Original Word: כָּרַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: kara`
Pronunciation: kah-rah'
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-rah')
KJV: bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, X very
NASB: bowed down, bowed, bow, subdued, bow down, couches, kneel down
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to bend the knee
2. (by implication) to sink, to prostrate

bow down, self, bring down low, cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling,

A primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate -- bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, X very.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to bow down
NASB Translation
bow (3), bow down (2), bowed (4), bowed down (9), bring him low (1), brought me very low (1), couches (2), crouch (1), feeble (1), fell (1), kneel down (2), kneeled down (1), kneeled* (1), kneeling (1), kneels* (1), sank (1), subdued (3), very low (1).

כָּרַע bow down (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic כְּרַע; Arabic put one's mouth into water, or water-vessel; i.e. kneel to drink ? denominative from following ? —

Qal Perfect3miles ׳כ Genesis 49:6 6t.; 3 masculine plural כָּֽרְעוּ Judges 7:6 4t.; Imperfect יִכְרַע Judges 7:5 3t.; 1 singular וָאֶכְרְעָה Ezra 9:5; 3masculine plural יִכְרְעוּן Job 31:10; 2masculine plural תִּכְרָ֑עוּ Isaiah 65:12; 1plural וְנִכְרָ֑עָה Psalm 95:6 6t. Imperfect; Infinitive construct כְּרֹעַ 1 Kings 8:54; participle כֹּרֵעַ Esther 3:5; plural כֹּרְעִים Esther 3:2; feminine כֹּרְעוֺת Job 4:4. —

1 bow על ברכים to drink Judges 7:5,6, in supplication to Elijah 2 Kings 1:13; in the worship of God 1 Kings 8:34; Ezra 9:5; with ברכים subject and ל of God 1 Kings 19:18; Isaiah 45:23; without ברכים with לִפְנֵי Psalm 22:30; Psalm 72:9; "" השׁתחוה2Chronicles 7:3; 29:29; Psalm 95:6, worship of God, but Esther 3:2 (twice in verse); Esther 3:5 in obeisance to Haman.

2 bow down, of the couching lion Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9 (both poetry).

3 pregnant with על, bow down over (in order to lie with) a woman Job 31:10.

4 bow down, of a woman in childbirth 1 Samuel 4:19, so of animals Job 39:3; idols, removed by enemies Isaiah 46:1,2; בִּרְכַּיִם כֹּרְעוֺת Job 4:4 tottering (feeble) knees; of enemies in death, נפל[ו]כרע bow and fall down Judges 5:27 (3 t. in verse); Psalm 20:9 pregnant without נפל 2 Kings 9:24; Isaiah 65:12, with תַּחַת Isaiah 10:4. —

Hiph`il Perfect3masculine singular הִכְרִיעַ Psalm 78:31; 2feminine singular suffix הִכְרַעְתִּנִי Judges 11:35; Imperfect2masculine singular תַּכְרִיעַ 2 Samuel 22:40 = Psalm 18:40; Imperative suffix הַכְרִיעֵהוּ Psalm 17:13; Infinitive absolute הַכְרֵעַ Judges 11:35. —

1 cause to bow in grief Judges 11:35 (twice in verse).

2 cause to bow down in death Psalm 17:13; Psalm 78:31, with תַּחַת 2 Samuel 22:40 = Psalm 18:40.

Overview

כָּרַע (karaʿ) portrays a decisive bending of the body or of circumstances—knees folding, strength collapsing, pride brought low. Its thirty-six Old Testament occurrences move fluidly between voluntary reverence and involuntary ruin, yet always point to the inescapable lordship of God.

Reverent Kneeling before the LORD

The word most often pictures worshipers whose hearts and knees align in humble dependence. Solomon “rose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven” (1 Kings 8:54). Centuries later Ezra embodies identical contrition: “At the time of the evening sacrifice, I rose from my humiliation, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees” (Ezra 9:5). Micah makes the posture a question of approach: “With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the exalted God?” (Micah 6:6). Psalm 22:29 extends the circle of worship to “all who go down to the dust,” stressing that even frail mortals incapable of saving themselves must, and will, kneel.

Distinguishing the Faithful

At the spring of Harod the verb separates Gideon’s three hundred from the fearful multitudes. “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel to drink” (Judges 7:5). Those who remained alert—who did not fully fold themselves to the water—were judged fit for battle. The narrative turns a physical posture into spiritual discernment: careless bowing exposed a lack of vigilance.

Collapse under Divine Judgment

כָּרַע also marks those whom God overthrows. Deborah sings of Sisera, “At her feet he sank, he fell… where he sank, there he fell—dead” (Judges 5:27). Isaiah foresees rebels with no refuge: “Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain” (Isaiah 10:4). David contrasts destinies: “They collapse and fall, but we rise up and stand firm” (Psalm 20:8). The same root that dignifies worshipers debases the unrepentant; refusal to bow willingly becomes enforced prostration.

Idols and Nations Brought Low

Through Isaiah the LORD mocks powerless deities: “Bel crouches; Nebo cowers… the gods cower and crouch together; they cannot deliver the burden” (Isaiah 46:1-2). Idols, carried by their makers, end up bent double. The prophetic sarcasm anticipates a broader reversal: “The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous” (Proverbs 14:19). Political and spiritual pretenders share the same fate—brought to their knees before Yahweh and His people.

Universal Submission to Messiah

Psalm 72 envisions the King’s global dominion: “May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust” (Psalm 72:9). Isaiah ratifies the promise: “Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will confess allegiance” (Isaiah 45:23). The New Testament echoes the prophecy, applying it to Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:10). Thus karaʿ underwrites the eschatology of Scripture: voluntary or forced, every creature will bend.

Pastoral and Devotional Implications

1. Worship posture matters. While true worship is “in spirit and in truth,” Scripture commends bodily kneeling as an outward sign of heart submission.
2. Watchfulness in service. Gideon’s test warns against careless ease that dulls spiritual alertness.
3. Humility precedes exaltation. Those who kneel willingly are lifted; those who refuse are toppled.
4. Confidence in God’s vindication. The righteous need not force their adversaries down—God Himself sees that “the evil bow… at the gates of the righteous.”
5. Gospel urgency. Isaiah’s promise of universal submission urges proclamation now, so that men and women may bow in saving faith rather than crushing defeat.

Karaʿ therefore threads through Scripture as a physical gesture that reveals inner allegiance and foretells cosmic realities. Whether describing saints at prayer, warriors at a brook, idols toppling, or nations surrendering, the verb presses one question upon every reader: Will I bend the knee now, or be bent when He comes?

הִכְרִֽיעַ׃ הִכְרַעְתִּ֔נִי הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ הַכְרֵ֣עַ הכריע׃ הכריעהו הכרע הכרעתני וְנִכְרָ֑עָה וַיִּכְרְעוּ֩ וַיִּכְרַ֖ע וַיִּכְרַ֥ע וַתִּכְרַ֣ע וָֽאֶכְרְעָה֙ ואכרעה ויכרע ויכרעו ונכרעה ותכרע יִ֭כְרְעוּ יִכְרְע֣וּ יִכְרְע֥וּן יִכְרַ֖ע יִכְרַ֥ע יכרע יכרעו יכרעון כָּרְע֗וּ כָּרְע֣וּ כָּרְע֥וּ כָּרַ֔ע כָּרַ֣ע כָּרַ֥ע כָּרַ֨ע כָֽרְעוּ֙ כָרַע֙ כֹּרְע֣וֹת כֹּרְעִ֤ים כֹּרֵ֥עַ כרע כרעו כרעות כרעים מִכְּרֹ֣עַ מכרע תִּ֭כְרַעְנָה תִּכְרַ֣ע תִּכְרָ֔עוּ תַּכְרִ֖יעַ תַּכְרִ֥יעַ תכריע תכרע תכרעו תכרענה chaRa chareU hachRea hachriEhu haḵ·rê·a‘ haḵ·rî·‘ê·hū haḵrêa‘ haḵrî‘êhū hichraTini hichRia hiḵ·ra‘·ti·nî hiḵ·rî·a‘ hiḵra‘tinî hiḵrîa‘ kā·ra‘ ḵā·ra‘ kā·rə·‘ū ḵā·rə·‘ū kaRa kāra‘ ḵāra‘ kārə‘ū ḵārə‘ū kareU kō·rə·‘îm kō·rə·‘ō·wṯ kō·rê·a‘ kōrə‘îm kōrə‘ōwṯ koRea kōrêa‘ koreIm koreot mik·kə·rō·a‘ mikkeRoa mikkərōa‘ tachRia taḵ·rî·a‘ taḵrîa‘ tichRa Tichranah tichRau tiḵ·ra‘ tiḵ·ra‘·nāh tiḵ·rā·‘ū tiḵra‘ tiḵra‘nāh tiḵrā‘ū vaechreAh vaiyichRa vaiyichreU vattichRa venichRaah wā’eḵrə‘āh wā·’eḵ·rə·‘āh wat·tiḵ·ra‘ wattiḵra‘ way·yiḵ·ra‘ way·yiḵ·rə·‘ū wayyiḵra‘ wayyiḵrə‘ū wə·niḵ·rā·‘āh wəniḵrā‘āh yichRa Yichreu yichreUn yiḵ·ra‘ yiḵ·rə·‘ū yiḵ·rə·‘ūn yiḵra‘ yiḵrə‘ū yiḵrə‘ūnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts