Original Word: כָּנַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kana`
Pronunciation: kah-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-nah')
KJV: bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue
NASB: humbled, subdued, humble, subdue, humbled yourself, becomes humbled, done
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to bend the knee
2. (hence) to humiliate, vanquish

bring down low, into subjection, under, humble self, subdue

A primitive root; properly, to bend the knee; hence, to humiliate, vanquish -- bring down (low), into subjection, under, humble (self), subdue.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be humble
NASB Translation
becomes humbled (1), done (1), humble (4), humbled (12), humbled yourself (3), subdue (4), subdued (11).

[כָּנַע] verb be humble, only in derived conjugation (Aramaic כְּנַע id.; Arabic is be contracted, wrinkled; also fold wings (of eagle)) —

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִכְנַע 1 Kings 21:29 3t.; 3 plural נִכְנְעוּ2Chronicles 12:7; 30:11; נִכְנָ֑עוּ2Chronicles 12:7; Imperfect יִכָּנַע Leviticus 26:41 3t.; 3 feminine singular וַתִּכָּנַע Judges 3:30; 2masculine singular וַתִּכָּנַע 2 Kings 22:19 2t.; 3 masculine plural וְיִכָּֽנְעוּ2Chronicles 7:14 5t.; יִכָּנֵ֑עוּ 1 Chronicles 20:4; Infinitive הִכָּנַע2Chronicles 33:23; suffix הִכָּֽנְעוֺ2Chronicles 12:12; 33:19; —

1 reflex. humble oneself Leviticus 26:41 (H; subject לְבָבָם), 2 Chronicles 7:14; 12:6,7 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 12:12; 30:11; 32:26; 33:19,23; before some one, לִפְנֵי2Chronicles 34:27; מִלִּפְנֵי 1 Kings 21:29; 2Chronicles 33:12,23; 34:27; 36:12; מִמְּנֵי 1 Kings 21:29; 2 Kings 22:19.

2 pass. be humbled, subdued 1 Samuel 7:13; 1 Chronicles 20:4; 2Chronicles 13:18; followed by לִפְנֵי person Judges 8:28; מִמְּנֵי Judges 11:33; under some one תַּחַת Judges 3:30; Psalm 106:42.

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִכְנִיעַ2Chronicles 28:19; 1 singular הִכְנַעְתִּי 1 Chronicles 17:10; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיַּכְנַע Judges 4:23; Psalm 107:12; suffix יַכְנִיעֵם Deuteronomy 9:3 2t.; 2 masculine singular תַּכְנִיעַ Isaiah 25:5; וַתַּכְנַע Nehemiah 9:24; 1singular אַכְנִיעַ Psalm 81:15; Imperative הַכְנִיעֵהוּ Job 40:12; —

1 humble2Chronicles 28:19; Job 40:12; Psalm 107:12 (object לֵב), Isaiah 25:5 (object שְׁאוֺן זָרִים).

2 subdue enemies 2 Samuel 8:1 = 1 Chronicles 18:1; 1 Chronicles 17:10; Psalm 81:15; followed by לִפְנֵי Deuteronomy 9:3; Judges 4:23; Nehemiah 9:24.

Root Idea and Semantic Range

The verb conveys the image of bending something that once stood upright. Whether the object is a proud heart, a rebellious nation, or an entire people, the action always involves a decisive bringing-low accomplished either by the hand of God or through agents whom He appoints.

Occurrence and Distribution

About thirty-six times the verb appears across the Historical Books, Chronicles–Ezra, Psalms, and Proverbs. Two major clusters dominate the record:

1. Military contexts in Judges, Samuel and Chronicles where hostile nations are “subdued.”
2. Spiritual contexts in Kings, Chronicles and Ezra where leaders or communities “humble” themselves before the LORD.

Humbling of Hostile Nations

The first occurrences portray Israel’s early victories. “So Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel” (Judges 3:30). The same verb records God’s triumph over Jabin (Judges 4:23) and Midian (Judges 8:28). When David rises to power, the pattern continues: “David defeated the Philistines and subdued them” (2 Samuel 8:1). Centuries later David’s promise to Solomon echoes the theme: “I will subdue all your enemies” (1 Chronicles 17:10). In each instance the verb underlines that Israel’s success rests on divine initiative, not military prowess.

Covenantal Discipline of Israel and Judah

When Israel rebels, the action is reversed; God uses the same verb to describe covenant curses. “Their enemies oppressed them, and subdued them under their hand” (Psalm 106:42). The humiliation is not arbitrary but corrective, driving the nation back to covenant loyalty.

Personal Humility before God

Chronicles turns the military word inward, depicting kings and commoners who voluntarily bend low.
• National revival: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves … then I will hear” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
• Royal repentance: Rehoboam (12:6–7, 12), Hezekiah (32:26), Manasseh (33:12), and Josiah (34:27) experience mercy because they “humbled themselves.”
• Royal refusal: Amon (33:23) and Zedekiah (36:12) refuse to bend and suffer ruin.
• Pilgrim dependence: Ezra gathers the returning exiles at the Ahava Canal to “humble ourselves before our God” (Ezra 8:21).

These narratives establish a spiritual principle: voluntary humility averts judgment and invites grace; stubborn pride hastens downfall (Proverbs 6:3 employs the verb in a personal dispute, urging immediate self-abasement to avert disaster).

Prophetic Hope and Eschatological Vision

Psalms projects the verb into the future. “How soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!” (Psalm 81:14). The psalmist expects a day when divine subjugation of evil is complete and covenant blessings flourish unhindered.

Ministry Implications

1. Revival: True awakening begins with deliberate self-humbling (2 Chronicles 7:14).
2. Leadership: The chronicled kings show that authority is secured not by coercion but by contrition.
3. Intercession: Ezra’s fast highlights corporate humility as the prerequisite for divine protection.
4. Spiritual warfare: The same God who once subdued Moab still subdues spiritual enemies for those who bow to Him (compare Psalm 81:14 with Ephesians 6:10–18).

Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament

The Septuagint mostly translates the verb with ταπεινόω, the term adopted by James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:6. Thus the Old Testament call to “humble yourselves” finds direct continuity: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). The cross, where Christ “humbled Himself” (Philippians 2:8), fulfils the pattern: voluntary submission precedes exaltation.

Summary

Across Scripture the verb paints a consistent storyline. God humbles the proud—whether pagan nations or covenant people—so that He might exalt the contrite. Military victory, national revival and personal salvation all turn on the same hinge: a heart willing to bend.

אַכְנִ֑יעַ אכניע הִכְנִ֤יעַ הִכָּנְע֑וֹ הַכְנִיעֵ֑הוּ הכניע הכניעהו הכנעו וְהִכְנַ֖עְתִּי וְיִכָּנְע֨וּ וַ֝יִּכָּנְע֗וּ וַיִּכָּֽנְעוּ֙ וַיִּכָּנְע֥וּ וַיִּכָּנֵֽעוּ׃ וַיִּכָּנַ֣ע וַיִּכָּנַ֤ע וַיַּכְנִיעֵ֑ם וַיַּכְנַ֣ע וַיַּכְנַ֤ע וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע וַתִּכָּנַ֣ע ׀ וַתִּכָּנַ֤ע וַתַּכְנַ֨ע וּבְהִכָּֽנְע֗וֹ ובהכנעו והכנעתי ויכניעם ויכנע ויכנעו ויכנעו׃ ותכנע יִכָּנַ֗ע יַכְנִיעֵ֖ם יכניעם יכנע כְּהִכָּנַ֖ע כהכנע נִֽכְנְע֔וּ נִכְנְע֖וּ נִכְנַ֗ע נִכְנַ֣ע נִכְנַ֥ע נִכְנַע֙ נִכְנָ֔עוּ נכנע נכנעו תַּכְנִ֑יעַ תכניע ’aḵ·nî·a‘ ’aḵnîa‘ achNia hachniEhu haḵ·nî·‘ê·hū haḵnî‘êhū hichNia hik·kā·nə·‘ōw hiḵ·nî·a‘ hikkānə‘ōw hikkaneO hiḵnîa‘ kə·hik·kā·na‘ kehikkaNa kəhikkāna‘ nichNa nichNau nichneU niḵ·na‘ niḵ·nā·‘ū niḵ·nə·‘ū niḵna‘ niḵnā‘ū niḵnə‘ū tachNia taḵ·nî·a‘ taḵnîa‘ ū·ḇə·hik·kā·nə·‘ōw ūḇəhikkānə‘ōw uvehikkaneO vaiyachNa vaiyachniEm vaiyikkaNa vaiyikkaneU vattachNa vattikkaNa vehichNati veyikkaneU wat·taḵ·na‘ wat·tik·kā·na‘ wattaḵna‘ wattikkāna‘ way·yaḵ·na‘ way·yaḵ·nî·‘êm way·yik·kā·na‘ way·yik·kā·nê·‘ū way·yik·kā·nə·‘ū wayyaḵna‘ wayyaḵnî‘êm wayyikkāna‘ wayyikkānê‘ū wayyikkānə‘ū wə·hiḵ·na‘·tî wə·yik·kā·nə·‘ū wəhiḵna‘tî wəyikkānə‘ū yachniEm yaḵ·nî·‘êm yaḵnî‘êm yik·kā·na‘ yikkaNa yikkāna‘Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts