Why did the Biblical scholars change?

Question

The word "homage" to "worship"? i hav older bibles and where the disciples made "homage" to Jesus they now "worship" him in the newer bibles.

The word "homage" means paying respects. In ancient times this was done by kneeling down infront of someone. Like when you kneel down infront of a king.

Answer 1

The translation is different in modern bibles because we now have a richer understanding of ancient word usage.

Not wanting to get too far into theory of translation, but the idea is that we once used a "word-for-word" translation, now we use a "thought-for-thought" style, which is more accurate overall. (For example, it takes into account things like metaphorical speech or similes).

I think in your example, the words are pretty similar anyway. The word "homage" may have been used to describe quiet, contemplative worship in certain contexts.

Answer 2

It would be much more helpful if you were to share which translations of the Bible you were using and their publishing dates.

While you find the two words to be unique, they are symnomous in many ways.

Simply, a translator used the word homage instead of worship.

Now, the real question is which word should have been used? I think you answered that portion of the question for yourself, and I do agree with you.

Also, this has nothing to do with "newer" and "older" translations. Both words have been in the English lexicon for centuries. It was just a matter of word choice when the translator did his/her work.

Answer 3

I don't know if this answers your questions, but here's some information:

Most Hebrew and Greek words that can denote worship can also be applied to acts other than worship. However, the context determines in what way the respective words are to be understood.

One of the Hebrew words conveying the idea of worship (`a·vadh´) basically means “serve.” (Ge 14:4; 15:13; 29:15) Serving or worshiping Jehovah required obedience to all of his commands, doing his will as a person exclusively devoted to him. (Ex 19:5; De 30:15-20; Jos 24:14, 15) Therefore, for an individual to engage in any ritual or act of devotion toward any other gods signified his abandoning true worship.—De 11:13-17; Jg 3:6, 7.

Another Hebrew term that can denote worship is hish·ta·chawah´, which primarily means “bow down” (Pr 12:25), or do obeisance. Whereas such bowing could at times simply be an act of respect or of courteous regard toward another person (Ge 19:1, 2; 33:1-6; 37:9, 10), it could also be an expression of worship, indicating one’s reverence and gratitude to God and submission to his will. When used with reference to the true God or false deities, the word hish·ta·chawah´ is at times associated with sacrifice and prayer. (Ge 22:5-7; 24:26, 27; Isa 44:17) This would indicate that it was common to bow down when praying or offering sacrifice.

The Hebrew root sa·ghadh´ (Isa 44:15, 17, 19; 46:6) basically signifies “prostrate oneself.” The Aramaic equivalent is usually associated with worship (Da 3:5-7, 10-15, 18, 28), but it is used at Daniel 2:46 to refer to King Nebuchadnezzar’s paying homage to Daniel, prostrating himself before the prophet.

The Greek verb la·treu´o (Lu 1:74; 2:37; 4:8; Ac 7:7) and the noun la·trei´a (Joh 16:2; Ro 9:4) convey the idea of rendering not merely an ordinary, mundane service but sacred service.

The Greek word pro·sky·ne´o corresponds closely to the Hebrew term hish·ta·chawah´ in expressing the thought of obeisance and, at times, worship. The term pro·sky·ne´o is used in connection with a slave’s doing obeisance to a king (Mt 18:26) as well as the act Satan stipulated when he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (Mt 4:8, 9) Had he done obeisance to the Devil, Jesus would thereby have signified submission to Satan and made himself the Devil’s servant. But Jesus refused, saying: “Go away, Satan! For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship [form of Gr. pro·sky·ne´o or, in the Deuteronomy account that Jesus was quoting, Heb. hish·ta·chawah´], and it is to him alone you must render sacred service [form of Gr. la·treu´o or Heb. `a·vadh´].’” (Mt 4:10; De 5:9; 6:13) Similarly, worship, obeisance, or bowing down to “the wild beast” and its “image” is linked with service, for the worshipers are identified as supporters of “the wild beast” and its “image” by having a mark either on the hand (with which one serves) or on the forehead (for all to see). Since the Devil gives the wild beast its authority, worshiping the wild beast means, in reality, worshiping or serving the Devil.—Re 13:4, 15-17; 14:9-11.

Other Greek words associated with worship are drawn from eu·se·be´o, thre·skeu´o, and se´bo·mai. The word eu·se·be´o means “give godly devotion to” or “venerate, revere.” At Acts 17:23 this term is used with reference to the godly devotion or veneration that the men of Athens were giving to an “Unknown God.” From thre·skeu´o comes the noun thre·skei´a, understood to designate a “form of worship,” whether true or false. (Ac 26:5; Col 2:18) The true worship practiced by Christians was marked by genuine concern for the poor and complete separateness from the ungodly world. (Jas 1:26, 27) The word se´bo·mai (Mt 15:9; Mr 7:7; Ac 18:7; 19:27) and the related term se·ba´zo·mai (Ro 1:25) mean “revere; venerate; worship.” Objects of worship or of devotion are designated by the noun se´ba·sma. (Ac 17:23; 2Th 2:4) Two other terms are from the same verb stem, with the prefix The·os´, God. These are the·o·se·bes´, meaning “God-revering” (Joh 9:31), and the·o·se´bei·a, denoting “reverence of God.” (1Ti 2:10) These two terms correspond somewhat to the German word for “public worship,” namely, Gottesdienst (a combination of “God” and “service”).

As for changes in older and newer Bibles, one thing that might interest you is the removal of God's name about 7000 times. Most older Bible versions contain it at least once, usually in Exodus and at Psalm 83:18. It was supposedly removed for superstitous reasonings, but here are a few scriptures to consider:

Exodus 9:16 makes it clear that God wants it known: "But, in fact, for this cause I have kept you in existence, for the sake of showing you my power and IN ORDER TO HAVE MY NAME DECLARED IN ALL THE EARTH."

Psalm 113:3 says: From the rising of the sun until its setting Jehovah’s name is to be praised.

Malachi 1:11 says: “For from the sun’s rising even to its setting MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, and in every place sacrificial smoke will be made, A PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE TO MY NAME, even a clean gift; because MY NAME WILL BE GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS,” Jehovah of armies has said.

Just a thought. :)

Answer 4

this suggests a fanatical approach to remove the human from Jesus
its all a big mess and getting worse
silly stuff, good point, and noted

Answer 5

i agree with u veritas ........... paying respect and worshipping is not the same

i pay respect to Jesus (pbuh) but i do not worship him .......... i worship God only