λατρεύω (latreuō)
latreuō
to minister
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb latreuō describes serving with a focus on religious duty, often involving ritual or sacrifice. Derived from a word for a hired servant, it carries a sense of formal, paid service rather than casual assistance. In the New Testament, it is exclusively used for worship—either honoring the true God or offering homage to idols.
Scripture uses this term to highlight the seriousness of devotion. Jesus cites it when rejecting Satan’s offer of worldly power, insisting that worship belongs to God alone (Matthew 4:10). It also appears in Zechariah’s prophecy about serving God with holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:74), and in Hebrews to describe the solemn service performed by priests in the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:1).
Unlike other words for service, latreuō emphasizes the act of worship itself. It can refer to the internal attitude of the heart or the external rites offered. This distinction helps readers see that biblical worship is not just a feeling but a committed, structured response to the divine.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word latreuō calls us to a life of dedicated service that honors God with our whole being. It is not merely about casual help but involves a serious, structured devotion rooted in religious duty. When we serve God, we acknowledge His sovereignty and offer Him the reverence due to His name alone.
This kind of worship shapes how we live daily, guiding our actions with holiness and righteousness. Like those who served night and day in the temple or Paul who served with a pure conscience, we are invited to present our lives as an act of spiritual worship. It reminds us that true service flows from a heart fixed on God’s truth.
As you follow Christ, let this word encourage you to serve with integrity and awe. Whether in quiet prayer or public witness, your devotion becomes a testament to the living God who deserves all honor.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I serve4×
- serving3×
- to serve2×
- you will serve.’1×
- worshiping1×
- will you serve.’1×
- will serve1×
- we may serve1×
- to worship1×
- they will serve1×
- they served1×
- serving.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λατρεύω4×
- λατρεύειν3×
- λατρεύουσιν2×
- ἐλάτρευσαν1×
- λατρεῦον1×
- λατρεύωμεν1×
- λατρεύσουσίν1×
- λατρεύσουσιν1×
- λατρεύσεις.¶1×
- λατρεύσεις.1×
- λατρεύουσα1×
- λατρεύοντες.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
Jesus uses this term to affirm that worship and service belong exclusively to God, rejecting any divided loyalty.
-
Luke 1:74
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
Zechariah’s prophecy highlights serving God without fear, emphasizing a life of holy devotion delivered from enemies.
-
Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
Paul describes his service in spirit through the Gospel, showing that worship is an internal attitude expressed outwardly.
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Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,
The author urges believers to serve God acceptably with reverence and awe, linking worship to the unshakable Kingdom.