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בֶּרֶךְ

𐤁𐤓𐤊

berek

H1290 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ברך to kneel, to bless, to bend the knee

Definition

A physical knee, the joint between the thigh and the lower leg; also used metonymically for bowing in obeisance, prayer, blessing, or submission. In some contexts, 'knees' function as a symbol of strength, support, nurturing (such as in 'children born upon [someone's] knees,' i.e., adopted or raised by them), or vulnerability. Biblically, the knee is associated with acts of blessing and submission, as bowing the knee commonly expresses respect or worship.

Semantic Range

knee (physical joint), posture of kneeling, seat of strength or weakness, symbol of blessing or supplication, site of nurturing or adoption

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root בָּרַךְ (BRK), which primarily means 'to kneel,' and by extension 'to bless.' The noun בֶּרֶךְ denotes the actual physical knee, and is related in imagery and concept to the act of kneeling, which itself became associated with blessing or invoking blessing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical texts, בֶּרֶךְ is used both literally and figuratively. In patriarchal and early monarchic contexts, 'falling on the knees' or 'bowing the knee' signified acts of respect, supplication, or acceptance (Genesis 48:12; 1 Kings 18:42). Bowing the knee was a physical gesture used during ritual blessing or oath-taking. The phrase 'children born on the knees' (Genesis 30:3) refers to a custom of surrogate childbearing or adoption, where children are symbolically regarded as one's offspring by being placed on the lap or knees of the woman. In prophetic and poetic passages, the knee may symbolize physical strength or, inversely, weakness (as in 'feeble knees,' Isaiah 35:3; Job 4:4). The connection of the word with the root meaning 'to bless' does not mean the noun itself should be translated as 'blessing,' but the act of kneeling is a pivotal posture in ancient blessings. Later translations (including parts of the Septuagint and English versions) sometimes lose or gloss over the physical and cultural nuance, particularly in idiomatic expressions. There is no direct connection in the Israelite period between the physical 'knee' and later religious identity terminology.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from בָרַךְ; a knee; knee.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ברך (b-r-k) — to kneel, to bless, to bend the knee

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1263 בָּרוּךְ blessed one
H1288 בָרַךְ let me bless
H1289 בְּרַךְ to pronounce blessing
H1291 בֶּרֶךְ his knees
H1292 בָּרַכְאֵל El has blessed

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1290-04 בִּרְכָּ֑י/ו birekayv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees 6
H1290-03 בִּרְכַּ֖יִם birekayim HNcfda knees knees 5
H1290-02 בִּרְכַּ֔/י birekay HNcfdc/Sp1cs my knees my knees 4
H1290-06 בִּרְכֶּ֔י/הָ birekeyha HNcfdc/Sp3fs her knees her knees 2
H1290-08 הַ/בִּרְכַּ֨יִם֙ habirekayim HTd/Ncfda the knees the knees 2
H1290-09 וּ/בִרְכַּ֥יִם uvirekayim HC/Ncfda and knees and knees 2
H1290-07 בִּרְכֵי/הֶ֖ם birekheyhem HNcfdc/Sp3mp their knees their knees 1
H1290-05 בִּרְכֵּ֥י birekey HNcfdc the knees of knees of 1
H1290-01 בֶּ֔רֶךְ berekhe HNcfsa knee knee 1
H1290-11 ברכ/ו vrkhv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees 1

Occurrences in Scripture

26 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1290-02 Genesis 30:3 בִּרְכַּ֔/י birekay HNcfdc/Sp1cs my knees my knees
H1290-04 Genesis 48:12 בִּרְכָּ֑י/ו birekayv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees
H1290-05 Genesis 50:23 בִּרְכֵּ֥י birekey HNcfdc the knees of knees of
H1290-08 Deuteronomy 28:35 הַ/בִּרְכַּ֨יִם֙ habirekayim HTd/Ncfda the knees the knees
H1290-04 Judges 7:5 בִּרְכָּ֖י/ו birekayv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his-knees his knees
H1290-07 Judges 7:6 בִּרְכֵי/הֶ֖ם birekheyhem HNcfdc/Sp3mp their knees their knees
H1290-06 Judges 16:19 בִּרְכֶּ֔י/הָ birekeyha HNcfdc/Sp3fs her knees her knees
H1290-04 1 Kings 8:54 בִּרְכָּ֔י/ו birekayv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees
H1290-11 1 Kings 18:42 ברכ/ו vrkhv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees
H1290-04 1 Kings 18:42 בִּרְכָּֽי/ו birekayv HNcfdc/Sp3ms his knees his knees
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