כָּנַע
ka.na (H3665)
be humble
AI Word Study
# כָּנַע (kanah): Humility as Submission The Hebrew verb כָּנַע (kanah) carries the fundamental meaning of "be humble," and its presence in thirty-six biblical passages suggests it functioned as a significant concept in ancient Hebrew thought. The word describes an internal disposition or outward posture rather than a mere emotion—it represents a deliberate stance of submission or lowering of oneself. This verbal form appears frequently enough to indicate that the concept was important enough for biblical writers to repeatedly invoke, though the lexicon data provided does not specify whether the word appears in particular genres or historical periods of the biblical text. The semantic range of humility as expressed by kanah likely included both relational and spiritual dimensions. The word could describe how someone positions themselves before another person (horizontal humility) as well as before God (vertical humility), though the specific contextual usages are not detailed in the provided lexicon entry. Its relatively high frequency of occurrence—appearing in over three dozen texts—suggests that writers viewed humility as a recurring theme worthy of repeated attention, whether as something to be commended, commanded, or demonstrated by biblical figures. Without access to the specific passages where kanah appears, we cannot determine whether the word always carried positive connotations or whether biblical authors sometimes presented humility with ambivalence. The definition itself remains straightforward: a state of being humble, positioned as
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity,
Know therefore today that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire. He will destroy them and he will bring them down before you. So you shall drive them out and make them perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you.
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had rest eighty years.
So God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel on that day.
So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. The land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped coming within the border of Israel. Yahweh’s hand was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
After this, David struck the Philistines and subdued them; and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.
“See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s day.”
because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard you,’ says Yahweh.
and from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.
After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.
After this, war arose at Gezer with the Philistines. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.”
When Yahweh saw that they humbled themselves, Yahweh’s word came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath won’t be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
When he humbled himself, Yahweh’s wrath turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether. Moreover, there were good things found in Judah.
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
For Yahweh brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel, because he acted without restraint in Judah and trespassed severely against Yahweh.
Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
When he was in distress, he begged Yahweh his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
His prayer also, and how God was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places in which he built high places, and set up the Asherah poles and the engraved images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.
He didn’t humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.
because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God, when you heard his words against this place, and against its inhabitants, and have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes, and wept before me, I also have heard you,” says Yahweh.
He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from Yahweh’s mouth.
“So the children went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased.
Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.
Their enemies also oppressed them. They were brought into subjection under their hand.
Therefore he brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was no one to help.
As the heat in a dry place you will bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the dreaded ones will be brought low.