---
title: Matthew 28:9
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-28-9/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/matthew-28-9.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Matthew 28:9
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Matthew 28:9

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him.

## JW Usage

The NWT renders proskuneo as "did obeisance" when directed at Jesus but as "worship" when directed at Jehovah, Satan, or the Beast. In Matthew 28:9 the women clasp the risen Jesus' feet and "did obeisance to him" (NWT). JWs argue this is respectful homage to a king or God's appointed agent — the same gesture a subject might make to a monarch — not worship in the sense reserved for Jehovah.

## Protestant Usage

The Greek word proskuneo appears throughout the New Testament for worship of God, of idols, and of Jesus. The NWT translates this identical word as "worship" approximately 22 times when directed at the Father, at Satan, and at the Beast — yet as "obeisance" approximately 17 times when directed at Jesus. The translation choice is theological, not linguistic. In Matthew 28:9, the women clasp the risen Jesus' feet and worship him; he does not refuse. This contrasts sharply with the angel in Revelation 22:8-9, who rebukes John for the identical action. In Revelation 5:13-14, the Lamb receives the same praise as God — "to the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb" — with no refusal and no correction. The disciples worship Jesus after he walks on water (Matthew 14:33), and Thomas confesses him as "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) without rebuke. Only deity can legitimately receive proskuneo without refusing it.

## NWT Issue

The NWT systematically renders proskuneo as "obeisance" when directed at Jesus but as "worship" when directed at God, Satan, or the Beast. The identical Greek word receives two different English translations based solely on who the object is. The NWT's own 1945 edition rendered Hebrews 1:6 as "worship," but later editions changed it to "obeisance." No major English translation makes this distinction.

## 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]
- [Whose Angel Is It? — God and Jesus Both Claim Ownership](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/rev22-whose-angel.md) — Revelation 22:6 / 22:16 [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]