kneel

Everyday

To kneel is to go down or stay with one or both knees on the ground. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, people kneel to tie shoelaces, garden, look under things or talk to small children at their level. In some religions, people kneel to pray. In stories, a knight kneels before the king, or someone kneels to propose marriage. In first aid, you kneel beside an injured person. Phrases: kneel down, kneel on, kneel beside, on bended knee.

Examples

• She knelt down to tie her shoelace. tree →
• Kneel beside the person and check if they are breathing. tree →
• The knight knelt before the queen. tree →
• We knelt on the grass to look at the ants. tree →
• Grandma kneels on a cushion when she gardens. tree →
• The children knelt to pray in the church. tree →
• Now the lovers kneel down, and one of them sings: tree →

Note

Silent k: say «neel». Past: «knelt» (more common in UK) or «kneeled» (common in US). Noun: knee. Homophone trap: «kneel» vs «Neil» (a name).

In Jewish tradition

In the Tanakh the camels kneel down to rest by the well, and kneeling is also a sign of bowing before a ruler or before God. The psalms invite all people, even the dying, to kneel before the LORD.

Interpretation. Jews usually bow or bend the knee only in a few prayers, such as the Aleinu, to show reverence for God alone. Psalm 95 is sung in the Sabbath prayers, and Psalm 22 is read as saying that all the world will in the end honour God.

Examples

• And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. (Torah GEN.24.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• They go and come at His word, and at His command ti)ev pursue like the whirlwind, and kneel before His throne. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• O come, let us bow down and bend the knee; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; (Writings PSA.95.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship; all they that go down to the dust shall kneel before Him, even he that cannot keep his soul alive. (Writings PSA.22.30, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Silent k: say «neel». Past: «knelt» (more common in UK) or «kneeled» (common in US). Noun: knee. Homophone trap: «kneel» vs «Neil» (a name).