Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Significance:Kneeling is a physical posture often associated with prayer, worship, and submission in the biblical context. It signifies humility, reverence, and a heart posture of surrender before God. Throughout the Scriptures, kneeling is depicted as an act of devotion and respect, both in personal prayer and communal worship.
Biblical Instances:1.
Old Testament:·
Solomon's Dedication of the Temple: In
2 Chronicles 6:13, during the dedication of the Temple, Solomon kneels before the entire assembly of Israel, spreading out his hands toward heaven. This act of kneeling underscores his humility and dependence on God as he prays for divine guidance and blessing.
·
Ezra's Confession:Ezra 9:5 describes Ezra falling on his knees with his hands spread out to the LORD, confessing the sins of the people. This posture reflects deep contrition and earnest supplication.
2.
New Testament:·
Jesus in Gethsemane: In
Luke 22:41, Jesus withdraws from His disciples about a stone's throw, kneels down, and prays. This moment of kneeling in the Garden of Gethsemane highlights His submission to the Father's will, even in the face of impending suffering.
·
Stephen's Martyrdom:Acts 7:60 records Stephen, the first Christian martyr, kneeling down and praying for his persecutors as he is being stoned. His kneeling posture illustrates his forgiveness and Christ-like love even in death.
·
Paul's Farewell to the Ephesian Elders: In
Acts 20:36, Paul kneels down with all the elders of the church in Ephesus and prays with them. This act of kneeling together signifies unity and shared devotion among the believers.
Theological Implications:Kneeling in prayer and worship is a physical expression of the inner attitude of the heart. It is a demonstration of humility before God, acknowledging His sovereignty and our dependence on Him. The act of kneeling can also symbolize repentance, as seen in various biblical accounts where individuals kneel in confession and supplication.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Near Eastern cultures, kneeling was a common gesture of respect and submission, not only in religious contexts but also in social and political settings. It was a way to show honor to a superior or a king. In the biblical narrative, this cultural practice is infused with spiritual significance, emphasizing the believer's relationship with God.
Practical Application:For contemporary believers, kneeling remains a powerful posture of prayer and worship. It serves as a reminder of our need for God's grace and mercy, encouraging a spirit of humility and reverence. While physical kneeling is not always possible or necessary, the heart attitude it represents is essential in the life of faith.
Scriptural References:·
2 Chronicles 6:13 : "Now Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had placed it in the midst of the courtyard. He stood on it, knelt down before the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven."
·
Ezra 9:5 : "At the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the LORD my God."
·
Luke 22:41 : "And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed."
·
Acts 7:60 : "Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
·
Acts 20:36 : "When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. i.) To bend the knee; to fall or rest on the knees; -- sometimes with down.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
KNEE; KNEELne nel ("knee," berekh; Aramaic 'arekhubbah; gonu; "kneel"; barakh; Aramaic berakh; gonupeto): Most of the uses are obvious, and the figurative use of "knees" as the symbol of strength (Job 4:4Hebrews 12:12, etc.) needs no explanation. The disease of the knees mentioned inDeuteronomy 28:35 is perhaps some form of leprosy. InJob 3:12 the "knees" seem to be used for the lap, as the place where a child receives its first care. Three times in Genesis the knees appear in connection with primitive adoption customs. In 30:3 a fiction is enacted that purports to represent Rachel as the actual mother of Bilhah's children. By a somewhat similar rite in 48:12, Jacob (the "knees" here are Jacob's, not Joseph's) adopts Ephraim and Manasseh, so that they are counted as two of the twelve patriarchs and not as members of a single Joseph tribe. In the same way Machir's children are adopted by Joseph in 50:23, and this is certainly connected with the counting of Machir (instead of Manasseh) as one of the tribes inJudges 5:14. SeeTRIBE; and for the idea underlying this paternal adoption, compare THIGH. From among classical instances of the same customs compare Homer, Odyssey, xix. 401;, where Autolukos, grandfather of Ulysses, receives the newborn grandchild on his knees and gives him his name. Thus also we have to understand the numerous representations in Egyptian sculpture, showing the king as an infant on the knees or the lap of a goddess.
Kneeling was less commonly an attitude of prayer among the Jews than was standing, but references to kneeling are of course abundant. For kneeling (or prostrating one's self) before a superior, see ATTITUDES, 2; SALUTATION.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
1120. gonupeteo -- to fall on the knees... bow the knee,
kneel down. From a compound of gonu and the alternate of pipto; to
fall on the knee -- bow the knee,
kneel down. see GREEK gonu. see GREEK pipto.
...5087. tithemi -- to place, lay, set
... an upright and active position, while keimai is properly reflexive and utterly
prostrate) -- + advise, appoint, bow, commit, conceive, give, Xkneel down, lay...
Strong's Hebrew
1288. barak -- tokneel, bless... 1287, 1288. barak. 1289 . to
kneel, bless. Transliteration: barak Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-rak') Short Definition: blessed. Word Origin a prim.
...1289. berak -- tokneel, bless
... 1288, 1289. berak. 1290 . tokneel, bless. Transliteration: berak Phonetic
Spelling: (ber-ak') Short Definition: blessed.... bless,kneel....
86. abrek -- tokneel
... abrek. 87 . tokneel. Transliteration: abrek Phonetic Spelling: (ab-rake') Short
Definition:kneel.... Probably an Egyptian word meaningkneel -- bow the knee....
3766. kara -- to bow down
... Usage bow (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...
1295. berekah -- a pool, pond
... fishpool. From barak; a reservoir (at which camelskneel as a resting-place) --
(fish-)pool. see HEBREW barak. 1294, 1295. berekah. 1296 . Strong's Numbers
Library
How they do notKneel from the Evening of Saturday Till the...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XVIII. How they do notkneel from the evening of Saturday
till the evening of Sunday. This, too, we ought to...
Forasmuch as There are Certain Persons whoKneel on the Lord's Day...
... Canon XX. Forasmuch as there are certain persons whokneel on the Lord's
Day and in the? Forasmuch as there are certain persons...
The Doomed Three
... Prepare, then, to die,' said Ga??nas.Kneel at this block.'. One moment, and I am
ready,' he said....Kneel, enemy of the Goths!' said Ga??nas. There is the block....
Knox in England: the Black Rubric: Exile: 1549-1554
... one thing, daily thirsting and calling unto God for reformation of that and others."
{33c} But he did not bear that one thing; he would notkneel even after...
On the Negative Spirit
... In that temple the lights are low, the crowdskneel, the solemn anthems are
uplifted. But that upon the altar to which all menkneel...
The Converted Infidel
... moving sight to see that gentle girl, with a mature thoughtfulness far beyond her
years, take that younger brother and sister by the hand, andkneel with them...
Christmas we Love Him for He First Loved Us.
... The pledge and bond of love,. With thankful heart Ikneel to take. This treasure
from above. Ikneel beside Thy couch,. I press Thee to my heart,....
Ave, Gratia Plena
... Fain in thy shadow would we rest,. Andkneel with thee, and call thee blest;... Nay
every day, each suppliant hour,. Whene'er wekneel in aisle or bower,....
CM Whittier. Nature's Worship.
... worshipping. 2 Theykneel upon the sloping sand As bends the human knee;
A beautiful and tireless band, The priesthood of the sea....
Heal Me, O My Savior, Heal
... Heal me, O my Savior, heal; Heal me as I suppliantkneel; Heal me, and my pardon
seal.... Heal me, then, my Savior, heal; Heal me, as I suppliantkneel;...
Thesaurus
Kneel (10 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KNEE;
KNEEL. ne nel
... SALUTATION. Burton Scott Easton.
Multi-Version Concordance
Kneel (10 Occurrences). Matthew
...Knee (12 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KNEE;KNEEL.... Let'skneel before Yahweh, our
Maker, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Kneeled (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (pp) ofKneel. Multi-Version Concordance Kneeled
(12 Occurrences). Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore...
Attitudes (1 Occurrence)
... The most common terms are those rendered "to stand," "to bow," "tokneel" and
"prostrate oneself" or "fall on the face." It is not always easy to differentiate...
Homage (51 Occurrences)
... myrrh. (WEY DBY). Matthew 4:9 and said to Him, "All this I will give you,
if you willkneel down and do me homage." (WEY DBY). Matthew...
Knelt (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) ofKneel. 2. (imp. & pp) ofKneel.
Multi-Version Concordance Knelt (20 Occurrences). Matthew...
Knee-deep (1 Occurrence)
Knee-deep. Knee, Knee-deep.Kneel . Noah Webster's Dictionary 1... loins.
(See RSV NIV). Knee, Knee-deep.Kneel . Reference Bible.
Even-time (4 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:11 and he causeth the camels tokneel at the outside of the city, at
the well of water, at even-time, at the time of the coming out of the women who...
Camels (52 Occurrences)
... Genesis 24:11 He made the camelskneel down outside the city by the well of water
at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water....
Stand (542 Occurrences)
... firm position. 2. (n.) To be supported on the feet, in an erect or nearly
erect position; -- opposed to lie, sit,kneel, etc. 3. (n...
Resources
What does the Bible say about bowing or kneeling in prayer? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to bless God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is genuflection? What does it mean to genuflect? | GotQuestions.orgKneel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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