"service, servitude; religious service, worship, Jn. 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6*"
Definition and meaning
service, servitude; religious service, worship, Jn. 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6*
In the original Greek the word is written: λατρεία
Historical context
John wrote for an audience familiar with both Jewish Scripture and Greek philosophy. The logos — the Word — was a term Greek philosophers used for the rational principle underlying the universe. John takes that concept and says: that logos became a person and lived among us. Crucifixion was the Roman execution method designed to maximize public humiliation, reserved for slaves and rebels.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of latreia (G2999) across the King James Bible.
They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G2999 (latreia) is a Greek word that means: service, servitude; religious service, worship, Jn. 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6* It appears 5 times in the King James Bible.
The word latreia (G2999) appears 5 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2999 is latreia, a Greek word defined as: service, servitude; religious service, worship, Jn. 16:2; Rom. 9:4; 12:1; Heb. 9:1, 6*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
latreia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.