Reference: Knee, Kneel
Hastings
The knees are often referred to in Scripture as the place where weakness of the body, from whatever cause, readily manifests itself: e.g. from terror (Job 4:4; Da 5:8), or fasting (Ps 109:24). The reference in De 28:35 seems to be to 'joint leprosy,' in which, after the toes and fingers, the joints of the larger limbs are attacked (Driver, Deut. in loc.). The laying of children on the knees of father or grandfather seems to have involved recognition of them as legitimate members of the family (Ge 30:8; 50:23). In many passages of Scripture kneeling is spoken of as the attitude assumed in prayer (1Ki 8:54; Ps 95:8; Da 6:10; Ac 20:36 etc.). To 'bow the knee' is equivalent to 'worship' (1Ki 19:18; Isa 45:23; Ro 14:11 etc.). To fall upon the knees before a superior is an act at once of reverence and of entreaty (2Ki 1:13; Mt 17:14; Lu 5:8 etc.). In the court of an Eastern judge the writer has often seen men prostrate themselves, and then make their plea, resting upon their knees.
W. Ewing.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Rachel said, "God is turned, and I have made a change with my sister, and have gotten the upper hand." And she called his name Naphtali.
And Joseph saw Ephraim's children, even unto the third generation. And unto Machir the son of Manasseh were children born, and sat on Joseph's knees.
"The LORD shall smite thee with a mischievous botch in the knees and legs, so that thou canst not be healed: even from the sole of the foot unto the top of the head.
And when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD and from kneeling on his knees and stretching of his hands up to heaven,
And thereto I have left me seven thousand in Israel, of which never man bowed his knees unto Baal nor kissed him with his mouth."
And the king sent again the third captain over fifty. And when the third captain over fifty was come up to him, he fell on his knees before Elijah and besought him and said unto him, "Oh man of God, let my life and the life of these fifty thy servants be precious in thy sight.
Thy words have set up those that were fallen, thou hast refreshed the weak knees.
Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
My knees are weak through fasting; my flesh is dried up for want of fatness.
I swear by myself: out of my mouth cometh the word of righteousness, and that may no man turn: but all knees shall bow unto me, and all tongues shall swear by me,
Upon this, came all the king's wise men: but they could neither read the writing, nor show the king what it signified.
Now when Daniel understood that the writing was made, he went into his house: and the windows of his hall toward Jerusalem stood open. There kneeled he down upon his knees, three times a day: there he made his petition, and praised his God, like as his manner was to do afore time.
And when they were come to the people, there came to him a certain man; and kneeled down to him, and said,
When Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' knees saying, "Lord go from me, for I am a sinful man."
When he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
For it is written, "As truly as I live, saith the Lord, all knees shall bow to me, and all tongues shall give a knowledge to God."