Here is another example from the Reading that clearly shows sujud does not mean physical prostration.
Wad-qulul ba-ban suj-jadan. (2:58)
And enter the gate consentingly (2:58)
There are such things as context and usage. Any particular word doesn't have a single absolute definition or a single usage.
For example, lets take the english word
Run.
You can have
run, ran, running, runner etc. None of these words are the same or have the exact same meaning but they have a similar "root" in English.
For context, the words could mean something
physical, as actual movement or they can mean other things depending on usage and context. You can "
run for Political Office". You can "
make a run for it", or at it as in making an attempt at something. You can "
run an errand". But there is no act of actually "running". You can "
give a run for the money" as in taking your best shot at something. (and shot is not literal here either
)
If one were to read an english scripture, for example, it wouldn't be reasonable or even logical to try to assign one singular, all encompassing definition to the word "run". One could easy pick any of the above examples of usage and say it "clearly" shows all other contexts and usages are mistaken because the definition and understanding wouldn't fit. For example, one could read a statement like, "
He ran for political office", and then say "run" clearly does not mean a physical thing, but that wouldn't be correct at all.
Arabic is not any different. Words have different usages and contexts depending on how they are used and what the subject is. Your example above is that they are to enter the gates
humbly. Prostration to God physically is an act of
humility. It's just context and usage and we can't pigeon hole words with a singular definition. Just my opinions.
