📖 Biblical Definition
To kneel is to bend the knee in worship, supplication, or submission — the body’s native confession of someone greater than oneself. Solomon kneeled at the temple dedication: "he kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven" (2 Chronicles 6:13). Daniel kneeled three times daily, at his open window, in defiance of the king’s decree (Daniel 6:10). Christ kneeled in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41). Stephen kneeled at his stoning, crying for his murderers (Acts 7:60). Paul kneeled at the Ephesian elders’ farewell (Acts 20:36) and at Tyre on the beach (21:5). Every knee will one day bow at the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). The Christian gladly kneels now.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
KNEEL, v.i.
expand to see more
To bend the knee; to fall on the knees; sometimes with down. He kneeled down on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God. Dan. 6.
📖 Key Scripture
Daniel 6:10 — "He kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God."
Luke 22:41 — "He kneeled down, and prayed."
Acts 7:60 — "He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."
Philippians 2:10 — "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern worship has stood up because it forgot Who is in the room.
expand to see more
Daniel kneeled three times a day with the windows open toward Jerusalem — in defiance of a royal decree he knew would cost him the lions. Stephen kneeled while the rocks were flying. Christ kneeled in Gethsemane while the soldiers were forming. The biblical pattern is plain: men of consequence with God spent significant time on their knees.
Modern worship has largely stood. Pews became chairs; chairs became theater seats; theater seats became standing-room with concert lighting. The body says what the heart believes — that we are equals, peers, audiences, consumers. Recover the knee. In your own room, in your own prayer, with the door closed. Philippians 2 says you will eventually kneel anyway. Better to do it now in love than later in compulsion.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew barak (H1288); Greek gonupeteo (G1120).
expand to see more
H1288 — barak — to kneel; to bless
G1120 — gonupeteo — to fall upon the knees
G2578 — kampto — to bow, bend (of the knee)
Usage
"You will bow eventually; the only question is whether love or compulsion brings you to the knee."
"Daniel kneeled with the windows open — the lions were not enough to make him stand."
"A church that has not kneeled in years has likely forgotten Who is in the room."