Greek · G3000 · unreviewed

λατρεύω

To minister

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

λατρεύω G3000

Pronunciation latreúō

What does λατρεύω (latreúō) mean in the Bible?

λατρεύω (latreúō) is a Greek word meaning "to minister". λατρεύω (λάτρις, a hired servant), [in LXX (always, as λατρεία, of the service of God or of heathen divinities) chiefly for עָבַד, Exo.

Full entry for λατρεύω (G3000) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to minister

Extended definition

Sacred service to God or gods involving worship and devotion, not merely hired labor.

(λάτρις, a hired servant), [in LXX (always, as λατρεία, of the service of God or of heathen divinities) chiefly for עָבַד, Exo.3:12, al.; in Dan LXX TH (Dan.3:12, al.) for פְּלַח ;]

1to work for hire.

2to serve; in cl., also of divine service, to serve, worship, and so always in NT: with dative of person(s), τ. θεῷ, Mat.4:10, Luk.4:8" (LXX), Act.7:7 24:14 27:23, Heb.9:14, Rev.7:15 22:3; of idol worship (cf. Exo.20:5, Eze.20:32), Act.7:42, Rom.1:25; τ. θεῷ. ἐν τ. πνεύματί μου, Rom.1:9; id. ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει, 2Ti.1:3; μετ᾽ εὐλαβείας κ. δέους, Heb.12:28; ἐν ὁσιότητι κ. δικαιοσύνῃ, Luk.1:74; (without θεῷ) νηστείαις κ. δεήσεσι, Luk.2:37; πνεύματι θεοῦ, Php.3:3; absol., Act.26:7; ὁ λατρεύων, the worshipper, Heb.9:9 10:2; of ministerial service, with dative of thing(s), Heb.8:5 13:10.

Synonymsλειτουργέω, q.v

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Future Aorist

Voices

Active

Indicative states a fact or reality 11×

Present Active Acts 24:14 · Acts 27:23 · Rom 1:9 · 2 Tim 1:3 · Heb 8:5 · Rev 7:15 6×

Future Active Matt 4:10 · Luke 4:8 · Acts 7:7 · Rev 22:3 4×

Aorist Active Rom 1:25 1×

Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×

Present Active Luke 1:74 · Acts 7:42 · Heb 9:14 3×

Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 6×

Present Active Phil 3:3 · Heb 13:10 · Luke 2:37 · Acts 26:7 · Heb 9:9 · Heb 10:2 6×

Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×

Present Active Heb 12:28 1×

Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 20 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect

ongoing 6 prospective 4 subjunctive 1 infinitive 3 participle 6

Tense

present 16 future 4

Voice

active 20

Mood

indicative 10 participle 6 infinitive 3 subjunctive 1

NT Occurrences

Matthew 4:10 λατρεύσεις future active indicative prospective Luke 1:74 λατρεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Luke 2:37 λατρεύουσα present active participle participle Luke 4:8 λατρεύσεις future active indicative prospective Acts 7:42 λατρεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 7:7 λατρεύσουσίν future active indicative prospective Acts 24:14 λατρεύω present active indicative ongoing Acts 26:7 λατρεῦον present active participle participle Acts 27:23 λατρεύω present active indicative ongoing Romans 1:9 λατρεύω present active indicative ongoing Philippians 3:3 λατρεύοντες present active participle participle 2 Timothy 1:3 λατρεύω present active indicative ongoing Hebrews 8:5 λατρεύουσιν present active indicative ongoing Hebrews 9:14 λατρεύειν present active infinitive infinitive Hebrews 9:9 λατρεύοντα present active participle participle Hebrews 10:2 λατρεύοντας present active participle participle Hebrews 12:28 λατρεύωμεν present active subjunctive subjunctive Hebrews 13:10 λατρεύοντες present active participle participle Revelation 7:15 λατρεύουσιν present active indicative ongoing Revelation 22:3 λατρεύσουσιν future active indicative prospective

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Witnesses

Luke 2:36–38 λατρεύουσα latreúō

Serving, worshiping

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details