σέβασμα (sebasma)
sebasma
object of worship
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun sebasma refers to a specific object of religious honor or worship. Derived from the verb for revering, it denotes the physical thing that receives such devotion, whether an altar, a statue, or an idolatrous image. The term appears only twice in the New Testament, highlighting its use in contexts where people encounter foreign cults.
In Acts 17:23, Paul uses the word to describe an inscription on an altar in Athens dedicated "to an unknown god." Here, it identifies a tangible item that Athenians treated with sacred respect. Later, in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, it describes the figure of the lawless one who exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship.
Unlike words for general reverence, sebasma points to the target of that reverence. It underscores how physical objects can become the focus of spiritual allegiance, serving as a reminder of the danger in elevating created things to the status of 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 sebasma points to the physical target of our devotion. It is not the internal feeling of awe, but the specific object that receives it. In Acts 17, Paul notes an altar in Athens dedicated to this unknown god. The Athenians built a tangible structure for their reverence, showing how easily we can anchor our spiritual focus in something visible.
This word warns us about where we place our ultimate trust. When we elevate created things—whether status, security, or ideology—to the level of the divine, we create idols. These objects demand allegiance that belongs only to God. The danger lies in mistaking the symbol for the source of life itself.
Christians are invited to direct their worship solely to the Creator. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we avoid the trap of fixing our hearts on temporary things. This clarity brings freedom, allowing us to serve God with a pure and undivided focus.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- objects of worship1×
- object of worship1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σέβασμα1×
- σεβάσματα1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 17:23
For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, I announce to you.
Paul uses the term to identify the physical altar in Athens that served as the focal point for the Athenians' religious reverence.
-
II Thessalonians 2:4
He opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God.
The lawless one exalts himself above every object of worship, claiming a divine status that rivals the true God.