OBEISANCE (used in the expressions to do or to make obeisance in the KJV, and so used nine times in the KJV to tr. the reflexive form of שָׁחָה, H8817, to bow down or to prostrate oneself). “Obeisance,” from the French, originally meant “obedience,” but today seems to mean a bow or some other movement of the body whereby respect and reverence is shown to a superior. As such, it is a good tr. for שָׁחָה, H8817, since both include the ideas of worship and action appropriate to it. שָׁחָה, H8817, is often used also for homage given God, but is not rendered then in the KJV as “to do obeisance,” but “to worship.” It is used also with reference to the worship of other gods. More recent scholars derive this Heb. verb from a reflexive, causative form of חוה, although with the change they do not assert a change in meaning. See Worship of Church.