### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **berek**, represented by `{{H1290}}`, translates literally as **knee**. Derived from the root `{{H1288}}` **bârak**, which means to kneel or bless, this term appears 25 times in 25 unique verses. It carries significant symbolic weight, representing concepts of worship, weakness, strength, and intimate care.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H1290}}` is used to illustrate several distinct physical and spiritual states. It signifies submission and worship, as seen in God's declaration that to Him "every **knee** shall bow" [[Isaiah 45:23]]. This act of kneeling is also seen in prayer and supplication, as when Solomon "arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his **knees**" [[1 Kings 8:54]]. Conversely, the term often depicts frailty and fear, with phrases like "feeble **knees**" [[Isaiah 35:3]] and "all **knees** shall be weak as water" [[Ezekiel 21:7]] describing a state of distress or judgment. It also conveys a sense of nurturing and acceptance, such as when Joseph's descendants were "brought up upon Joseph's **knees**" [[Genesis 50:23]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illuminate the meaning of `{{H1290}}`:
* `{{H1288}}` **bârak** (to kneel, to bless): As the primitive root, this word directly links the physical act of kneeling with the spiritual act of blessing or adoration.
* `{{H3766}}` **kâraʻ** (to bend the knee, to bow down): This verb is frequently paired with **berek** to describe the action of bowing in worship or submission, such as when the people of Israel "bowed themselves with their faces to the ground" [[2 Chronicles 7:3]].
* `{{H3782}}` **kâshal** (to stumble, faint or fall): This word is often used to describe the state of feeble or weak knees, highlighting physical or spiritual collapse [[Psalms 109:24]].
* `{{H3027}}` **yad** (hand, power): Hands and knees are often mentioned in parallel to represent a person's overall strength or weakness, as in the command to "Strengthen ye the weak **hands**, and confirm the feeble **knees**" [[Isaiah 35:3]].
### Theological Significance
The theological importance of `{{H1290}}` is expressed through its symbolic postures.
* **Posture of Worship:** Kneeling is the quintessential posture of reverence, submission, and prayer. It is the physical manifestation of acknowledging a higher authority, whether it is a king [[2 Kings 1:13]] or God Himself [[Ezra 9:5]].
* **Indicator of Human Frailty:** Weak, feeble, or smiting knees serve as a powerful metaphor for fear, despair, and judgment. They represent the physical effects of sin or distress [[Nahum 2:10]], contrasting with the strength that comes from God.
* **Symbol of Intimacy and Blessing:** The lap, formed by the knees, is a place of care, acceptance, and continuity. To have a child "bear upon my **knees**" [[Genesis 30:3]] or be "dandled upon her **knees**" [[Isaiah 66:12]] signifies a deep, familial bond and the blessing of future generations.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H1290}}` is a word that uses a simple part of the body to convey profound spiritual truths. It is more than anatomy; it is an expression of the heart's posture. Whether bowed in worship, weak with fear, or providing a place of comfort, the **knee** in Scripture is a symbol of the human condition in relation to divine authority, judgment, and grace.
TRV