What does כָּרַע (kāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
כָּרַע (kāraʿ): Physical submission expressing submission to authority, defeat, or worship through bodily lowering
Hebrew · H3766
כָּרַע
To bend the knee; by implication, to sink , to prostrate
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כָּרַעH3766
Pronunciationkāraʿ
What does כָּרַע (kāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
כָּרַע (kāraʿ): Physical submission expressing submission to authority, defeat, or worship through bodily lowering
Full entry for כָּרַע (H3766) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H3766?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include he collapsed (3), bow down (2), bowed down (2), he crouches (2), You have subdued (2).
Where does כָּרַע (kāraʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:9. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (7), Psalms (7), Isaiah (5), Esther (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithe collapsed3×Judges 5:27
bow down2×Esther 3:2, Esther 3:5
bowed down2×2 Chronicles 29:29, Esther 3:2
he crouches2×Genesis 49:9, Numbers 24:9
You have subdued2×2 Samuel 22:40, Psalms 18:39
. . .1×Judges 11:35
and bow down1×Psalms 95:6
and he slumped down1×2 Kings 9:24
and I fell1×Ezra 9:5
and subdued1×Psalms 78:31
bow1×Psalms 72:9
bowed1×1 Kings 19:18
Bring them to their knees1×Psalms 17:13
but to crouch1×Isaiah 10:4
collapse1×Psalms 20:8
crouches1×Isaiah 46:1
fell1×2 Kings 1:13
kneel1×Judges 7:5
kneel down1×Isaiah 65:12
knelt1×Judges 7:6
she collapsed1×1 Samuel 4:19
sleep1×Job 31:10
that were buckling1×Job 4:4
they bowed down1×2 Chronicles 7:3
they crouch1×Isaiah 46:2
They crouch down1×Job 39:3
where he had been kneeling1×1 Kings 8:54
will bow1×Isaiah 45:23
will kneel1×Psalms 22:29
You have brought me to my knees1×Judges 11:35
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:9כָּרַ֨עtohe crouchesVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 24:9כָּרַ֨עtoHe crouchesVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 5:27כָּרַ֥עtohe collapsedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 5:27כָּרַ֣עtohe collapsedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 5:27כָּרַ֔עtohe collapsedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 7:5יִכְרַ֥עtokneelVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularJudges 7:6כָּרְע֥וּtokneltVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralJudges 11:35הַכְרֵ֣עַtoYou have brought me to my kneesVerb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteJudges 11:35הִכְרַעְתִּ֔נִיto. . .Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person feminine singular | first person common singular1 Samuel 4:19וַתִּכְרַ֣עtoshe collapsedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:9
Aligned rows36
Books represented13
Genesis1Numbers1Judges71 Samuel12 Samuel11 Kings22 Kings22 Chronicles2Ezra1Esther3Job3Psalms7Isaiah5
Source forms
כָּרַ֨ע2xkā·ra‘Genesis 49:9, Numbers 24:9
כָּרַ֥ע2xkā·ra‘Judges 5:27, Isaiah 46:1
כָֽרְעוּ֙2xḵā·rə·‘ū1 Kings 19:18, Isaiah 46:2
הִכְרִֽיעַ׃1xhiḵ·rî·a‘Psalms 78:31
הַכְרִיעֵ֑הוּ1xhaḵ·rî·‘ê·hūPsalms 17:13
הַכְרֵ֣עַ1xhaḵ·rê·a‘Judges 11:35
הִכְרַעְתִּ֔נִי1xhiḵ·ra‘·ti·nîJudges 11:35
וָֽאֶכְרְעָה֙1xwā·’eḵ·rə·‘āhEzra 9:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular7xGenesis 49:9, Numbers 24:9, Judges 5:27, Isaiah 10:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural5xJudges 7:6, 1 Kings 19:18, 2 Chronicles 29:29, Psalms 20:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Kings 1:13, 2 Kings 9:24
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 22:40, Psalms 18:39
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xPsalms 22:29, Psalms 72:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJudges 7:5, Esther 3:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural1xPsalms 95:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular1xEzra 9:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical submission expressing submission to authority, defeat, or worship through bodily lowering
Strong'sH3766
Lexical occurrences36 versesWord forms2 forms26 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 45:20-25Source Gloss
to bend the knee; by implication, to sink , to prostrate
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical submission expressing submission to authority, defeat, or worship through bodily lowering
to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate BDB: bow down Usage: bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, × very.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms26
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense22×
PerfectGen 49:9 · Isa 10:4 · Isa 46:1 · Judg 5:27 · Num 24:9 · 1Kgs 19:18 · 2Chr 29:29 · Isa 46:2 · Judg 7:6 · Ps 20:912×
ImperfectEsth 3:2 · Judg 7:5 · Ps 22:30 · Ps 72:9 · Isa 45:23 · Isa 65:12 · Job 39:37×
Participle activeEsth 3:2 · Esth 3:5 · Job 4:43×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action4×
Imperfect2Sam 22:40 · Ps 18:402×
Infinitive absoluteJudg 11:351×
PerfectPs 78:311×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Physical act of bending knees in worship and submission to God
The wicked are brought low or cast down before the good
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
כָּרַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.