - 24k

Bowing (35 Occurrences)
... Esther 3:2 and all servants of the king, who 'are' in the gate of the king, are
bowing and doing obeisance to Haman, for so hath the king commanded for him ...
/b/bowing.htm - 19k

Homage (51 Occurrences)
... a sovereign. 2. (n.) Respect or reverential regard; deference; especially,
respect paid by external action; obeisance. 3. (n.) Reverence ...
/h/homage.htm - 21k

Falleth (119 Occurrences)
... 5:14 And He saith, 'No, for I 'am' Prince of Jehovah's host; now I have come;' and
Joshua falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith to Him ...
/f/falleth.htm - 37k

Resources

What does the Bible say about honor? | GotQuestions.org

What is the image of the beast? | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

Obeisance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Obeisance (45 Occurrences)

Genesis 24:26
And the man boweth, and doth obeisance to Jehovah,
(YLT)

Genesis 24:48
and I bow, and do obeisance before Jehovah, and I bless Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, who hath led me in the true way to receive the daughter of my lord's brother for his son.
(YLT)

Genesis 37:7
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 37:9
And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 43:28
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 4:31
and the people believe when they hear that Jehovah hath looked after the sons of Israel, and that He hath seen their affliction; and they bow and do obeisance.
(YLT)

Exodus 12:28
And the people bow and do obeisance, and the sons of Israel go and do as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron; so have they done.
(YLT)

Exodus 18:7
And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Exodus 34:8
And Moses hasteth, and boweth to the earth, and doth obeisance,
(YLT)

Numbers 22:31
And Jehovah uncovereth the eyes of Balaam, and he seeeth the messenger of Jehovah standing in the way, and his drawn sword in his hand, and he boweth and doth obeisance, to his face;
(YLT)

Joshua 5:14
And He saith, 'No, for I 'am' Prince of Jehovah's host; now I have come;' and Joshua falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith to Him, 'What is my Lord speaking unto His servant?'
(YLT)

1 Samuel 24:8
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV)

1 Samuel 28:14
He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man comes up. He is covered with a robe." Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
(WEB ASV YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 1:2
it happened on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 9:6
Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. David said, "Mephibosheth." He answered, "Behold, your servant!"
(WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 9:8
He did obeisance, and said, "What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?"
(WEB ASV RSV)

2 Samuel 14:4
When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king!"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 14:22
Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."
(WEB ASV YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 15:5
It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Samuel 16:4
Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that pertains to Mephibosheth is yours." Ziba said, "I do obeisance. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king."
(WEB ASV RSV)

2 Samuel 24:20
Araunah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him. Then Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
(See RSV)

1 Kings 1:16
Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king said, "What would you like?"
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Kings 1:31
Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever!"
(WEB ASV YLT RSV)

1 Kings 1:53
So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."
(WEB ASV RSV)

1 Chronicles 21:21
As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
(See RSV)

1 Chronicles 29:20
And David saith to all the assembly, 'Bless, I pray you, Jehovah your God;' and all the assembly bless Jehovah, God of their fathers, and bow and do obeisance to Jehovah, and to the king.
(YLT RSV)

2 Chronicles 24:17
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Chronicles 29:28
And all the assembly are doing obeisance, and the singers singing, and the trumpeters blowing; the whole 'is' till the completion of the burnt-offering.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 29:29
And at the completion of the offering up bowed have the king and all those found with him, and do obeisance.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 29:30
And Hezekiah the king saith, and the princes, to the Levites to give praise to Jehovah in the words of David, and of Asaph the seer, and they praise -- unto joy, and they bow, and do obeisance.
(YLT)

Nehemiah 8:6
and Ezra blesseth Jehovah, the great God, and all the people answer, 'Amen, Amen,' with lifting up of their hands, and they bow and do obeisance to Jehovah -- faces to the earth.
(YLT)

Esther 3:2
and all servants of the king, who 'are' in the gate of the king, are bowing and doing obeisance to Haman, for so hath the king commanded for him; and Mordecai doth not bow nor do obeisance.
(YLT RSV)

Esther 3:5
And Haman seeth that Mordecai is not bowing and doing obeisance to him, and Haman is full of fury,
(YLT RSV)

Job 1:20
And Job riseth, and rendeth his robe, and shaveth his head, and falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance,
(YLT)

Daniel 2:46
Then hath king Nebuchadnezzar fallen on his face, and to Daniel he hath done obeisance, and present, and sweet things, he hath said to pour out to him.
(YLT)

Daniel 3:5
at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up:
(YLT)

Daniel 3:6
and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, in that hour he is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'
(YLT)

Daniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the peoples are hearing the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and all kinds of music, falling down are all the peoples, nations and languages, doing obeisance to the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath raised up.
(YLT)

Daniel 3:10
Thou, O king, hast made a decree that every man who doth hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, doth fall down and do obeisance to the golden image;
(YLT)

Daniel 3:11
and whoso doth not fall down and do obeisance, is cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
(YLT)

Daniel 3:12
There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the work of the province of Babylon -- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, these men have not made of thee, O king, 'any' regard; thy gods they are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up -- are not making obeisance.'
(YLT)

Daniel 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and said to them, 'Is 'it' a laid plan, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego -- my gods ye are not serving, and to the golden image that I have raised up ye are not doing obeisance?
(YLT)

Daniel 3:15
Now, lo, ye are ready, so that at the time that ye hear the voice of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sackbut, the psaltery, and the symphony, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and do obeisance to the image that I have made! -- and lo, ye do no obeisance -- in that hour ye are cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; who is that God who doth deliver you out of my hands?'
(YLT)

Daniel 3:18
And lo -- not! be it known to thee, O king, that thy gods we are not serving, and to the golden image thou hast raised up we do no obeisance.'
(YLT)

Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar hath answered and hath said, 'Blessed 'is' the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who hath sent His messenger, and hath delivered His servants who trusted on Him, and the word of the king changed, and gave up their bodies that they might not serve nor do obeisance to any god except to their own God.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Obeisance

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