Does The Greek Word For “Worship” Mean To Kiss Like A Dog?

The Greek word commonly rendered “worship” in English translations of Bible is the verb proskyneō. It is sometimes claimed that proskyneō means to kiss, like a dog licks the hand of his master. This misconception stems from the dictionary entry for proskyneō in Strong’s Concordance:

4352. προσκυνέω proskynéō, pros-koo-neh'-o; from 4314 (pros) and a probable derivative of 2965 (kyōn) (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):—worship.

The entry states that proskyneō is made up of two parts:

1. the preposition pros “toward; before”, and
2. a derivative of the noun kyōn, which means “dog”.

However, this entry is mistaken. The second part of proskyneō is not derived from the noun kyōn “dog”, but is actually the verb kyneō, which means “to kiss”. Thus, the idea of a “dog” is not at all a part of the meaning of proskyneō. In 2001, Zondervan published an updated and revised edition of Strong’s Concordance, in which this mistake was removed:

4352. προσκυνέω, proskyneō, v. GK: 4686 [→ 4353 (proskynētēs); cf. 4314 (pros)]. to worship, pay homage, show reverence; to kneel down (before):— worship [35], worshipped [24], worshipping [1]

The following is the entry for proskyneō in a scholarly lexicon:

προσκυνέω (κυνέω ‘to kiss’) ... (... Frequently used to designate the custom of prostrating oneself before persons and kissing their feet or the hem of their garment, the ground etc.; the Persians did this in the presence of their deified king, and the Greeks before a divinity or something holy.) to express in attitude or gesture one’s complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure, (fall down and) worship, do obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to, welcome respectfully, (BDAG)

As one may observe, proskyneō comes from the verb kyneō, which this scholarly lexicon gives the definition: “to kiss”. There is no mention at all to any relation to the noun kyōn “dog”.

The Greek verb proskyneō simply meant to bow down; to prostrate oneself before someone as an expression of submission. There is no evidence at all that the meaning or origin of proskyneō was in any way related to the noun kyōn “dog”, much less that it means to kiss like a dog licking the hand of its master.