Praise and Worship

 “worship” (Strong's Concordance, 2023): “Full of humiliation and surrender, with your body extended, begging spread out over the floor.”

In 1 Chronicles 16, David uses the word shachah, which English Bible translators have translated as “worship.” However, this word means much more in Hebrew.

In very basic form, shachah means, “to bow down.” Expanding further on the word, it carries a richness of other connotations like the action of prostration on the ground, paying homage and to humbly beseech someone else.

barak

This word is lessened in severity from shachah, but still carries the connotation of kneeling in reverence and literally bending at the waist as a sign of submission. Barak is used in many ways in the Old Testament, and it can also mean, “to bless in adoration.”

todah

Taken from another Hebrew word, yadah. Todah literally means “thanksgiving.” It is also used to describe a thank offering or an act of adoration. In some instances, todah is used in conjunction with choirs and many voices. It can also refer to holding out the hands in worship or extending and casting the arms outward. Psalm 100 uses this word when it reads, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving (todah), and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

Zamar is another word for worship that means, “to make music in praise of god.”

halal

It is the root of hallelujah. It means “to give foolish glory.” In some places, it can mean “to shine” or “to celebrate.” Other places in the Bible, translators have made it simply “worthy of praise.” We see David make foolish praise to the Lord when he danced before the parade of the Ark of the Covenant. It means making more of God no matter how it makes you look in turn.

Cagad (saw-gad')

(Qal) to prostrate oneself (in worship)

The word “praise” in Hebrew is HAWLAL. According to the Strong’s Concordance (2023) this word literally means ‘to boast out loud about something’.

Praise turns into worship when you say: “God, You are good” despite your circumstances. At that moment, you choose to believe so and surrender yourself to that. Simply singing songs is not what worship is.