H3766 H3766
To bow down, kneel, crouch; ranges from worship and submission to physical collapse and animal crouching
A verb of the body bending low under weight — whether the weight of reverence, defeat, weakness, or simply animal instinct. Its most frequent use describes kneeling in worship or supplication: Solomon kneels before the altar (1 Kgs 8:54), and the psalmist invites Israel to 'bow down' before the Lord (Ps 95:6). But it also carries darker tones: Sisera, struck by Jael, 'bowed, fell, and lay still' (Judg 5:27), and the Hifil causative describes God subduing enemies underfoot (Ps 18:39). The Arabic cognate kara'a (to put one's mouth to water, i.e., to kneel to drink) preserves the original physical posture behind all these extended meanings.
Senses
1. bow down, kneel (worship/submission) — Bowing down or kneeling in worship, reverence, or submission — the dominant sense, covering deliberate, respectful kneeling before God or a human authority. Solomon kneels from before the altar after prayer (1 Kgs 8:54), Ezra falls to his knees in penitence (Ezra 9:5), and Psalm 95:6 invites corporate worship: 'let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.' Esther 3:2, 5 uses the participle for those who bow before Haman. Spanish 'arrodillandose' (kneeling) and German equivalents consistently mark this as intentional, reverent posture. 26×
AR["انْحَنى","انْحَنَى","تَجْثُو","تَرْكَعُونَ","تَرْكَعْ","جَثَوْا","رَكَعَ","مِنَ-الـ-رُّكُوعِ","وَ-جَثَوْتُ","وَ-رَكَعَتْ","وَجَثَا","يَجْثُونَ","يَركَعونَ","يَرْكَعونَ","يَرْكَعُ","يَرْكَعُونَ"]·ben["-হাঁটু-গেড়ে","আর-তার-উপর","আর-নত-জানু-পাতলাম","এবং-নত-জানু-গেড়লেন","এবং-হাঁটু-গেড়ে-বসল","তারা-নত-হল","নত-জানু-হল","নত-হওয়া","নত-হবে","নত-হয়েছে","নত-হলেন","নতজানু-করছিলেন","নতজানু-করতেন","নতজানু-হবে","হাঁটু-গেড়ে-বসল"]·DE["[ואכרעה]","[יכרע]","[יכרעון]","[כרע]","[כרעו]","[כרעים]","[תכרע]","[תכרעו]","er-sank","kniete","und-sie-verneigte-sich","und-verneigte-sich","verneigte-sich","von-kneeling"]·EN["and-I-fell","and-bowed","and-she-bowed","bowed","bowed-down","bowing","from-kneeling","he-bows","he-sank","kneeled","let-bow-down","shall-bow-down","they-bow-down","will-bow","will-bow-down","would-bow"]·FR["[ואכרעה]","[יכרע]","[כרע]","[כרעו]","[כרעים]","[תכרע]","[תכרעו]","comme-s'incliner","de-kneeling","et-elle-s'inclina","et-s'inclina","il-sank","ployer","s'agenouilla","s'inclina","s'incliner"]·heb["ו-אכרעה-ה","ו-כרע","ו-תכרע","יכרע","יכרעו","יכרעון","כרע","כרעו","כרעים","מ-כרוע","תיכרעו","תכרע"]·HI["और-घुटने-टेके","और-झुकी","और-मैं-गिरा","घुटने-टेकने-से","झुक-गए","झुकता-था","झुकते-थे","झुकने-के","झुका","झुके","झुकें","झुकेंगे","झुकेगा","झुकोगे","वे-झुके"]·ID["akan-berlutut","akan-bertekuk","akan-membungkuk","berlutut","biarlah membungkuk","dan-aku-berlutut","dan-berlutut","dari-berlutut","maka-berlututlah-ia","membungkuk","merendahkan-diri","merosot","tertekuk-lutut"]·IT["[ואכרעה]","[יכרע]","[כרעו]","[כרעים]","come-male","come-pascolate","da-kneeling","e-ella-si-inchinò","e-si-inchinò","egli-sank","inginocchiarsi","kneeled","let-bow-giù","si-inchinò","si-inginocchio'"]·jav["badhe-tumungkul","badhé-jengkèng","badhé-sujud","dhingkluk","jengkèng","jongkroka","jongkrot","jèngkèng","lan-jèngkèng","lan-kawula-jengkeng","piyambakipun-dhungkluk","saking-jèngkèng","tiyang-sanès-ndhodhok"]·KO["-에서-꿇었던","괽히리라","굿으리라","그리고-내가-무릎을-꿇었다","그리고-무릎-꿇었다","그리고-무릎을-꿇었다","꽇었다","꿇으리이다","무름꽇으리로다","무름꾇었으고","무름을-꽌었다","무릆을-꽇었다","무릎-꽇고-있었다","무릎-꽇지-않았다","무릎-꾿으라","무릎-꿇었다","무릎-꿇은","무릎을-꽇을-것이다"]·PT["ajoelharam","ajoelharam-se","ajoelhava","ajoelhavam","ajoelhem-se","curvem-se","curvou-se","de-ajoelhar","dobraram","e-ajoelhei-me","e-ajoelhou","inclinaram-se","se-curvaram","se-dobrará","se-dobrarão","vos-curvareis"]·RU["да-преклонятся","и-пал-я","и-преклонил-колени","и-припала","кланялся","кланяющиеся","опустились","от-коленопреклонения","преклонились","преклонитесь","преклонится","преклонятся","пусть-склонятся","склонились","склонился","склониться"]·ES["arrodillándose","de-arrodillarse","doblarse","os-inclinaréis","se-arrodillaba","se-arrodillaron","se-doblaron","se-doblará","se-doblarán","se-dobló","se-inclinaron","se-inclinarán","se-inclinen","y-me-arrodillé","y-se-arrodilló"]·SW["alipiga-magoti","alipopiga-magoti","kuinamia","litapiga-magoti","mbinguni","mtapiga-magoti","na-akainama","na-akapiga-magoti","na-hakusujudu","na-nikapiga-magoti","piga-magoti","wajiinamishe","wakasujudu","waliinamisha-magoti","walipiga-magoti","wamepiga-magoti","watapiga-magoti"]·TR["büküldü","cirilecek","cokeceksiniz","diz-çökecekler","diz-çökmekten","diz-çöksünler","diz-çöktüler","egililer","egilir","eğildiler","eğilirdi","eğiliyorlardı","ve-coktu","ve-diz-coktum","ve-çömeldi","çökmeleri"]·urd["اور-جھکی","اور-گرا-میں","اور-گھٹنے-ٹیکے","جھک-جاؤ-گے","جھک-گئے","جھک-گئے-ہیں","جھکا","جھکتا-تھا","جھکتے-تھے","جھکنے-سے","جھکنے-کے","جھکیں","جھکیں-گے","جھکے","جھکے-گا"]
Judg 5:27, Judg 5:27, Judg 5:27, Judg 7:5, Judg 7:6, 1 Sam 4:19, 1 Kgs 8:54, 1 Kgs 19:18, 2 Kgs 1:13, 2 Kgs 9:24, 2 Chr 7:3, 2 Chr 29:29 (+14 more)
2. bring down, subdue (causative) — Bringing someone down or subduing them — the Hifil causative stem, where the subject forces another to bow or fall. David praises God: 'You subdued under me those who rose against me' (2 Sam 22:40 / Ps 18:39). Psalm 17:13 pleads for God to 'bring him down.' Judges 11:35 extends the image to emotional devastation: 'you have brought me very low.' The causative translations — English 'bring down,' Spanish 'derribó' (knocked down) — confirm the coercive, forceful character of this stem. 6×
AR["أَحنَيتِني","إنحِناءً","اطْرَحْهُ","تُخْضِعُ","صَرَعَ"]·ben["আপনি-নত-করেন","তাকে-নত-করুন","তিনি-নীচু-করেছিলেন","নত-করবেন","নত-করে","নত-করেছ-আমাকে"]·DE["You-bringe-hinab","bringend-niedrig","du-haben-brachte-niedrig-mich","kniete"]·EN["You-bring-down","bring-him-down","bringing-low","he-struck-down","you-have-brought-low-me","you-subdued"]·FR["Tu-apporte-en-bas","apportant-bas","le-s'incliner","s'incliner","tu-avoir-apporta-bas-moi"]·heb["הכריע","הכריעהו","הכרע","הכרעתני","תכריע"]·HI["गिरा-दिया","गिरा-दे-उसे","झुकाएगा","झुकाना","झुकाया-तूने-मुझे"]·ID["Dia-tumbangkan","Engkau-membungkukkan","Engkau-menundukkan","engkau-membungkukkanku","sungguh-membungkukkan","tundukkan-dia"]·IT["You-porta-giù","bringing-basso","si-inginocchio'","tu-avere-portò-basso-me"]·jav["Panjenengan-ndhawahaken","Panjenengan-ngandhapaken","Panjenengan-sampun-ngrubuhaken","ndhawahna","ngrembuk","panjenengan-ngrembuk-kula"]·KO["굽히셨다","꿈꼸게-하셨도다","꿈꼸하게-하소서","넘어뜨렸구나-나를","넘어뜨리는것-","쓰러뜨렸나이다"]·PT["Humilhar","abateu","derruba-o","fazes-ajoelhar","fizeste-curvar","humilhaste-me"]·RU["поверг","повергнешь","повергни-его","преклонила-меня","преклоняя"]·ES["derribó","derríbalo","doblegas","me-postraste","postrar","someterás"]·SW["akawapiga","kuniangusha","ukawaangusha","umeniangusha","umshinde","unawaangusha"]·TR["düşür-onu","düşürdün-beni","düşürerek","eğdin","eğdirdin","yere-serdi"]·urd["تُو-جھکاتا-ہے","تُو-نے-گرایا","جھکا-دیا-مجھے-تُو-نے","جھکانا","گرا-دیے","گرا-دے-اُسے"]
3. give way, buckle (of knees) — Knees giving way or buckling from weakness — a Qal participle describing involuntary physical collapse rather than intentional kneeling. Job 4:4 speaks of strengthening 'bowing knees' (birkayim kor'ot), and Job 39:3 describes a birthing animal crouching as its young emerge. The image shifts from reverence to frailty; what bows here does so not from devotion but from failing strength. Spanish 'que flaquean' (that weaken) captures the involuntary nature precisely. 2×
AR["تَجْثِينَ","مُنْحَنِيَةً"]·ben["তারা-নতজানু-হয়","নতজানু"]·DE["[כרעות]","[תכרענה]"]·EN["bowing","they-crouch"]·FR["ployer"]·heb["כורעות","תכרענה"]·HI["काँपते-हुए","वे-झुकतीं-हैं"]·ID["Mereka berlutut","yang-goyah"]·IT["bowing","essi-crouch"]·jav["Piyambak-ipun-ndhodhok","ingkang-dhengkluk"]·KO["굿히는","그것들이-무릎을-꽌리다"]·PT["Ajoelham-se","curvando"]·RU["преклоняются","сгибающиеся"]·ES["Se-arrodillan","que-flaquean"]·SW["wanajiinamisha","yaliyolegea"]·TR["bükülen","Çömelirler"]·urd["لڑکھڑاتے","وہ-جھکتی-ہیں"]
4. crouch, crouch down (animal posture) — Crouching down like an animal — the posture of a lion settling on its haunches before springing. Genesis 49:9 pictures Judah as a lion who 'crouched' (kara'), and Balaam's oracle in Numbers 24:9 repeats the image. The distinction from worship-kneeling is clear: this is a predatory, coiled-spring posture. Spanish 'se agazapó' (crouched/hunkered down) and English 'crouched' consistently distinguish this animal posture from human kneeling. 2×
AR["جَثَا","رَبَضَ"]·ben["নতজানু-হল","সে-নুয়ে-পড়েছে"]·DE["er-crouched","er-kauert"]·EN["crouched","he-crouched"]·FR["crouched","il-crouched"]·heb["כרע"]·HI["घुटने-टेके-उसने","झुका"]·ID["ia-meringkuk","meniarap"]·IT["crouched","egli-crouched"]·jav["Piyambakipun-jengkèng","ndheprok"]·KO["무름-꽊었다","웅크렸다"]·PT["Agachou-se","agachou"]·RU["присел","склонился"]·ES["Se-agazapó","se-encorvó"]·SW["amejinyosha","kumakaa"]·TR["çöktü","çömeldi"]·urd["جھکا"]
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
† כָּרַע bow down (NH id.; Aramaic כְּרַע; Arabic كَرَعَ put one’s mouth into water, or water-vessel; i.e. kneel to drink? denom. from foll.?);—Qal Pf. 3 m. כ׳ Gn 49:6 + 6 times; 3 mpl. כָּֽרְעוּ Ju 7:6 + 4 times; Impf. יִכְרַע Ju 7:5 + 3 times; 1 s. וָאֶכְרְעָה Ezr 9:5; 3 mpl. יִכְרְעוּן Jb 31:10; 2 mpl. תִּכְרָ֑עוּ Is 65:12; 1 pl. וְנִכְרָ֑עָה ψ 95:6 + 6 times Impf.; Inf. cstr. כְּרֹעַ 1 K…