אַרְכֻבָה
𐤀𐤓𐤊𐤁𐤄
ʼarkubâh
H755 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Joint of the leg, specifically the knee — the anatomical structure that allows for bending and movement in the lower limb. In the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, refers to the human knee as the pivotal joint between the thigh and lower leg. May also denote the function of kneeling (to bend the knee), either in literal, physical descriptions or as an action associated with obeisance or prayer.
Semantic Range
knee (body part), joint of the leg, act of kneeling or bending the knee
Root / Etymology
Derived from an unused root, corresponding to Hebrew רָכַב (r-k-b), 'to bend, to ride.' Here, the sense is 'to bend,' alluding to the function of the knee as the joint that allows the leg to bend. The lexical form אַרְכֻבָּה is an Aramaic noun, feminine in gender, denoting both the body part (knee) and the action (bending/kneeling) associated with it. The term is rare, and its precise root is unattested in biblical Hebrew but likely related to common Semitic terms for the knee (see Akkadian arkubtu).
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַרְכֻבָּה occurs only in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably in Daniel 6:11 and Daniel 6:14). In these texts, it refers to the physical knees of Daniel as he knelt in prayer. Unlike Hebrew בֶּרֶךְ (berekh), which is the standard term for 'knee' in biblical Hebrew and appears widely in both narrative and ritual contexts, אַרְכֻבָּה is distinctive for its Aramaic context. English translations reliably render this as 'knee,' but may obscure the distinction between the Hebrew and Aramaic terms. The association of kneeling with prayer or supplication is present in both languages but is often more explicit in Aramaic as a narrative gesture. There is no evidence that the term evolved into a metaphor or gained further abstract meaning within the biblical period. Later Rabbinic usage sometimes employs similar forms, but these should be distinguished from the biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) from an unused root corresponding to רָכַב (in the sense of bending the knee); the knee; knee.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רכב (r-k-b) — bend, cause to bend, joint (of body)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1024 | בֵּית הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת | House of the Chariots |
| H4817 | מֶרְכָּב | the riding-vehicle |
| H4818 | מֶרְכָּבָה | in the chariot |
| H7392 | רָכַב | I will cause to ride |
| H7393 | רֶכֶב | in the chariot |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H755-01 |
וְ/אַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔/הּ | vearekhubateh | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and his knees | his bending-joints | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H755-01 |
Daniel 5:6 | וְ/אַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔/הּ | vearekhubateh | AC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and his knees | his bending-joints |