would be ‘fondled upon the knees,’ that is, well cared for, brought back into a favored state.—Isa. 66:12, 13.

KNEELING

The Hebrew word for “kneel” (ba·rakhʹ) is the same root as the one for “blessing,” which may indicate that at least at times blessings were conferred upon persons while they kneeled.

While imploring favor

A person might kneel as an act of respect or to implore favor, as when a “chief of fifty” representing King Ahaziah knelt before Elijah to plead for his life and that of the men accompanying him. (2 Ki. 1:13, 14) It was on bended knee that a leper entreated Jesus to make him clean.—Mark 1:40-42; also 10:17-22.

During prayer

True worshipers often knelt when praying to God, this posture being a suitable indication of their humility. (Ezra 9:5; Acts 9:36, 40; 21:3-6) Solomon assumed a kneeling position before the congregation of Israel during his prayer at the temple’s dedication. (2 Chron. 6:13) Despite a royal decree that for thirty days petition should be made only to King Darius, Daniel knelt in prayer to Jehovah three times a day, doing so while the windows of his roof chamber were open toward Jerusalem. (Dan. 6:6-11) Jesus Christ himself furnished an example of kneeling in prayer to Jehovah. In the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal, Jesus “bent his knees and began to pray.”—Luke 22:41.

Practicers of false religion knelt before idols of their gods. But in Elijah’s day Jehovah preserved 7,000 faithful persons in Israel, ‘all the knees that had not bent down to Baal.’—1 Ki. 19:18; Rom. 11:4.

Obeisance or acknowledgment of high station

Kneeling may denote obeisance or recognition of a superior’s high position. Soldiers knelt before Jesus and did obeisance to him, doing so, however, in mockery.—Matt. 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-20.

Jehovah has granted the faithful resurrected Jesus Christ a superior position and a name that is above every other name, “so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground.” All who gain life must bend their knees in worship to Jehovah in the name of Jesus Christ and acknowledge him as Lord to God’s glory. This includes “those under the ground,” evidently showing that those resurrected from the grave also come under this requirement.—Phil. 2:9-11; John 5:28, 29; Eph. 1:9, 10.

Primarily, recognition of Jehovah’s supremacy and sovereignty is required of those desiring divine favor. Jehovah has declared: “By my own self I have sworn . . . that to me every knee will bend down.” (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:10-12) Appropriately, therefore, the psalmist fervently urged fellow Israelites: “O come in, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker.”—Ps. 95:6; see ATTITUDES AND GESTURES.

KNIFE

A single-or double-edged cutting implement. Knives used in Biblical lands in times past were made of stone (particularly of flint), copper, bronze and iron.

The Hebrew term ma·ʼakheʹleth, which literally refers to an instrument for eating, is also applied to large knives such as those employed in cutting up the carcasses of sacrificial animals. A “slaughtering knife [Heb., ma·ʼakheʹleth]” was the instrument faithful Abraham took in hand when about to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:6, 10), and the same type was used by a certain Levite to cut the body of his dead concubine into twelve pieces. (Judg. 19:29) Also, Proverbs 30:14 speaks of “a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jawbones are slaughtering knives,” thus employing the same Hebrew term as a figure of rapaciousness.

“Flint knives” were made by Joshua for use in circumcising the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. (Josh. 5:2-4) The Hebrew term designating these knives is hheʹrev, generally rendered “sword,” and literally meaning here “daggers (swords) of rock.” The common “Canaanite” flint knife was about six inches (c. 15 centimeters) in length and had a raised center ridge and a double edge.

Scribes and secretaries of ancient times used a type of knife to sharpen their reed pens and to make erasures. Jeremiah 36:23 tells of the use of a “secretary’s knife” to tear apart a roll of a book prepared by Jeremiah at Jehovah’s direction.

Ancient knives of copper found commonly have a straight blade from six to ten inches (c. 15 to 25 centimeters) in length, some with curved tips also being discovered. Handles were often one piece with the blade. Other handles were made of wood and fastened to the blade. Iron knives were similar, their blades being cast in limestone molds, like the mold discovered at Tell Beit Mirsim, in which a blade sixteen inches (c. 40.6 centimeters) in length could be cast.

Proverbs 23:1, 2 makes figurative reference to a knife, recommending the ‘putting of a knife to one’s throat’ when eating with a king, evidently emphasizing the need to restrain one’s appetite in such circumstance.

KNOB

An ornamental part of the golden lampstand used in the Tabernacle; designated by the Hebrew word Kaph·tohrʹ (or, kaph·torʹ), evidently referring to a round protrusion. (Ex. 25:31-36; 37:17-22) These “knobs” alternated with the ornamental blossoms on the main stem and each of the six branches of the lampstand. Some of the knobs seem to have formed a boss or projecting support for these branches. They are discernible on the lampstand as depicted in the relief on the Arch of Titus (in Rome), where Roman soldiers are shown carrying spoils from the temple in Jerusalem, destroyed in 70 C.E.

KNOWLEDGE

Essentially, knowledge means familiarity with facts acquired by personal experience, observation or study. The Bible strongly urges the seeking for and treasuring of right knowledge, recommending it rather than gold. (Prov. 8:10; 20:15) Jesus stressed taking in knowledge, and it is repeatedly emphasized in the books of the Christian Greek Scriptures.—John 17:3; Phil. 1:9; 2 Pet. 3:18.

SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE

Jehovah is actually the basic source of knowledge. Life, of course, is from him and life is essential for one’s having any knowledge. (Ps. 36:9; Acts 17:25, 28) Furthermore, God created all things, so human knowledge is based on a study of God’s handiwork. (Rev. 4:11; Ps. 19:1, 2) God also inspired his written Word, from which man can learn the divine will and purposes. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Thus the focal point of all true knowledge is Jehovah, and one seeking it ought to have a reverent fear of him, which fear is the beginning of knowledge. (Prov. 1:7) Such godly fear puts one in position to gain accurate knowledge, whereas those who leave God out of consideration readily draw wrong conclusions from the things that they observe.

The Bible repeatedly links Jehovah and knowledge, calling him “a God of knowledge” and describing him as “perfect in knowledge.”—1 Sam. 2:3; Job 36:4; 37:14, 16.

The role that Jehovah has assigned to his Son in the outworking of His purposes is of such importance that it can be said of Jesus: “Carefully concealed in him are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.” (Col. 2:3) Unless a person exercises faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, he cannot grasp the real meaning of the Scriptures and see how God’s