"mid., to stand in awe; to venerate, reverence, worship, adore, Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Acts 18:13; 19:27; part. σεβόμενος, η, ον, worshiping, devout, pious, a term applied to proselytes to Judaism, Acts 13:43; 16:14; 18:7; 13:50; 17:4, 17*"
Definition and meaning
mid., to stand in awe; to venerate, reverence, worship, adore, Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Acts 18:13; 19:27; part. σεβόμενος, η, ον, worshiping, devout, pious, a term applied to proselytes to Judaism, Acts 13:43; 16:14; 18:7; 13:50; 17:4, 17*
In the original Greek the word is written: σέβω
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 sebo (G4576) across the King James Bible.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
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Common questions
Strong's G4576 (sebo) is a Greek word that means: mid., to stand in awe; to venerate, reverence, worship, adore, Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Acts 18:13; 19:27; part. σεβόμενος, η, ον, worshiping, devout, pious, a term applied to proselytes to Judaism, Acts 13... It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word sebo (G4576) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4576 is sebo, a Greek word defined as: mid., to stand in awe; to venerate, reverence, worship, adore, Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7; Acts 18:13; 19:27; part. σεβόμενος, η, ον, worshiping, devout, pious. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
sebo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.