Lexical Summary abrek: Bow the knee Original Word: אַבְרֵךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bow the knee Probably an Egyptian word meaning kneel -- bow the knee. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition to kneel NASB Translation bow the knee (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אַבְרֵךְ proclaimed before Joseph Genesis 41:43 (meaning dubious; many Egyptian derivatives proposed; e.g. a-bor-k, Coptic = prostrate thyself! SpiegelbRandglossen 14 ff. explained as Egyptian ±brk = give attention! BenfeyVerh. d. äg. Spr. z. Semitic 302 f; ¹prek, = head bowed! ChabasRA 1, — but ¹ = ע see also WiedemannAltäg. Wörter 1883, 8; apreχ-u, head of the wise, HarkavyBerl. äg. Zeltschr. 1869; (but Jeremiah 46:15 many MSS. ᵐ5 Aq Symm Theod ᵑ9 many moderns read אַבִּירֶ֑ךָ thy bull, i.e. Apis). — אַבִרֵךְ: SpiegelbergRandglossen 14ff. explains as Egyptian °brk = give attention! åb-rek, rejoice thou! CookSpeaker's Comm. Gn. on the passage and p. 482; Lepage RenoufPSBA.nov.1888, 5 f åb(u)-rek, thy command is our desire, i.e. we are at thy service; SayRel. Babylonian 183 Assyrian abrikku = Akkadian abrik, vizier (unpublished tablet), see already DlW; L 134 c., 1. 11. 12 who compare Assyrian abarakku = title, perhaps grand vizier; against Dl, see COT & NöZMG 1886, 734). אַבְרָם, אַבְשַׁי see אֲבִירָם, אֲבִישַׁי below II. אבה. אַבְשָׁלוֺם, אַבְשָׁלֹם see אֲבִישָׁלוֺם below II. אבה. אגא (compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Hebrew 86 occurs once, in Genesis 41:43. After interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph is exalted to second in command. Pharaoh “had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command, and men called out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ ” (Genesis 41:43). The cry, rendered here as “Bow the knee,” is the Hebrew אַבְרֵךְ. Possible Meaning and Implications Because the term appears only in this royal procession, its precise sense is gleaned from context rather than vocabulary lists. Most scholars take the shout as: 1. A command of homage (“Bow the knee”) acknowledging Joseph’s authority. Either way, the word marks a decisive moment when a slave becomes ruler, underscoring divine providence that exalts the humble (Psalm 113:7-8; Luke 1:52). Cultural Background Ancient Near-Eastern enthronements often featured heralds who ran before the chariot, proclaiming the dignity of the officeholder. Comparable scenes appear when Mordecai is led through Susa (Esther 6:11) or when Solomon rides David’s mule with trumpet blasts and acclamations (1 Kings 1:38-40). In Egypt, servants shouted directives to bystanders to clear the way and to signal obeisance. אַבְרֵךְ fits this pattern, indicating a mandatory gesture of respect toward Joseph. Theological Themes 1. Sovereign Promotion: Joseph’s rise illustrates that “promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west…but God is the Judge; He brings one down and exalts another” (Psalm 75:6-7). Christological Foreshadowing Joseph’s experience prefigures the Messiah: Practical Ministry Applications • Leadership: God may elevate servants suddenly; cultivate integrity long before promotion comes (Genesis 39:9). Devotional Reflections Personalize the herald’s cry: “Bow the knee” to God’s chosen Ruler today. A stubborn heart that resists divine authority forfeits the blessing Joseph distributed freely (Genesis 47:12). Let אַבְרֵךְ remind you that reverence is the doorway to provision. Key Cross-References Genesis 41:40; Psalm 105:17-22; Isaiah 45:23; 1 Kings 1:38-40; Esther 3:2; Psalm 95:6; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 5:9-14 Forms and Transliterations אַבְרֵ֑ךְ אברך ’aḇ·rêḵ ’aḇrêḵ avRechLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:43 HEB: וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אַבְרֵ֑ךְ וְנָת֣וֹן אֹת֔וֹ NAS: before him, Bow the knee! And he set KJV: before him, Bow the knee: and he made INT: proclaimed before Bow set over |
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, flee Frey). **Authority for Arabic verb 
flee is slender, but word occurs as proper name, of a mountain, and elsewhere (GFM, privately).