συγ-κάμπτω G4781
To bend or bow down together; to cause to stoop under burden
The verb describes bending, bowing, or stooping—whether in sitting down, bending under weight, or the body's doubled-over posture. It can suggest the natural posture of sitting with legs folded or the pathological bending of disease. Paul quotes Scripture about enemies whose backs are 'bowed down,' using imagery of perpetual burden or subjugation. The verb appears in judgment contexts where God causes adversaries to stoop under the weight of divine judgment. The physical imagery of bent backs suggests both punishment and permanent humiliation.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To bend or bow down, particularly under weight or burden; to cause to stoop. In Romans 11:10, Paul quotes Psalm 69, asking God to 'bend their backs continually'—making Israel's enemies stoop under perpetual burden. The imagery suggests both judgment (forced bowing under divine displeasure) and the physical manifestation of that judgment in ongoing oppression. The verb's range includes natural bending and pathological doubling over, here deployed metaphorically for permanent subjugation or humiliation as divine retribution. 1×
AR["أَحْنِهِ"]·ben["বাঁকাও।"]·DE["zusammenbeugen"]·EN["bow-together"]·FR["faiblir"]·heb["הַכְנַע"]·HI["झुका-दे"]·ID["membungkukkanlah"]·IT["piegare-insieme"]·jav["bungkukna."]·KO["굽히게-하라"]·PT["curva."]·ES["encorva"]·SW["uuinamishe."]·TR["bük"]·urd["جھکا-دے"]
Related Senses
H1129 1. Qal: build, construct (316×)H2691a 1. court, courtyard, enclosure (142×)G4864 1. synagogue, place of Jewish assembly (56×)G5438 1. prison, place of confinement (41×)H4013 1. fortress, stronghold (37×)H0875 1. well, cistern (dug water source) (35×)H0352b 1. pillar or jamb of gateway (32×)H2474 1. window, opening in wall (32×)H1406 1. roof / rooftop (31×)H4609b 1. steps, stairs, stairway (31×)H1129 2. Nifal: be built, be established (30×)H0361 1. portico, porch (architectural structure) (27×)H1129 3. Qal participle: builder (27×)H1219 1. fortified, inaccessible (25×)H4581 1. fortress, stronghold (25×)H3805 1. capital of a pillar (24×)H4350 1. stand, base, pedestal (24×)H0759 1. palace, royal residence (21×)H4692 1. siege, besiegement (20×)G3618 1. build or construct physically (19×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
συγ-κάμπτω, bend, τὸ σκέλος Refs 5th c.BC+; of legs, arms, spine, etc., LXX: intransitive, bend down,LXXpassive, opposed to ἐκτείνεσθαι, Refs 5th c.BC+; συγκεκαμμένος τοῖς δακτύλοις with the fingers doubled up. Refs 3rd c.AD+; especially of the action of sitting down, συγκαμφθεὶς κάθημαι Refs 5th c.BC+; of the foetus in the womb, Refs 2nd c.AD+; of the chest in phthisis, Refs 5th c.BC+; of…