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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, the term "knees" is often used both literally and metaphorically, symbolizing various aspects of human experience and spiritual posture. Knees are mentioned in contexts ranging from physical strength and weakness to acts of worship and submission.

Physical Strength and Weakness

The physical condition of the knees is frequently used to represent strength or weakness. In the context of battle or physical exertion, strong knees are indicative of vigor and readiness, while weak knees suggest fear or exhaustion. InJob 4:4, Eliphaz speaks of Job's past encouragement to others, saying, "Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling." Here, the strengthening of knees symbolizes the restoration of courage and stability.

Conversely, the imagery of weak knees is used to describe fear or impending doom. InIsaiah 35:3, the prophet calls to "Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees," encouraging the people to prepare for God's deliverance and to overcome their fears.

Worship and Submission

Kneeling is a physical act of worship and submission, reflecting humility and reverence before God. The act of bending the knee is a common biblical expression of prayer and supplication. In1 Kings 8:54, after Solomon's prayer of dedication for the temple, he "arose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven."

The New Testament continues this theme, with the Apostle Paul frequently mentioning kneeling in prayer. InEphesians 3:14, Paul writes, "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father," indicating a posture of humility and earnest petition.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

The bending of knees also carries prophetic and eschatological significance. InPhilippians 2:10, Paul declares that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth," signifying the ultimate recognition of Christ's lordship by all creation. This prophetic vision underscores the universal acknowledgment of Jesus' authority and the submission of all beings to His rule.

Cultural and Social Context

In the cultural and social context of the Bible, kneeling was a common gesture of respect and submission not only to God but also to human authority. InGenesis 41:43, when Joseph was elevated to a position of power in Egypt, people were commanded to "bow the knee" before him, demonstrating their recognition of his authority.

Healing and Restoration

The imagery of knees is also associated with healing and restoration. InHebrews 12:12-13, believers are exhorted to "strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." This passage encourages spiritual renewal and perseverance, using the metaphor of physical healing to illustrate the restoration of faith and strength.

In summary, the biblical references to knees encompass a wide range of meanings, from physical strength and weakness to acts of worship, submission, and prophetic fulfillment. The imagery of knees serves as a powerful symbol of human dependence on God, the acknowledgment of His authority, and the hope of spiritual renewal and restoration.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FEEBLE KNEES

fe'-b'-l nez: The expression. is found in three places (one being a free quotation of another):Job 4:4, "Thou hast made firm the feeble (kara`, "bending," "bowing") knees," andHebrews 12:12, "Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied (the King James Version "feeble") knees." The Greek word used here (paralelumena, "paralyzed," "motionless") implies the loss of junction, interrupted articulation, the cutting off of vital strength; compare Greek cholos, "lame," and see Delitzsch in his Commentary on Heb, in the place cited

Such an affection of the knees may be due to different causes. It is, e.g., a very frequent symptom of the disease known in the Orient as beriberi, when the muscles of the lower leg shrink to such a degree as to render voluntary locomotion impossible. It always disables its victim, and is therefore often expressive of general debility, e.g. inPsalm 109:24, where such weakness is described as the outcome of protracted fasting inEzekiel 7:17 and 21:7, "All knees shall be weak as water," the expression indicates a complete relaxation of the muscles. Fear effected the same condition in Belshazzar's case, when he saw the writing on the wall (Daniel 5:6), "The joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another" (compareNahum 2:10).

The "sore boil. in the knees, and in the legs," a disease announced inDeuteronomy 28:35 as a punishment upon Israel for disobedience, cannot now be fully determined. Driver (in his commentary on the passage) thinks of elephantiasis, which is possible but not probable on account of the additional statement, "whereof thou canst not be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the crown of thy head" which would be unexplained, as elephantiasis rarely presents a form in which the whole body is sympathetically affected. I rather think of some form of bubonic plague, which causes very high fever all over the body. InDeuteronomy 28:27 in the enumeration of plagues mention is made of the "boil of Egypt," and some commentators have explained this as "bubonic plague." There is, however, no doubt that the "boil or botch of Egypt" is identical with the disease known to modern medicine as bouton du Nil, Biskra button, Bagdad or Aleppo sore.

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

1120. gonupeteo -- to fall on theknees
... to fall on theknees. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: gonupeteo Phonetic Spelling:
(gon-oo-pet-eh'-o) Short Definition: I fall on myknees before...

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proskuneo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-koo-neh'-o) Short Definition: I worship Definition: I go down on myknees...

1119. gonu -- the knee
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition the knee NASB Word Usage down* (4), feet
(1), knee (3), kneeling* (2),knees (3), knelt* (3). knee....

Strong's Hebrew

755a. arkubbah -- the knee
... the knee. Transliteration: arkubbah Short Definition:knees. Word Origin (Aramaic)
from berak Definition the knee NASB Word Usageknees (1). 755, 755a....

1291. berak -- the knee
... 1290, 1291. berak. 1292 . the knee. Transliteration: berak Phonetic Spelling:
(beh'-rek) Short Definition:knees. Word Origin (Aramaic...

1290. berek -- the knee
... 1289, 1290. berek. 1291 . the knee. Transliteration: berek Phonetic Spelling:
(beh'-rek) Short Definition:knees. Word Origin from...

Library

Weak Hands and FeebleKnees
... Weak Hands and FeebleKnees. A Sermon... at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.
"Strenghten ye the weak hands and confirm the feebleknees.""Isaiah 35:8....

"Go Forward on YourKnees"
... III "GO FORWARD ON YOURKNEES". 1887-1894 "I... Brother, if you would enter
that province, you must go forward on yourknees.". These...

Shaping a Prayer on the Anvil of theKnees.
... Why the Results are Delayed Shaping a Prayer on the Anvil of theKnees. The...
done.". The changed prayer was wrought out upon Hisknees!...

An Inquiry Why in Egypt they do not Fast During all the Fifty Days...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XI. An inquiry why in Egypt they do not
fast during all the fifty days (of Easter) nor bend theirknees in prayer....

Strength and Indwelling.
... VIII. STRENGTH AND INDWELLING. "For this cause I bow myknees unto the Father of
our Lord Jesus... 2. THE ATTITUDE. "I bow myknees unto the Father" (ver.14)....

On the Interior Man
... [Gal.5:17]. Theknees are a confession of humility; in the song: and now the
knees of my heart are bent. Theknees are also the strength...

The Second Fall of Jesus.
... crucified. The servant opened the door; the dreadful sounds became more
distinct every moment; and Mary threw herself on herknees....

The Insults Received by Jesus in the Court of Caiphas.
... Next they put a crown of reeds upon his head, took off his robe and scapular, and
then threw an old torn mantle, which scarcely reached hisknees, over his...

Chapter xxx
... 3, 4. And she said: There is my handmaid Bilhah; go in unto her, that she may bear
children upon myknees, that so I too may build up a family through her....

The Acts of Barnabus.
... And I gave repentance on myknees upon the earth to Paul, and he would not
endure it.... Therefore, bending theirknees, they prayed to God....

Thesaurus

Knees (47 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia FEEBLEKNEES. fe'-b'-l nez: The expression.
is found in three places (one being a free quotation...

Knee (12 Occurrences)
... knee," berekh; Aramaic 'arekhubbah; gonu; "kneel"; barakh; Aramaic berakh; gonupeto):
Most of the uses are obvious, and the figurative use of "knees" as the...

Kneel (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vi) To bend the knee; to fall or rest on theknees; --
sometimes with down. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. KNEE; KNEEL....

Knelt (20 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:60 and having bowed theknees, he cried with a loud voice, 'Lord, mayest
thou not lay to them this sin;' and this having said, he fell asleep. (See RSV)....

Falling (233 Occurrences)
... Matthew 17:14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came to him, falling
on hisknees before him, and saying, (DBY NAS). Matthew...

Kneeled (12 Occurrences)
... the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred
men; but all the rest of the people bowed down upon theirknees to drink...

Knee-deep (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Rising to theknees; knee-high; as, water or snow
knee-deep. 2. (a.) Sunk to theknees; as, men knee-deep in water....

Tottering (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Tottering (5 Occurrences). Job 4:4 Your words have supported
him who was falling, You have made firm the feebleknees. (See NAS)....

Lap (12 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The part of the clothing that lies on theknees or thighs when one sits
down; that part of the person thus covered; figuratively, a place of rearing...

Slack (19 Occurrences)
... sword from blood. (See JPS RSV). Ezekiel 7:17 All hands shall be feeble,
and allknees shall be weak as water. (See JPS). Ezekiel 21...

Resources

What is genuflection? What does it mean to genuflect? | GotQuestions.org

What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance •Bible Dictionary •Bible Encyclopedia •Topical Bible •Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Knees (47 Occurrences)

Matthew 17:14
When they had returned to the people, there came to Him a man who fell on hisknees before Him and besought Him.
(WEY BBE DBY NAS)

Matthew 18:26
The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying,'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'
(See RSV NIV)

Matthew 18:29
"So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'
(See NIV)

Matthew 27:29
And they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and put a rod in his right hand, and they went down on theirknees before him, and made sport of him, saying, Long life to the King of the Jews.
(BBE)

Mark 1:40
One day there came a leper to Jesus entreating Him, and pleading on hisknees. "If you are willing," he said, "you are able to cleanse me."
(WEY BBE DBY NAS NIV)

Mark 5:6
When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
(See NIV)

Mark 10:17
And while he was going out into the way, a man came running to him, and went down on hisknees, saying, Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life?
(BBE NIV)

Mark 15:19
They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing theirknees, did homage to him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NIV)

Luke 5:8
But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus'knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Luke 11:1
At one place where He was praying, when He rose from Hisknees one of His disciples said to Him, "Master, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
(WEY)

Luke 22:41
And he went a little distance away from them and, falling on hisknees in prayer, he said,
(BBE YLT)

Acts 7:60
Then, rising on hisknees, he cried aloud, "Lord, do not reckon this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep.
(WEY BBE YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 9:40
But Peter made them all go outside, and went down on hisknees in prayer; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, get up. And, opening her eyes, she saw Peter and got up.
(BBE YLT NIV)

Acts 20:36
And having said these words, he went down on hisknees in prayer with them all.
(BBE YLT)

Acts 21:5
And when these days came to an end, we went on our journey; and they all, with their wives and children, came with us on our way till we were out of the town: and after going on ourknees in prayer by the sea,
(BBE YLT)

Romans 11:4
But what answer does God make to him? I have still seven thousand men whoseknees have not been bent to Baal.
(BBE)

Ephesians 3:14
For this cause, I bow myknees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feebleknees,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 30:3
She said, "Behold, my maid Bilhah. Go in to her, that she may bear on myknees, and I also may obtain children by her."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Genesis 48:12
Joseph brought them out from between hisknees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 50:23
Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph'sknees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:35
Yahweh will strike you in theknees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, of which you can not be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 7:5
So he brought down the people to the water; and Yahweh said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps of the water with his tongue, like a dog laps, you shall set him by himself; likewise everyone who bows down on hisknees to drink."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT)

Judges 7:6
The number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people bowed down on theirknees to drink water.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NIV)

Judges 16:19
She made him sleep on herknees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 2:36
Then it will be that the rest of your family, anyone who has not been cut off, will go down on hisknees to him for a bit of silver or a bit of bread, and say, Be pleased to put me into one of the priest's places so that I may have a little food.
(BBE)

1 Kings 8:54
It was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on hisknees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Kings 18:42
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down on the earth, and put his face between hisknees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 19:18
Yet will I leave seven thousand in Israel, all theknees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 1:13
Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on hisknees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, "Man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 4:20
When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on herknees until noon, and then died.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 6:13
(for Solomon had made a bronze scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and on it he stood, and kneeled down on hisknees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;)
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezra 9:5
At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on myknees, and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 3:12
Why did theknees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 4:4
Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm the feebleknees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 95:6
O come, let us give worship, falling down on ourknees before the Lord our Maker.
(BBE)

Psalms 109:24
Myknees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 14:19
Theknees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.
(BBE)

Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feebleknees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Isaiah 66:12
For thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on herknees.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 7:17
All hands shall be feeble, and allknees shall be weak as water.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 21:7
It shall be, when they tell you, Why do you sigh? that you shall say, Because of the news, for it comes; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and allknees shall be weak as water: behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 47:4
Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to theknees. Again he measured one thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the waist.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Daniel 5:6
Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and hisknees struck one against another.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 6:10
When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on hisknees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 10:10
Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on myknees and on the palms of my hands.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Nahum 2:10
She is empty, void, and waste. The heart melts, theknees knock together, their bodies and faces have grown pale.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Knees

Related Terms

Prayed (97 Occurrences)

Attitudes (1 Occurrence)

Zabdi (17 Occurrences)

Knew (1181 Occurrences)

Withdrew (55 Occurrences)

Withdrawn (28 Occurrences)

Inherit (98 Occurrences)

Rabbi (51 Occurrences)

Repeatedly (28 Occurrences)