2356. thréskeia
Strong's Lexicon
thréskeia: Religion, Worship

Original Word: θρησκεία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: thréskeia
Pronunciation: thrace-KI-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (thrace-ki'-ah)
Definition: Religion, Worship
Meaning: (underlying sense: reverence or worship of the gods), worship as expressed in ritual acts, religion.

Word Origin: Derived from a derivative of θρησκός (thrēskos), meaning "religious" or "devout."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "thréskeia," the concept of religious practice and worship can be related to Hebrew terms such as עֲבוֹדָה (avodah, Strong's H5656) meaning "service" or "worship," and חָסִיד (chasid, Strong's H2623) meaning "pious" or "devout."

Usage: In the New Testament, "thréskeia" refers to the outward expression of religious devotion, including rituals, ceremonies, and acts of worship. It emphasizes the external aspects of religious practice rather than the internal faith or belief system. The term can carry both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context, highlighting either genuine devotion or mere ritualism.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, "thréskeia" was commonly used to describe the religious practices and ceremonies of various cults and religions. It encompassed the formal aspects of worship, such as sacrifices, prayers, and festivals. In Jewish and early Christian contexts, the term could refer to the observance of religious laws and traditions. The early Christians often distinguished between true faith and mere external religiosity, emphasizing a heartfelt relationship with God over ritualistic observance.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from a derivation of thréskos
Definition
religion
NASB Translation
religion (3), worship (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2356: θρησκεία

θρησκεία Tdf. θρησκια (see Iota) (a later word; Ionic θρησκιη in Herodotus (2, 18. 37)), θρησκείας, (from θρησκεύω, and this from θρησκός, which see; hence, apparently primarily fear of the gods); religious worship, especially external, that which consists in ceremonies: hence, in plural θρησκιας ἐπιτελεῖν μυριάς, Herodotus 2, 37; καθιστας ἁγνείας τέ καί θρησκείας καί καθαρμους, Dionysius Halicarnassus 2, 63; universally, religious worship, James 1:26f; with the genitive of the object (Winer's Grammar, 187 (176)) τῶν ἀγγέλων, Colossians 2:18 (τῶν εἰδώλων, Wis. 14:27; τῶν δαιμον´ων, Eusebius, h. e. 6, 41, 2; τῶν θεῶν, ibid. 9, 9, 14; τοῦ Θεοῦ, Herodian, 4, 8, 17 (7 edition, Bekker); often in Josephus (cf. Krebs, Observations, etc., p. 339f); Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 45, 7 [ET]); religious discipline, religion: ἡμετέρα θρησκεία, of Judaism, Acts 26:5 (τήν ἐμήν θρησκειαν καταλιπών, put into the mouth of God by Josephus, Antiquities 8, 11, 1; with the genitive of the subjunctive τῶν Ἰουδαίων, 4 Macc. 5:6, 13 (12); Josephus, Antiquities 12, 5, 4; θρησκεία κοσμικη, i. e. worthy to be embraced by all nations, a world religion, b. j. 4, 5, 2; piety, περί τόν Θεόν, Antiquities 1, 13, 1; κατά τήν ἔμφυτον θρησκειαν τῶν βαρβάρων πρός τό βασιλικόν ὄνομα, Chariton 7, 6, p. 165, 18 edition, Reiske; of the reverence of Antiochus the Pious for the Jewish religion, Josephus, Antiquities 13, 8, 2). Cf. Grimm on 4 Macc. 5:6; (especially Trench, § xlviii.).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
religion, worshipping.

From a derivative of threskos; ceremonial observance -- religion, worshipping.

see GREEK threskos

Forms and Transliterations
θρησκεια θρησκεία θρησκείᾳ θρησκειας θρησκείας threskeia threskeía thrēskeia thrēskeía threskeíāi thrēskeíāi threskeias threskeías thrēskeias thrēskeías
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Englishman's Concordance
Acts 26:5 N-GFS
GRK: τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας ἔζησα Φαρισαῖος
NAS: to the strictest sect of our religion.
KJV: of our religion I lived
INT: of the of us religion I lived a Pharisee

Colossians 2:18 N-DFS
GRK: ταπεινοφροσύνῃ καὶ θρησκείᾳ τῶν ἀγγέλων
NAS: in self-abasement and the worship of the angels,
KJV: and worshipping of angels,
INT: humility and worship of the angels

James 1:26 N-NFS
GRK: μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία
NAS: this man's religion is worthless.
KJV: heart, this man's religion [is] vain.
INT: worthless [is] the religion

James 1:27 N-NFS
GRK: θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ
NAS: and undefiled religion in the sight
KJV: Pure religion and undefiled
INT: Religion pure and

Strong's Greek 2356
4 Occurrences


θρησκείᾳ — 3 Occ.
θρησκείας — 1 Occ.

















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