Biblical Lexicon

λατρ-εύω G3000

V-PPA-AMS | 21× in 2 senses

To serve or worship God with reverent devotion; to perform sacred religious service or ministry

Latreuō carries the weight of total devotion directed toward God. Originally meaning 'to work for hire,' by the biblical period it had narrowed almost exclusively to religious service. Jesus himself invokes it when quoting Deuteronomy: 'You shall worship (latreuō) the Lord your God and serve him only' (Matt 4:10; Luke 4:8). The French 'adorer' and German 'dienen' together capture both the reverent adoration and the practical service dimensions. Whether describing Anna's decades of temple devotion (Luke 2:37) or Paul's service 'with my spirit' (Rom 1:9), the word insists that true worship is active, embodied, and wholehearted.

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Senses

1. worship God in devotion — The devotional dimension: to render worship and adoration to God out of reverence and love. Jesus quotes this sense directly in the temptation narrative (Matt 4:10; Luke 4:8), and Paul uses it for Israel's hoped-for worship (Acts 26:7). The Spanish 'que sirve/sirven' preserves the service-oriented flavor, while French 'adorer' highlights the worshipful posture. Covers 12 of 21 occurrences. 12×

GUIDANCE_CARE › Help, Care For › Serving and Ministry

AR["أَعْبُدُ", "العَابِدَ", "تَعبُدُ", "تَعْبُدُ", "خَادِمِينَ", "عَابِدِينَ", "عَبَدوا", "نَعْبُدُ", "يَخْدِمُونَ", "يَعْبُدُوا"]·ben["আমরা-সেবা-করি", "তারা-সেবা-করল", "যিনি-উপাসনা-করে", "সেবা-করছে", "সেবা-করতে", "সেবা-করবে", "সেবা-করবে।", "সেবা-করিতেছি", "সেবা-করিতেছে"]·DE["dienen", "dient"]·EN["I-serve", "I-worship", "let-us-serve", "served", "serving", "to-serve", "worshipper", "worshippers", "you-shall-serve", "you-will-serve"]·FR["adorer", "servir"]·heb["לַעֲבֹד", "מְשָׁרְתִים", "נַעֲבֹד", "עָבְדוּ", "עוֹבְדִים", "עוֹבֵד", "תַּעֲבֹד"]·HI["उपसन-करनेवलोन", "उपासना-करने-वाले,", "उपासना-करने-वालों", "सेवा-करने-को", "सेवा-करनेवाले", "सेवा-करें", "सेवा-करेगा", "सेवा-की", "सेवाकरताहूँ", "सेवाकरतेहुए"]·ID["engkau-harus-berbakti", "kita-melayani", "melayani", "melayani,", "melayani.", "melayani;", "menyembah", "yang-beribadah"]·IT["latreuseis", "servire"]·jav["ingkang-ngabekti", "ingkang-ngibadah", "kula-ngibadah,", "kula-ngladosi", "ngabekti", "ngabekti.", "ngibadah,", "ngladosi", "nyembah", "panjenengan-badhé-ngabekti.", "sumangga-kita-ngabekti"]·KO["섬겼느니라", "섬기는", "섬기는-자들", "섬기는-자들은", "섬기는-자들이", "섬기는-자를", "섬기며", "섬길-것이다", "섬깁니다", "섹기는-것", "우리가-섬기자"]·PT["para-servir", "que-servem", "serve", "servindo,", "serviram", "servirás", "sirvamos", "sirvo,"]·RU["будем-служить", "будешь-служить.", "служа", "служащего", "служащие", "служащих", "служили", "служить", "служу"]·ES["que-sirve", "que-sirven", "servir", "servirás", "sirvamos", "sirviendo", "sirvieron", "sirvo"]·SW["anayeabudu", "kuabudu", "ninamtumikia", "ninamwabudu", "tumtumikie", "tunaomtumikia", "utamtumikia", "wakatumikia", "wanaohudumu;", "wanaomwabudu", "yakiabudu"]·TR["hizmet-edeceksin", "hizmet-edelim", "hizmet-edenler", "hizmet-ettiler", "ibadet-edeni", "ibadet-edenler", "ibadet-ederek", "ibadet-ediyorum", "kulluk-edeceksin", "kulluk-etmelerine"]·urd["خدمت-کرنے-والے", "عبادت-کرتا-ہوں", "عبادت-کرتے-ہوئے", "عبادت-کرنے", "عبادت-کرنے-والوں-کو", "عبادت-کرنے-والے", "عبادت-کریں", "عبادت-کرے-گا", "عبادت-کرے-گا۔", "عبادت-کی", "میں-عبادت-کرتا-ہوں"]

Matt 4:10, Luke 4:8, Acts 7:42, Acts 24:14, Acts 26:7, Acts 27:23, Rom 1:25, Phil 3:3, Heb 9:9, Heb 10:2, Heb 12:28, Heb 13:10

2. serve in sacred ministry — The ministerial dimension: to carry out ongoing sacred duties or liturgical service before God. Anna served God 'with fastings and prayers night and day' (Luke 2:37); Paul serves God 'in my spirit in the gospel' (Rom 1:9; 2 Tim 1:3). Here the emphasis falls on faithful, sustained ministry rather than a single act of adoration. The German 'dienen/dient' captures this steady, active service well. Covers 9 occurrences. 9×

GUIDANCE_CARE › Help, Care For › Serving and Ministry

AR["أَعبُدُهُ", "أَعْبُدُهُ", "أَنْ-نَعْبُدَهُ", "سَيَعْبُدونَهُ", "سَيَعْبُدُونَ", "عَابِدَةً", "عِبَادَةِ", "يَخدِمونَهُ", "يَخْدُمونَ"]·ben["আমি-সেবা-করি", "তারা-সেবা-করে", "সেবা-করতে", "সেবা-করবে", "সেবা-করি,", "সেবা-করে"]·DE["dienen", "dient"]·EN["I-serve", "serve", "serving", "they-serve", "to-serve", "will-serve"]·FR["adorer", "servir"]·heb["יַעַבְדוּ", "יַעַבְדוּנִי", "לְעָבְדוֹ", "מְשָׁרְתִים", "עֲבֹד", "עוֹבֵד-אֲנִי", "עוֹבֶדֶת", "שֶׁעוֹבֵד"]·HI["वे-सेवा-करते-हैं", "सेव-करत-होओन,", "सेवा-करता-हूँ", "सेवा-करती-हुई", "सेवा-करते-हैं", "सेवा-करने", "सेवा-करें", "सेवा-करेंगे"]·ID["akan-melayani", "aku-layani", "beribadah", "melayani", "menyembah", "mereka-melayani", "untuk-melayani"]·IT["latreuein", "latreuousa", "servire"]·jav["badhe-ngabekti", "kula-ladosi", "kula-ladosi,", "ngabekti", "ngladosi", "piyambakipun-sedaya-ngladosi", "supados-ngabekti"]·KO["섬기게-하시려고", "섬기기를", "섬기노라", "섬기노라,", "섬기니", "섬기다", "섬기며", "섹길-것이다", "예배할-것이다"]·PT["o-servirão", "servem", "servindo", "servir", "servirão", "sirvo"]·RU["будут-служить", "служа", "служат", "служить", "служу"]·ES["servir", "servirán", "sirven", "sirviendo", "sirvo"]·SW["akimtumikia", "kumtumikia", "ninamtumikia", "wanahudumu", "wanamtumikia", "watamtumikia", "wataniabudu"]·TR["bana", "hizmet-edecekler", "hizmet-ediyorlar", "hizmet-ediyorum", "hizmet-etmek", "ibadet-eden"]·urd["خدمت-کرتے-ہیں", "عبادت-کرتی-تھی", "عبادت-کرتے-ہیں", "عبادت-کرنے", "عبادت-کریں", "عبادت-کریں-گے", "میں-عبادت-کرتا-ہوں"]

Luke 1:74, Luke 2:37, Acts 7:7, Rom 1:9, 2 Tim 1:3, Heb 8:5, Heb 9:14, Rev 7:15, Rev 22:3

BDB / Lexicon Reference

λατρ-εύω, Elean λατρείω (which see), work for hire or pay, Refs 6th c.BC+: to be in servitude, serve, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 λ. τινί to be subject or enslaved to, Refs 5th c.BC+: with accusative person, serve, Refs 5th c.BC+; λ. νόμοις obey, Refs 5th c.BC+; λ. καιρῷ, = Latin temporibus inservire, Refs 1st c.AD+; τῷ κάλλει λ. to be devoted to.., Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 serve the gods with prayers and sacrifices, λ. Φοίβῳ Refs 5th c.BC+ render due service, Refs; πόνον.. τόνδ᾽ ἐλάτρευσα θεᾷ Refs