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Topic:
Thoughts
And Things Of The Bible -- Adoration
The acts and postures by which the Hebrews expressed adoration bear a
great similarity to those still in use among Oriental nations. To rise up
and suddenly prostrate the body was the most simple method; but, generally
speaking, the prostration was conducted in a more formal manner, the
person falling upon the knee and then gradually inclining the body until
the forehead touched the ground. Such prostration was usual in the worship
of Jehovah, (Genesis 17:3; Psalms 95:6) it was the formal mode of
receiving visitors, (Genesis 18:2) of doing obeisance to one of superior
station, (2 Samuel 14:4) and of showing respect to equals. (1 Kings 2:19)
It was accompanied by such acts as a kiss, (Exodus 18:7) laying hold of
the knees or feet of the person to whom the adoration was paid, (Matthew
28:9) and kissing the ground on which he stood. (Psalms 72:9; Micah 7:17)
Similar adoration was paid to idols, (1 Kings 19:18) sometimes, however,
the act consisted simply in kissing the hand to the object of reverence,
(Job 31:27) and in kissing the statue itself. (Hosea 13:2)
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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