Translation Problems

     The English language will often translate different Biblical words for the one English word. This is true of the English words for 'Worship', 'Praise' and 'Rejoice'. Upon examination of these Biblical terms we find that many have to do with physical gestures. 'Worship', 'Praise' and 'Rejoice' have more to do with physical gestures than just using our mouths.

     Yet, this is not evident in our English versions of the Bible. To properly understand the terms 'Worship', 'Praise' and 'Rejoice' we must understand how these terms are used in Scripture.

     Biblical words for 'Worship'

1. Hebrew:  (shachah: shaw-khaw) )   to bow down, prostrate oneself before superior in homage before God  in worship1
    (Genesis 22:5)

2. Aramaic:  ( c^egid (Aramaic)  seg-eed) to prostrate oneself  do homage, worship2   (Daniel 3:5-6)

3. Greek:  (proskuneo  pros-koo-neh'-o) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, in  the NT by kneeling or
     prostration to do homage (to one) 3  (John 4:21-24)

4. Greek: (latreia: lat-ri'-ah) service rendered for hire, any service or ministration: the service of God, the service and worship
    of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law to perform sacred services4 (Rom. 12:1)

     Biblical Words for 'Praise'

1. Hebrew: (yadah : yaw-daw') comes from the root word  dy:  which means hand. To throw, shoot, cast to give thanks, laud,
    praise5 (Gen. 29:35) The idea is that in praise we hold out our hands to God.

2. Hebrew:  ( barak : baw-rak) to bless, kneel in praise6 (Judges 5:2)  It would seem that a physical way to show praise to
    God is by kneeling.

     Biblical Word for 'Rejoice'

1. Greek: ( agalliao : ag-al-lee-ah'-o) means to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad. Taken from the root meaning
    to leap, to spring up, gush up: of water7  (Rev. 19:7) The idea here is that this type of rejoicing is physical.
    It is a leaping for joy in the presence of God.

II. Physical Gestures in Corporate Worship

     It is said that 'Actions speak louder than words'.  If this is true, then which posture, physical gestures, and symbolic actions would best reflect a heart of worship to God? Perhaps those already given to us in Scripture. I will discuss the postures, physical gestures and symbolic actions in order of how they might be accepted in a conservative Protestant church, according to my experience and the testimony of other pastors of such churches. The order is from most accepted to least accepted, with the following exception: Standing, Sitting, Folding of the Hands, Baptism, and The Lord's Supper are all freely accepted in most conservative churches. The discomfort and disunity come when we progress beyond these five.

    Standing is a posture of respect for another. When someone enters a room, it is customary to stand. When a woman gets up or returns to the table the men stand to show her respect.  The same is true in corporate worship. We stand to recognize and honor God's sovereign presence.

     We stand for the Call to Worship and Invocation as we are coming into the presence of Almighty God and we dare not stay seated. We also stand to praise God in song. This is done to form a sense of community and to free our bodies to move and express gestures appropriate for praise.

     In Scripture, standing was the normal posture for prayer.  (Gen. 18:22; Ex. 33:10; Num. 5:16-18; Deut. 10:8, 27:11-13;
1 Kg. 8:14, 17:1, 18:15; 2 Chron. 29:11, 35:5; Ezra 9:15; Neh. 12:40 1 Sam. 1:26; Ps. 33:8, 130:3, 135:2; Lk. 18:13;
Mk. 11:25; Rev. 8:2)

     It was not the only posture, however, as kneeling and prostration was also practiced in prayer during worship in Scripture. Standing for prayer can show that Believers  are no longer enemies of God, who come into His presence cowering, but as friends, children of God who come standing freely, and without shame clothed in the righteousness of Christ their Redeemer. (Rev. 7:9-12)

     Donghi believes that standing for prayer shows that our lives are an upward expression of our relationship with God. (Donghi 1997) The resurrection of Christ and the fact that many church buildings have their foundations on hills points to standing as a gesture representing closeness to the God Most High.

     Historically, standing for prayer was the posture of the early Christians such as: Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 215), Origen (A.D. 254), Tertullian (A.D. 220), Chrysostom (A.D. 407) and Augustine (A.D. 430)

Question: Should we stand in worship?

       Although a passive posture, demonstrates an attitude of listening. We sit for the Sermon, the Offering and occasionally for prayer and singing, (although not the biblical norm). It was not until the Pastoral Prayers exceeded twenty minutes that the Presbyterian church in the 1800's allowed the congregation to sit during this prayer. (Erickson 1989)

     Sitting is the preferred posture for a foot washing service on Maundy Thursday of Holy Week. (Jn. 13:3-14) In Scripture, sitting is done by those in worship as they respond to the Word and presence of God. (Matt. 26:55; Mk. 10:37, 14:32; Lk. 2:46, 4:16-20, 10:39; Jn. 6:10)

Question: Should we sit in worship?

    Bowing the Head: Is the most common physical gesture in prayer today. Although not common in Scripture, Gen. 24:26 tells us that Abraham's servant bowed his head in worship to God and  in Ex. 12:27 we find that the people bowed their head and worshipped God.  It wasn't till the seventh and eight centuries that bowing the head became a sign of humility and therefore appropriate and accepted in corporate worship. (Leonard  1994)
Question: Should we bow our heads in worship?

     Is the gesture we show little children when teaching them how to pray. Perhaps this gesture is taught to them so that while in prayer they will keep their hands to themselves. But as they grow up, perhaps they should be taught that having the hands raised is a more Scriptural position.

     The folding of the hands during prayer has no biblical description or prescription and is unknown in the early church. This gesture, was not seen in the church until the Middle Ages where it was added to kneeling during prayer.

Question: Should we fold our hands in worship?

End Notes
1  Enhanced Strongs Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, Wa: Logos Research Systems, Inc) 1995
2  i.b.i.d
3  i.b.i.d.
4  i.b.i.d.
5  i.b.i.d.