Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) In man, the joint in the middle part of the leg. 2. (n.) The joint, or region of the joint, between the thigh and leg. 3. (n.) In the horse and allied animals, the carpal joint, corresponding to the wrist in man. 4. (n.) A piece of timber or metal formed with an angle somewhat in the shape of the human knee when bent. 5. (n.) A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. 6. (v. t.) To supplicate by kneeling. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia KNEE; KNEEL ne 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 4:4 Hebrews 12:12, etc.) needs no explanation. The disease of the knees mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:35 is perhaps some form of leprosy. In Job 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 in Judges 5:14. See TRIBE; 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

Multi-Version Concordance Knee (12 Occurrences) Matthew 27:29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV) Mark 15:19 They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV) Romans 11:4 But how does God answer him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Romans 14:11 For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord,'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'" (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ephesians 3:14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Genesis 41:43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, "Bow the knee!" He set him over all the land of Egypt. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV) Exodus 28:42 And you are to make them linen trousers, covering their bodies from the middle to the knee; (BBE) Psalms 95:6 Oh come, let's worship and bow down. Let's kneel before Yahweh, our Maker, (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Isaiah 45:23 By myself have I sworn, the word has gone forth from my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Ezekiel 7:17 All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 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 all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh. (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)