γονῠ-πετέω G1120
to fall on one's knees, kneel down (before someone)
Gonypeteo combines gony (knee) and pipto (fall), vividly depicting the act of dropping to one's knees. In the Gospels it appears in moments of urgent supplication or reverent approach. A father kneels before Jesus begging healing for his epileptic son (Matt 17:14), a leper implores cleansing (Mark 1:40), a rich man seeks eternal life (Mark 10:17), and soldiers mockingly genuflect during the Passion (Matt 27:29). The gesture conveys both desperate petition and — when perverted — cruel derision.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To fall on the knees, to kneel before someone in supplication, reverence, or mockery. The physical posture carries emotional force: a father's desperation for his son's healing (Matt 17:14), a leper's plea (Mark 1:40), a seeker's earnestness (Mark 10:17), and soldiers' scornful genuflection (Matt 27:29). Spanish 'arrodillándose,' French 'tomber-à-genoux,' and German 'niederknien' all capture the bodily act of dropping to the knees. 4×
AR["جَاثِينَ", "جَاثِيًا", "جَاثِيًا-عَلَى-رُكْبَتَيْهِ", "يَجْثُو"]·ben["হাঁটু-গেড়ে", "হাঁটু-গেড়ে,"]·DE["niederknien", "γονυπετήσαντες", "γονυπετῶν"]·EN["having-knelt", "kneeling"]·FR["tomber-à-genoux"]·heb["כָּרְע-וּ", "כָּרַע-בֶּרֶךְ", "כּוֹרֵעַ"]·HI["और", "घुटने-टेककर", "घुतने-तेक्त-हुअ"]·ID["berlutut", "berlutut,"]·IT["gonupetesantes", "gonupetesas", "gonupeton"]·jav["jengkèng", "jèngkèng", "sasampunipun-jèngkèng", "sujud,"]·KO["꿇어엎드려", "무릎-꽇으며", "무릎-꽊고"]·PT["ajoelhando", "ajoelhando,", "ajoelhando-se-diante-de", "tendo-se-ajoelhado"]·RU["коленопреклонившись", "на-колени-падая", "преклоняющий-колени", "упав-на-колени"]·ES["arrodillándose", "arrodillándose-ante", "habiendo-arrodillado", "habiéndose-arrodillado"]·SW["akipiga-magoti", "akipiga-magoti,", "wakipiga-magoti"]·TR["diz-çöken,", "diz-çökerek", "diz-çöküp"]·urd["گھٹنے-ٹیک-کر", "گھٹنے-ٹیکتا-ہوا", "گھٹنے-ٹیکتے-ہوئے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
γονῠ-πετέω, fall on the knee, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __2 fall down before one, τινά NT+1st c.AD+