verb
latreuamō
Greekλατρεύω (latreuō)
Strong’sG3000
I serve, worship
stem latreu-21 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books12 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
λατρεύω
(< λάτρις, a hired servant), [in LXX (always, as λατρεία, of the service of God or of heathen divinities) chiefly for עבד, Ex 3:12, al.; in Da LXX TH (3:12, al.) for פְּלַח;]
SYN.: λειτουργέω, q.v.
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G3000 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidlat-ryoo'-o
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Fromfrom λάτρις (a hired menial);
King Jamesserve, do the service, worship(-per).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Forms in the New Testament
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| latreuamōλατρεύω | happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular | serve | 4× |
| latreualōλατρεύουσιν | happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural | serve | 2× |
| latreuasiλατρεύσεις | will happen · youfuture active indicative 2nd person singular | serve | 2× |
| latreualiλατρεύσουσίν | will happen · theyfuture active indicative 3rd person plural | serve | 2× |
| latreualaἐλάτρευσαν | happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural | served | 1× |
| latreuaneiōλατρεύωμεν | happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural | serve | 1× |
| latreuarōλατρεύειν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | serve | 3× |
| latreuarōtasλατρεύουσα | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular feminine | serving | 1× |
| latreuarōtemλατρεῦον | happening now · subjectpresent active participle direct singular neuter | serve | 1× |
| latreuarōtonλατρεύοντα | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine | worshiper | 1× |
| latreuarōtoisλατρεύοντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | serve | 2× |
| latreuarōtoinλατρεύοντας | happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine | worshipers | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 11 occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | latreuamō4×λατρεύω | latreuame | latreuami | latreuama | latreuamē | latreuamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | latreuasō | latreuase | latreuasi2×λατρεύσεις | latreuasa | latreuasē | latreuaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | latreuatō | latreuate | latreuati | latreuata | latreuatē | latreuatelē |
| we 1st person plural | latreuanō | latreuane | latreuani | latreuana | latreuanē | latreuanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | latreuavō | latreuave | latreuavi | latreuava | latreuavē | latreuavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | latreualō2×λατρεύουσιν | latreuale | latreuali2×λατρεύσουσίν | latreuala1×ἐλάτρευσαν | latreualē | latreualelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | latreuameiō | latreuameia | latreuameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | latreuaseiō | latreuaseia | latreuaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | latreuateiō | latreuateia | latreuateiē |
| we 1st person plural | latreuaneiō1×λατρεύωμεν | latreuaneia | latreuaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | latreuaveiō | latreuaveia | latreuaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | latreualeiō | latreualeia | latreualeiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | latreuasōr | latreuasar | latreuasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | latreuatōr | latreuatar | latreuatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | latreuavōr | latreuavar | latreuavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | latreualōr | latreualar | latreualēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | latreuamoiō | latreuamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | latreuasoiō | latreuasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | latreuatoiō | latreuatoia |
| we 1st person plural | latreuanoiō | latreuanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | latreuavoiō | latreuavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | latreualoiō | latreualoia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 3 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | latreuarō3×λατρεύειν | latreuari | latreuara | latreuarē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | latreuarōtos6× | latreuaritos | latreuaratos | latreuarētos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
latreu is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
21 occurrences, every one of them listed
latreuamō“serve”happening now · Ipresent active indicative 1st person singular4×
Acts 24:14“worship”homologamō de houtem si hoti kata tan hodan han legalō hairesian houtōs latreuamō to patrōo theo, pisteuarōtos pantei tei kata ton nomon kai tei en toi profētoi grafirētei,I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
Acts 27:23“serve”paristanata gar mi houta ta nuxa tou theou, hou amō, ho kai latreuamō, angelosFor just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
Romans 1:9“serve”marturos gar mu atō tos theos, ho latreuamō en te pneume mu en te euangelie tou huiou autou, hōs adialeiptōs mneian vu poiemōGod, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
2 Timothy 1:3“serve”Charian echamō to theo, ho latreuamō apo progonoiu en kathara suneidēsia, hōs adialeiptan echamō tan peri su mneian en tai deēsiai mu, nuxau kai hēmerauI thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
latreualō“serve”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Hebrews 8:5“serve”hotinois hupodeigme kai skia latreualō teiu epouraneiu, kathōs chrēmatizitē Mōusos mellarōtos epitelarō tan skēnan, Horasōr gar, fēatō, poiasi panteim kata ton tupon ton deiknuiraton si en te ore;The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Revelation 7:15“serve”dia houtem alō enōpion tou thronou tou theou, kai latreualō auto hēmerau kai nuxau en to nao autou, kai tos katherōtos epi tou thronou skēnati epi autoin.For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
latreuasi“serve”will happen · youfuture active indicative 2nd person singular2×
Matthew 4:10“serve”tote legatō auto tos Iēsus; Hupagasōr, Satanaor; grafitē gar; Kurion ton theon su proskunasi kai auto mono latreuasi.“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Luke 4:8“serve”kai apokriniratos tos Iēsus legata auto; Grafitē; Kurion ton theon su proskunasi kai auto mono latreuasi.But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
latreuali“serve”will happen · theyfuture active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Acts 7:7“worship”kai tem ethnem he ean douleuali krinami mis, tos theos legata, kai meta houteim exercheli kai latreuali mi en to topo houto.‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’
Revelation 22:3“serve”kai pantem katathemem ouk eti ēti. kai tos thronos tou theou kai teu arnieu en auta eti, kai tois doulois autou latreuali auto,No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be within the city, and His servants will worship Him.
latreuala“served”happened · theyaorist active indicative 3rd person plural1×
Romans 1:25“served”hotinois metallassala tan alētheian tou theou en te pseuse, kai sebazila kai latreuala ta ktisia para ton ktizaraton, hos atō eulogētos eis toin aiōnoin; amēn.They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
latreuaneiō“serve”happening now · wepresent active subjunctive 1st person plural1×
Hebrews 12:28“serve”dio basileian asaleutan paralambarōtois echaneiō charian, dia hau latreuaneiō euarestōs to theo meta eulabeiau kai deeu,Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
latreuarō“serve”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive3×
Luke 1:74“serve”afobōs ek cheirau echthroiu ruiratoin latreuarō autodeliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,
Acts 7:42“worship”strefata de tos theos kai paradōata autoin latreuarō ta stratia tou ouranou, kathōs grafitē en bibla toiu profētoiu; Mē sfagieim kai thusiain prosferava mi eteim tesserakonta en ta erēma, oikor Israēl?But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
Hebrews 9:14“serve”pose mallon tem haimem tou Christou, hos dia pneumeu aiōnieu heauton prosferata amōmon to theo, katharizati tan suneidēsian nu apo nekreiu ergeiu eis tem latreuarō theo zōarōto.how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
latreuarōtas“serving”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular feminine1×
Luke 2:37“serving”kai autas chēras heōs eteiu ogdoēkonta tessares, has ouk afistanete teu hiereu nēsteiai kai deēsiai latreuarōtas nuxan kai hēmeran.and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
latreuarōtem“serve”happening now · subjectpresent active participle direct singular neuter1×
Acts 26:7“serve”eis han tem dōdekafulem nu en ekteneia nuxan kai hēmeran latreuarōtem elpizatō katantara; peri hau elpiau enkalimō hupo Ioudaioiu, basilevor;the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. It is because of this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
latreuarōton“worshiper”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative singular masculine1×
Hebrews 9:9“worshiper”hotinas parabolas eis ton kairon ton enistanarēton, kata han dōreim tē kai thusiais prosferilō mē dunerōtais kata suneidēsian teleiara ton latreuarōton,It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
latreuarōtois“serve”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
Philippians 3:3“worship”nis gar anō tas peritomas, tois pneume theou latreuarōtois kai kaucherōtois en Christo Iēso kai ouk en sarxa peitharētois,For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —
Hebrews 13:10“serve”echanō thusiastēriem ek heu esthiara ouk echalō exousian tois ta skēna latreuarōtois.We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
latreuarōtoin“worshipers”happening now · objectpresent active participle accusative plural masculine1×
Hebrews 10:2“worshipers”epei ouk an pauela prosferirōtais, dia tem mēdenan echarō ēti suneidēsian hamartaiu toin latreuarōtoin hapax katharizirētoin?If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.