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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMcClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Knee
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(Heb. and Chald. áֶּøֶêְ , be'rek; Gr. ãüíõ ; Psa_109:24; in Dan_5:6, the Chald. term is àִøְëֻּáָä , arkcubah'). The Hebrew word, as a verb, signifies to bend the knee (2Ch_6:13), also to bless, to pronounce or give a blessing, because the person blessed kneels. SEE BLESSING. In this sense it refers to the benediction of dying parents (Gen_27:4; Gen_27:7; Gen_27:10; Gen_27:19), of the priest to the people (Lev_9:22-23), of a prophet (Num_24:1; Deu_33:1). It also signifies to salute, which is connected with blessing (2Ki_4:29). In relation to God, to praise, to thank him (Deu_8:10; Psa_16:7).
The expression is also, in another form, used in reference to camels, as to make them bend the knee in order to take rest: "And he made his camels to kneel down without the city" (Gen_24:11). SEE CAMEL.
To bow the knee is to perform an act of worship (1Ki_19:18), and in this sense it is used in the Heb. in Isa_66:3; "He that worships idols" is, literally, " He that bows the knee" to them. SEE WORSHIP. That kneeling was the posture of prayer we learn from 2Ch_6:13; Dan_6:10; Luk_22:41; Act_7:60; Ephesians 3,14. SEE PRAYER.
Knees are sometimes put symbolically for persons, as in Job_4:4; Heb_12:12 (Wemyss). SEE KNEEL.
For the peculiar term in Gen_41:43 (see Reineccius, De nomine , àִáְøֵêְ W Veissenf. 1726), see ABRECI.