---
title: Matthew 14:33
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-14-33/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-14-33.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Matthew 14:33
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Matthew 14:33

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

## JW Usage

The NWT renders proskyneō here as "did obeisance to him" rather than "worshipped him." JWs argue that the disciples were showing respectful honour to God's representative, not offering religious worship — which belongs exclusively to Jehovah.

## Protestant Usage

After Jesus walks on water and calms the storm, "those in the boat did proskyneō to him, saying: 'You really are God's Son.'" The NWT translates proskyneō as "worship" when directed at the Father (30+ occurrences) but as "obeisance" when directed at Jesus (~17 occurrences) — the identical Greek word, two different English translations. The dividing line is purely theological: who receives the action, not the word itself. The 1945 NWT used "worship" in Hebrews 1:6 before changing to "obeisance." In Revelation 22:8–9, an angel refuses proskyneō ("Worship God!"), but Jesus never refuses it — a distinction only deity can explain. Revelation 5:13–14 directs the same doxology to "the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb" jointly, and the NWT itself uses "worshipped" in 5:14 for this joint worship.

## NWT Issue

The NWT renders proskyneō as "worship" when directed at the Father but as "obeisance" when directed at Jesus — the same Greek word with two different English translations. The dividing line is theological (the recipient), not linguistic. This pattern spans approximately 17 occurrences where Jesus receives proskyneō.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Jesus Receives Worship](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/worship-of-jesus.md) — Hebrews 1:6 / Revelation 5:13–14 / Daniel 7:13–14 [Deity of Christ]
- [The Elohim Category Trap](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/elohim-category.md) — Psalm 82 — If Jesus Is 'a God,' Which Kind? [Deity of Christ]
- [Gods Who Die and God to Pharaoh Don't Parallel Jesus](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/psalm82-exodus71-gods-parallel.md) — Psalm 82:6-7 / Exodus 7:1 / John 10:34-36 [Deity of Christ]
- [The Lamb Receives Identical Worship to God](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/revelation5-lamb-worship.md) — Revelation 5:12-14 / Revelation 22:8-9 / Isaiah 42:8 [Deity of Christ]
- [Proskuneo — Same Word, Different Translation](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/proskuneo-worship-obeisance.md) — Hebrews 1:6, Matthew 14:33, Revelation 5:14 [NWT Translation]