Worship meaning of the word

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Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. It may involve one or more of activities such as veneration, adoration, praise, and praying. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God or gods.^{[citation needed]} An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honoring.^[1]

Etymology[edit]

The word is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning to venerate «worship, honour shown to an object,^[2] which has been etymologised as «worthiness or worth-ship»—to give, at its simplest, worth to something.^[3]

Worship in various religions[edit]

Buddhism[edit]

Worship in Buddhism may take innumerable forms given the doctrine of skillful means. Worship is evident in Buddhism in such forms as: guru yoga, mandala, thanka, yantra yoga, the discipline of the fighting monks of Shaolin, panchamrita, mantra recitation, tea ceremony, ganacakra, amongst others. Buddhist Devotion is an important part of the practice of most Buddhists. According to a spokesman of the Sasana Council of Burma, devotion to Buddhist spiritual practices inspires devotion to the Triple Gem.^[2] Most Buddhists use ritual in pursuit of their spiritual aspirations. In Buddhism, puja (Sanskrit & Pali: pūjā) are expressions of «honour, worship and devotional attention.»^[2] Acts of puja include bowing, making offerings and chanting. These devotional acts are generally performed daily at home (either in the morning or evening or both) as well as during communal festivals and Uposatha days at a temple.

Meditation (samādhi) is a central form of worship in Buddhism. This practice is focused on the third step of the Eightfold Path that ultimately leads to self awakening, also known as enlightenment. Meditation promotes self-awareness and exploration of the mind and spirit. Traditionally, Buddhist meditation had combined samatha (the act of stopping and calming oneself) and vipasyana (seeing clearly within) to create a complete mind and body experience. By stopping one’s everyday activities and focusing on something simple, the mind can open and expand enough to reach a spiritual level. By practicing the step of vipasyana, one does not achieve the final stage of awareness, but rather approaches one step closer. Mindful meditation teaches one to stop reacting quickly to thoughts and external objects that present themselves, but rather to peacefully hold the thought without immediately responding to it. Although in traditional Buddhist faith, enlightenment is the desired end goal of meditation, it is more of a cycle in a literal sense that helps individuals better understand their minds. For example, meditation leads to understanding, leading to kindness, leading to peace, etc.^[4]

Christianity[edit]

In Christianity, a church service is a formalized period of communal worship, often but not exclusively occurring on Sunday (or on Saturday in the case of those churches practicing seventh-day Sabbatarianism). The church service is the gathering together of Christians to be taught the «Word of God» (the Holy Bible) and encouraged in their faith. Technically, the «church» in «church service» refers to the gathering of the faithful rather than to the building in which the event takes place. In Christianity, worship is reverent honor and homage paid to God. The New Testament uses various words to express the concept of worship. The word proskuneo — «to worship» — means to bow down (to Gods or to kings).^[2]

Mass is the central act of divine worship in the Catholic Church.^[5] The Congregation for Divine Worship at the Vatican publishes a Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy.^[6] Roman Catholic devotions are «external practices of piety» which are not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church but are part of the popular spiritual practices of Catholics.^[2] They do not become part of liturgical worship, even if conducted in a Catholic church, in a group, in the presence of a priest.

Anglican devotions are private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians to promote spiritual growth and communion with God. Among members of the Anglican Communion, private devotional habits vary widely, depending on personal preference and on affiliation with low-church or high-church parishes.

Adoration versus veneration[edit]

The New Testament uses various words translatable as «worship». The word proskuneo — «to worship» — means to bow down to Gods or kings.^[7]

Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Orthodoxy make a technical distinction between two different concepts:

• adoration or latria (Latin adoratio, Greek latreia, [λατρεία]), which is due to God alone
• veneration or dulia (Latin veneratio, Greek douleia [δουλεία]), which may be lawfully offered to the saints

The external acts of veneration resemble those of worship, but differ in their object and intent. Protestant Christians, who reject the veneration of saints, question whether Catholics always maintain such a distinction in actual devotional practice, especially at the level of folk religion.

According to Mark Miravalle the English word «worship» is equivocal, in that it has been used (in Catholic writing, at any rate) to denote both adoration/latria and veneration/dulia, and in some cases even as a synonym for veneration as distinct from adoration:

As St. Thomas Aquinas explains, adoration, which is known as latria in classical theology, is the worship and homage that is rightly offered to God alone. It is the manifestation of submission, and acknowledgement of dependence, appropriately shown towards the excellence of an uncreated divine person and to his absolute Lordship. It is the worship of the Creator that God alone deserves. Although we see in English a broader usage of the word «adoration» which may not refer to a form of worship exclusive to God—for example, when a husband says that he «adores his wife»—in general it can be maintained that adoration is the best English denotation for the worship of latria.

Veneration, known as dulia in classical theology, is the honor and reverence appropriately due to the excellence of a created person. Excellence exhibited by created beings likewise deserves recognition and honor. We see a general example of veneration in events like the awarding of academic awards for excellence in school, or the awarding of olympic medals for excellence in sports. There is nothing contrary to the proper adoration of God when we offer the appropriate honor and recognition that created persons deserve based on achievement in excellence.

We must make a further clarification regarding the use of the term «worship» in relation to the categories of adoration and veneration. Historically, schools of theology have used the term «worship» as a general term which included both adoration and veneration. They would distinguish between «worship of adoration» and «worship of veneration.» The word «worship» (in a similar way to how the liturgical term «cult» is traditionally used) was not synonymous with adoration, but could be used to introduce either adoration or veneration. Hence Catholic sources will sometimes use the term «worship» not to indicate adoration, but only the worship of veneration given to Mary and the saints.^[8]

Orthodox Judaism and orthodox Sunni Islam hold that for all practical purposes veneration should be considered the same as prayer; Orthodox Judaism (arguably with the exception of some Chasidic practices), orthodox Sunni Islam, and most kinds of Protestantism forbid veneration of saints or of angels, classifying these actions as akin to idolatry.

Similarly, Jehovah’s Witnesses assert that many actions classified as patriotic by Protestant groups, such as saluting a flag, count as equivalent to worship and are therefore considered idolatrous as well.^[9]

Quaker Meeting for Worship[edit]

Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends) have both unprogrammed and programmed Meetings for Worship. Unprogrammed worship is based on silence and inward listening to the Spirit, from which any participant may share a message. In unprogrammed meetings for worship, someone speaks when that person feels that God/Spirit/the universe has given them a message for others. Programmed worship includes many elements similar to Protestant services, such as a sermon and hymns. Many programmed meetings also include a time during the service for silent, expectant waiting and messages from the participants.

Hinduism[edit]

Worship in Hinduism involves invoking higher forces to assist in spiritual and material progress and is simultaneously both a science and an art. A sense of bhakti or devotional love is generally invoked. This term is probably a central one in Hinduism. A direct translation from the Sanskrit to English is problematic. Worship takes a multitude of forms depending on community groups, geography and language. There is a flavour of loving and being in love with whatever object or focus of devotion. Worship is not confined to any place of worship, it also incorporates personal reflection, art forms and group. People usually perform worship to achieve some specific end or to integrate the body, the mind and the spirit in order to help the performer evolve into a higher being.^[10]

Islam[edit]

In Islam, worship refers to ritualistic devotion as well as actions done in accordance to Islamic law which is ordained by and pleasing to God. Worship is included in the Five Pillars of Islam, primarily that of salat, which is the practice of ritual prayer five times daily.

According to Muhammad Asad, on his notes in The Message of the Qur’an translation on Q51:56,

Thus, the innermost purpose of the creation of all rational beings is their cognition of the existence of Allah and, hence, their conscious willingness to conform their own existence to whatever they may perceive of His will and plan: and it is this twofold concept of cognition and willingness that gives the deepest meaning to what the Quran describes as «worship». As the next verse shows, this spiritual call does not arise from any supposed «need» on the part of the Creator, who is self-sufficient and infinite in His power, but is designed as an instrument for the inner development of the worshipper, who, by the act of his conscious self-surrender to the all-pervading Creative Will, may hope to come closer to an understanding of that Will and, thus closer to Allah Himself.^[11]

In the Muslim world, the word worship (in the literal context of worshipping) is forbidden to be used if it refers to an object or action and not exclusively to Allah.^[12]

Judaism[edit]

Worship of God in Judaism is called Avodat Hashem. During the period when the Temple stood, the rites conducted there were considered the most important act of Jewish worship.^[13] However, the most common form of worship was and remains that of prayer. Other forms of worship include the conduct of prescribed rituals, such as the Passover Seder and waving the Four Species, with proper intent, as well as various types of Jewish meditation.

Worship through mundane activities[edit]

Jewish sources also express the notion that one can perform any appropriate mundane activity as the worship of God. Examples would include returning a lost article and working to support oneself and one’s family.

The Code of Jewish Law (Orach Chayim, Chapter 231) cites Proverbs (3:6), «in all your ways, know him» (Hebrew: בכל דרכיך דעהו (b’chol d’rachecha dei’eihu)), as a biblical source for this idea.

Sikhism[edit]

In Sikhism, worship takes place after the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the work of the 10 Sikh Gurus all in one. Sikhs worship God and only one God, known as «One Creator», «The Wonderful Teacher» (Waheguru), or «Destroyer of Darkness».

Wicca[edit]

Wiccan worship commonly takes place during a full moon or a new moon. Such rituals are called an Esbat and may involve a magic circle which practitioners believe will contain energy and form a sacred space, or will provide them a form of magical protection.^[14]

Zoroastrianism[edit]

Prayer is one of the duties and worships of Mazdayasna, which is performed in order to always pay attention to the religious commandments and to give thanks to Ahura Mazda (God).

Modern worship[edit]

In modern society and sociology, some writers have commented on the ways that people no longer simply worship recognised deities, but also (or instead) worship consumer brands,^[15] sports teams, and other people (celebrities).^[16] Sociology therefore extends this argument to suggest outside of a religion worship is a process whereby society worships itself, as a form of self-valorization and self-preservation.^[17]

Types[edit]

• Ancestor worship
• Animal worship
• Idol worship
• Imperial cult
• Nature worship
• Pole worship

See also[edit]

• Intercession
• Major world religions
• Sacrifice — an offering of propitiation or of worship

References[edit]

Recent Examples on the Web

Crossing paths with someone who doesn’t look like you, trust you, worship the same God or understand your story is almost inevitable.


—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2023




Nearby was a statue of Waghoba, a large cat deity that many people in the region have worshipped for at least half a century.


—Vidya Athreya, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2023




During the tenth plague, God commanded the Israelites to offer a lamb or goat, which the Egyptians worshiped as one of their gods, as a sacrifice.


—Terri Robertson, Country Living, 24 Mar. 2023




Its campus includes a school, worship space and family life center, the newspaper said.


—Reuters, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2023




Nearby was a statue of Waghoba, a large cat deity that many people in the region have worshipped for at least half a century.


—Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 20 Mar. 2023




Lo and behold, Lil Ugly Mane, the Lord Infamous-worshipping wordsmith, was singing.


—Patrick Lyons, SPIN, 6 Mar. 2023




Everyone in the streets is about worshipping God …


—Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review, 6 Mar. 2023




Registration is not required but requested for the workshops or worship service.


—The Courier-Journal, 11 Jan. 2023

The law does not have any provisions preventing firearms in several locations such as hospitals, houses of worship, sports arenas, casinos, polling places and banks, according to state law.


—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2023




More than a dozen places of worship have been looted, desecrated, or deliberately destroyed.


—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2023




My mother would prep every food item, all while taking time out for prayers and other forms of worship.


—Zainab Khan, ELLE, 4 Apr. 2023




Tennessee became the first state to severely restrict drag shows, forbidding them within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks or places of worship.


—Dante Chinni, NBC News, 2 Apr. 2023




In Arizona, the Children’s Action Alliance leads a coalition trying to spread the word, reaching out to houses of worship, radio stations, places where clusters of homeless people have mailboxes.


—Amy Goldstein, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Mar. 2023




The dance floor is like an art gallery, or a house of worship, or a classroom.


—Condé Nast, Vogue, 30 Mar. 2023




Guns will not be permitted on campus during school hours or when students are present for extracurricular activities, and houses of worship can opt out by posting signs.


—Hannah Schoenbaum, ajc, 30 Mar. 2023




The organizations receiving grants through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program are mostly places of worship, including mosques and synagogues, as well as reproductive health providers, cultural institutions and education centers deemed at a high risk for a terrorist attack, a news release said.


—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2023


See More

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• wurship (obsolete)

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English worschippe, worthschipe, from Old English weorþsċipe. Synchronically analyzable as worth (“worthy, honorable”) +‎ -ship. Cognate with Scots worschip (“worship”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈwɜːʃɪp/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈwɝʃɪp/
  • (rare) IPA^(key): /ˈwɔɹʃɪp/
• Homophone: warship (General American, rare)
• Hyphenation: wor‧ship

Noun[edit]

worship (usually uncountable, plural worships)

1. The devotion accorded to a deity or to a sacred object.

   Polytheistic theology and worship had to go underground.

2. (Christianity, specifically) The adoration owed to God alone, as greater than the veneration that may be accorded to figures such as saints.
3. The religious ceremonies that express this devotion.

   • The worship of God is an eminent part of religion, and prayer is a chief part of religious worship.

4. (by extension) Voluntary, utter submission; voluntary, utter deference.

   Synonyms: adoration, reverence, idolatry

5. (also by extension) Ardent love.
6. An object of worship.
   • 1882 or later, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Michel Angelo

     In attitude and aspect formed to be / At once the artist’s worship and despair.

7. Honour; respect; civil deference.
8. (chiefly Britain) Used as a title or term of address for various officials, including magistrates

   • 1837 March, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “Relates How Oliver Twist Was Very Near Getting a Place, Which Would Not Have Been a Sinecure”, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC, page 48:

     “I beg your worship’s pardon,” said Mr. Bumble, incredulous of his having heard aright,—“did your worship speak to me?”

   • 2010, Val McDermid, A Place of Execution:

     ‘Your Worships, I have a submission to put before the court. As Your Worships are aware, it is the duty of the court under Section thirty-nine of the Children and Young Persons Act to protect the identity of minors who are victims of offences […]

9. (obsolete) The condition of being worthy; honour, distinction.

   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xxiij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book I:

     I will be on horsbak said the knyght / thenne was Arthur wrothe and dressid his sheld toward hym with his swerd drawen / whan the knyght sawe that / he a lyghte / for hym thought no worship to haue a knyght at suche auaille he to be on horsbak and he on foot and so he alyght & dressid his sheld vnto Arthur

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

worship (third-person singular simple present worships, present participle (Commonwealth) worshipping or (US) worshiping, simple past and past participle (Commonwealth) worshipped or (US) worshiped or (obsolete) worshipt)

1. (transitive) To reverence (a deity, etc.) with supreme respect and veneration; to perform religious exercises in honour of.

   • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     God is to be worshipped.

   • 1655, John Milton, Sonnet 18

     When all our fathers worshipped stocks and stones.

2. (transitive) To honour with extravagant love and extreme submission, as a lover; to adore; to idolize.

   • 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 8, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 251:

     ‘All the household worshipped her.’

   • a. 1639, Thomas Carew, A Cruell Mistris

     With bended knees I daily worship her.

3. (intransitive) To participate in religious ceremonies.

   We worship at the church down the road.

Derived terms[edit]

• worship the porcelain god

Translations[edit]

References[edit]

• worship at OneLook Dictionary Search

Asked by: Aryanna Wiegand

Score: 5/5
(54 votes)

Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honoring.

What is the real meaning of worship?

1 : reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power also : an act of expressing such reverence. 2 : a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual. 3 : extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem worship of the dollar.

What does worship mean in the Bible?

In Christianity, worship is the act of attributing reverent honour and homage to God. In the New Testament, various words are used to refer to the term worship. One is proskuneo («to worship») which means to bow down to God or kings. … Orthodoxy in faith also meant orthodoxy in worship, and vice versa.

How do we worship God?

Weekly Devotional: Ways to Worship God Daily

What are examples of worship?

Worship means to show devotion or admiration to a religious deity or another. An example of worship is chanting. To have intense love or admiration for; adore or idolize. (chiefly british) Used as a form of address for magistrates, mayors, and certain other dignitaries.

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