Does Psalm 95:6 mean we should always bow down when we worship God?

Answer

The Hebrew term translated as “worship” literally means “to bow down.” In Psalm 95:6, the psalmist employs three distinct expressions to depict bowing down, which is the fundamental posture of worship in the Old Testament: “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker” (NLT, emphasis added). Each of the emphasized words conveys the act of bowing low, bending the knee, and kneeling. They are intended to encourage the worshiper to humble themselves before God, but physically bowing down is not the true essence of humbling oneself in worship.

In ancient times (and even in some present-day cultures), bowing down was the customary gesture of respect upon entering the presence of someone deserving of reverence. Bending down signified honor, submission, and loyalty to a higher authority. Therefore, the Israelites reserved this gesture exclusively for God. They were prohibited from bowing down to false gods or idols “thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;”, (Exodus 20:5).

Kneeling or bowing down symbolizes a stance of humility and submission, both physically and mentally, outwardly and inwardly. When we bow down in worship, we acknowledge God’s supreme position and embrace our own humble, surrendered state: “The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples” (Psalm 99:2;ESV;see also Psalm 46:10;see also Psalm 113:4).

Above all, our attitude is crucial in worship. Our hearts must always humbly “bow down” when we worship God, even if our bodies do not: “The high and lofty o

One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble’” «For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. », (Isaiah 57:15, NLT).

The Bible provides examples of worshippers in various physical positions besides bowing down. Sometimes, people fell facedown to the ground before the Lord (Nehemiah 8:6; Nehemiah 20:6; Nehemiah 22:31). At other times, they stood to sing songs of thanks and praise (Leviticus 9:5; 1 Chronicles 23:30). Miriam led the women of Israel to dance before the Lord «And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. », (Exodus 15:20). When the ark of the covenant was carried into Jerusalem, David leapt and danced in worship (2 Samuel 6:14-16). At the dedication of the temple, Solomon knelt with his hands raised toward heaven «And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. », (1 Kings 8:54).

The Bible sets a precedent for various postures in worship. We do not need to be physically bowing.

Bowing down to worship God is acceptable as long as our inner being is genuinely and humbly submitted to God in reverence. The apostle Paul instructed the Romans to worship God as a comprehensive way of life: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” «I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. », (Romans 12:1).

Bowing down is simply an outward expression of an inner attitude of humility, reverence, and submission. Jesus stated, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” «God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. », (John 4:24). To worship God in spirit and truth entails honoring Him with our entire being—heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Worship that is pleasing to God naturally emanates from pure hearts (Psalm 24:3-4;Isaiah 66:2). Whether we bow down, stand and shout, or quietly contemplate in our minds is inconsequential; if our hearts are humble, reverent, and submitted to God, then we are “bowing down” in worship, and our external posture is insignificant.