Quick Charge Your Faith - Lost Words

Reclaiming the power of what the words of God really mean.

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The Lost Power of Words in Scripture

Have you ever noticed how some words in the Bible don’t seem to carry the same weight they used to? Words change over time, and sometimes, their original meaning gets lost. Some words have been lost altogether. But the words in Scripture were chosen by God to teach us something important. If we lose their meaning, we can miss what He’s trying to tell us.

One word that has changed a lot in its meaning is respect and, by that change, we have lost a powerful aspect of God’s teaching. That’s what we’re exploring today. Let’s start with a few examples of words that helped define respect in the Bible.

Obeisance – A Heart That Bows

One of the words in the Bible that we have all but lost completely today is obeisance. The Hebrew word shachah (שָׁחָה) means bowing down in deep reverence, submission, or worship. It wasn’t just a gesture—it was a way of showing true humility before someone greater.

In Genesis 37:7, Joseph shares a dream where his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his: “And, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” Later, this dream came true when his brothers literally bowed before him in Egypt.

While we don’t typically bow to people today, the idea behind obeisance still matters. Psalm 95:6 calls us to, “Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” True respect starts with recognizing God’s authority and surrendering our hearts to Him. If we skip that step, we’re only giving Him half our worship.

Homage – Giving God Our Best

Another word we don’t use much anymore is homage. In Greek, proskuneo means to acknowledge someone’s authority. The wise men understood this when they came looking for Jesus. “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). But they didn’t just come to worship—they brought gifts.

Unlike obeisance, which is about submission, homage is about offering something valuable as an act of honor. It’s easy to say we respect God, but do we actually bring Him our best? Romans 13:7 reminds us, “Give honor to whom honor is due.” God deserves our best—our time, our attention, our obedience—not just our rituals of worship.

Reverence – Remembering Who God Is

Reverence is another word that has lost some of its strength. The Hebrew yare and Greek sebomai mean more than just respect—they describe a deep sense of awe and fear in the presence of something great.

Leviticus 19:30 says, “You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.” And Hebrews 12:28 reminds us to, “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.”

Today, "reverence" still exists in religious settings but is less common in everyday life. Reverence is often reduced to politeness or compliance. But the Bible’s idea of reverence is much deeper. It’s about being so aware of God’s greatness that it shapes how we pray, worship, and live. When we recover this lost sense of awe, we start seeing God for who He really is—not just as a friend, but as the Almighty King who deserves our devotion.

Respect – What It Really Means

Now, we come to the changed word that may impact us the most: respect. While Scripture ties respect to honor, reverence, and submission to God's authority, today’s culture often defines it differently. The shift in meaning has influenced how we approach God and others.

In the Bible, respect was closely linked to hierarchy and reverence. It was directed toward God, parents, elders, and leaders as an acknowledgment of their God-given roles. Today, respect is often about equality or ideology rather than recognizing authority as given by God. Instead of seeing respect as something given to those who God tells us to respect, many now believe it must be earned by compliance with cultural or political standards.

Respect in Scripture was also about recognizing worth. Romans 13:7 says, “Pay to all what is owed to them… respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” It wasn’t about social temperance or cultural identity but about truly acknowledging the value of others. Today, respect is often equated with tolerance—allowing for differences rather than honoring someone’s role or standing.

There has also been a major shift in the direction of respect. Biblically, respect was outward, focused on honoring God and others. Romans 12:10 tells us to “Outdo one another in showing honor.” Modern culture, however, focuses much more strongly on self-worth and personal dignity. While self-respect is important, biblical respect teaches respect toward God first then others before self.

Hebrews 12:9 connects respect to awe and submission: “We have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” Biblical respect included a sense of recognition of authority and a duty to submission. Today, respect is often about personal empowerment rather than honoring God’s rule.

So how do we reclaim the power of true respect? It starts with God. When we bow in reverence, give Him honor, and submit to His authority, respect regains its true meaning. It transforms how we worship, how we treat others, and how we live out our faith. Best of all, it leads to the blessings that come with living according to God’s will, the perfect will that He has revealed in His Holy word.

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