Lexical Summary
kara: To bow, to kneel, to bend, to bring low
Original Word:כָּרַע
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:kara`
Pronunciation:kah-rah'
Phonetic Spelling:(kaw-rah')
KJV: bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, X very
NASB:bowed down, bowed, bow, subdued, bow down, couches, kneel down
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to bend the knee
2. (by implication) to sink, to prostrate
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bow down, self, bring down low, cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling,
A primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate -- bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, X very.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto bow down
NASB Translationbow (3), bow down (2), bowed (4), bowed down (9), bring him low (1), brought me very low (1), couches (2), crouch (1), feeble (1), fell (1), kneel down (2), kneeled down (1), kneeled* (1), kneeling (1), kneels* (1), sank (1), subdued (3), very low (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic ; Arabic
put one's mouth into water, or water-vessel; i.e. kneel to drink ? denominative from following ? —
Perfect3milesGenesis 49:6 6t.; 3 masculine pluralJudges 7:6 4t.;ImperfectJudges 7:5 3t.; 1 singularEzra 9:5; 3masculine pluralJob 31:10; 2masculine pluralIsaiah 65:12; 1pluralPsalm 95:6 6t. Imperfect;Infinitive construct1 Kings 8:54;participleEsther 3:5; pluralEsther 3:2; feminineJob 4:4. —
bow to drinkJudges 7:5,6, in supplication to Elijah2 Kings 1:13; in the worship of God1 Kings 8:34;Ezra 9:5; with subject and of God1 Kings 19:18;Isaiah 45:23; without withPsalm 22:30;Psalm 72:9; "" 2Chronicles 7:3; 29:29;Psalm 95:6, worship of God, butEsther 3:2 (twice in verse);Esther 3:5 in obeisance to Haman.
bow down, of the couching lionGenesis 49:9;Numbers 24:9 (both poetry).
pregnant with ,bow down over (in order to lie with) a womanJob 31:10.
bow down, of a woman in childbirth1 Samuel 4:19, so of animalsJob 39:3; idols, removed by enemiesIsaiah 46:1,2;Job 4:4tottering (feeble) knees; of enemies in death, []bow and fall downJudges 5:27 (3 t. in verse);Psalm 20:9 pregnant without2 Kings 9:24;Isaiah 65:12, withIsaiah 10:4. —
Perfect3masculine singularPsalm 78:31; 2feminine singular suffixJudges 11:35;Imperfect2masculine singular2 Samuel 22:40 =Psalm 18:40;Imperative suffixPsalm 17:13;Infinitive absoluteJudges 11:35. —
bow in griefJudges 11:35 (twice in verse).
bow down in deathPsalm 17:13;Psalm 78:31, with2 Samuel 22:40 =Psalm 18:40.
Topical Lexicon
Overviewכָּרַע (karaʿ) portrays a decisive bending of the body or of circumstances—knees folding, strength collapsing, pride brought low. Its thirty-six Old Testament occurrences move fluidly between voluntary reverence and involuntary ruin, yet always point to the inescapable lordship of God.
Reverent Kneeling before the LORD
The word most often pictures worshipers whose hearts and knees align in humble dependence. Solomon “rose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven” (1 Kings 8:54). Centuries later Ezra embodies identical contrition: “At the time of the evening sacrifice, I rose from my humiliation, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees” (Ezra 9:5). Micah makes the posture a question of approach: “With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the exalted God?” (Micah 6:6).Psalm 22:29 extends the circle of worship to “all who go down to the dust,” stressing that even frail mortals incapable of saving themselves must, and will, kneel.
Distinguishing the Faithful
At the spring of Harod the verb separates Gideon’s three hundred from the fearful multitudes. “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink” (Judges 7:5). Those who remained alert—who did not fully fold themselves to the water—were judged fit for battle. The narrative turns a physical posture into spiritual discernment: careless bowing exposed a lack of vigilance.
Collapse under Divine Judgment
כָּרַע also marks those whom God overthrows. Deborah sings of Sisera, “At her feet he sank, he fell… where he sank, there he fell—dead” (Judges 5:27). Isaiah foresees rebels with no refuge: “Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain” (Isaiah 10:4). David contrasts destinies: “They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:8). The same root that dignifies worshipers debases the unrepentant; refusal to bow willingly becomes enforced prostration.
Idols and Nations Brought Low
Through Isaiah the LORD mocks powerless deities: “Bel crouches; Nebo cowers… the gods cower and crouch together; they cannot deliver the burden” (Isaiah 46:1-2). Idols, carried by their makers, end up bent double. The prophetic sarcasm anticipates a broader reversal: “The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous” (Proverbs 14:19). Political and spiritual pretenders share the same fate—brought to their knees before Yahweh and His people.
Universal Submission to Messiah
Psalm 72 envisions the King’s global dominion: “May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust” (Psalm 72:9). Isaiah ratifies the promise: “Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will confess allegiance” (Isaiah 45:23). The New Testament echoes the prophecy, applying it to Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10). Thus karaʿ underwrites the eschatology of Scripture: voluntary or forced, every creature will bend.
Pastoral and Devotional Implications
1. Worship posture matters. While true worship is “in spirit and in truth,” Scripture commends bodily kneeling as an outward sign of heart submission.
2. Watchfulness in service. Gideon’s test warns against careless ease that dulls spiritual alertness.
3. Humility precedes exaltation. Those who kneel willingly are lifted; those who refuse are toppled.
4. Confidence in God’s vindication. The righteous need not force their adversaries down—God Himself sees that “the evil bow… at the gates of the righteous.”
5. Gospel urgency. Isaiah’s promise of universal submission urges proclamation now, so that men and women may bow in saving faith rather than crushing defeat.
Karaʿ therefore threads through Scripture as a physical gesture that reveals inner allegiance and foretells cosmic realities. Whether describing saints at prayer, warriors at a brook, idols toppling, or nations surrendering, the verb presses one question upon every reader: Will I bend the knee now, or be bent when He comes?
Forms and Transliterations
הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ הִכְרַעְתִּ֔נִי הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ הַכְרֵ֣עַ הכריע׃ הכריעהו הכרע הכרעתני וְנִכְרָ֑עָה וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ וַיִּכְרַ֖ע וַיִּכְרַ֥ע וַתִּכְרַ֣ע וָֽאֶכְרְעָה֙ ואכרעה ויכרע ויכרעו ונכרעה ותכרע יִ֭כְרְעוּ יִכְרְע֣וּ יִכְרְע֥וּן יִכְרַ֖ע יִכְרַ֥ע יכרע יכרעו יכרעון כָּרְע֗וּ כָּרְע֣וּ כָּרְע֥וּ כָּרַ֔ע כָּרַ֣ע כָּרַ֥ע כָּרַ֨ע כָֽרְעוּ֙ כָרַע֙ כֹּרְע֣וֹת כֹּרְעִ֤ים כֹּרֵ֥עַ כרע כרעו כרעות כרעים מִכְּרֹ֣עַ מכרע תִּ֭כְרַעְנָה תִּכְרַ֣ע תִּכְרָ֔עוּ תַּכְרִ֖יעַ תַּכְרִ֥יעַ תכריע תכרע תכרעו תכרענה chaRa chareU hachRea hachriEhu haḵ·rê·a‘ haḵ·rî·‘ê·hū haḵrêa‘ haḵrî‘êhū hichraTini hichRia hiḵ·ra‘·ti·nî hiḵ·rî·a‘ hiḵra‘tinî hiḵrîa‘ kā·ra‘ ḵā·ra‘ kā·rə·‘ū ḵā·rə·‘ū kaRa kāra‘ ḵāra‘ kārə‘ū ḵārə‘ū kareU kō·rə·‘îm kō·rə·‘ō·wṯ kō·rê·a‘ kōrə‘îm kōrə‘ōwṯ koRea kōrêa‘ koreIm koreot mik·kə·rō·a‘ mikkeRoa mikkərōa‘ tachRia taḵ·rî·a‘ taḵrîa‘ tichRa Tichranah tichRau tiḵ·ra‘ tiḵ·ra‘·nāh tiḵ·rā·‘ū tiḵra‘ tiḵra‘nāh tiḵrā‘ū vaechreAh vaiyichRa vaiyichreU vattichRa venichRaah wā’eḵrə‘āh wā·’eḵ·rə·‘āh wat·tiḵ·ra‘ wattiḵra‘ way·yiḵ·ra‘ way·yiḵ·rə·‘ū wayyiḵra‘ wayyiḵrə‘ū wə·niḵ·rā·‘āh wəniḵrā‘āh yichRa Yichreu yichreUn yiḵ·ra‘ yiḵ·rə·‘ū yiḵ·rə·‘ūn yiḵra‘ yiḵrə‘ū yiḵrə‘ūn
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