"to be a servant, to serve, Acts 27:23; to render religious service and homage, worship, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 1:74; spc. to offer sacrifices, present offerings, Heb. 8:5; 9:9"
Definition and meaning
to be a servant, to serve, Acts 27:23; to render religious service and homage, worship, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 1:74; spc. to offer sacrifices, present offerings, Heb. 8:5; 9:9
In the original Greek the word is written: λατρεύω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 latreuo (G3000) across the King James Bible.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
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Common questions
Strong's G3000 (latreuo) is a Greek word that means: to be a servant, to serve, Acts 27:23; to render religious service and homage, worship, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 1:74; spc. to offer sacrifices, present offerings, Heb. 8:5; 9:9 It appears 21 times in the King James Bible.
The word latreuo (G3000) appears 21 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3000 is latreuo, a Greek word defined as: to be a servant, to serve, Acts 27:23; to render religious service and homage, worship, Mt. 4:10; Lk. 1:74; spc. to offer sacrifices, present offering. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
latreuo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.