The word "worship" in the Bible

The words used most frequently when referring to worship are

• “Shachad” in Hebrew and “proskuneo” in Greek.
  
• Shachad means to bow down or prostrate one’s self.
  It is an act of worship representing humble submission before one who is superior. It involves paying homage to royalty.
  
• Proskuneo means “to kiss toward .”
  Among the Orientals, especially the Persians, it meant to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence.

Several other words translated worship are “abodah” in Hebrew and “latreia” in Greek.

• Both of these words mean “to serve” or “to work.”

• Exodus 34:14 Do not worship (bow down) any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
  
• Matthew 2:2 “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship (bow down) him."
  
• Exodus 3:12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship (serve) God on this mountain."
  
• Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship (serve).

Worship involves action. It is a positive action of an inferior submitting to a superior. There is a sense in which worship is not only bowing down before the object of worship, but involves active service for the one being worshipped.