Quick Definition
γόνυ, ατος, τό n.n. a knee
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; the "knee"
KJV Usage: knee(X -l)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | γόνατος
8.47 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body
knee central hinge joint of the leg where the thigh is joined to the lower leg In LUK 5:8 the phrase ‘fell on his knees before Jesus’ should normally not be rendered literally since it might imply accidental stumbling. A more satisfactory equivalent may be ‘knelt down before,’ as a sign of worship or gratitude.
The term γόνυ occurs in a number of idiomatic phrases in the NT. For example, in HEB 12:12 the command ‘to strengthen the weak knees’ should normally not be translated literally, but by an expression meaning ‘to strengthen determination’ or ‘to give courage to’ (see 25.152). The ‘bending of the knees’ in MRK 15:19 was a sign of mock respect, and in such a context the term for ‘knee’ is often semantically absorbed into an expression meaning literally ‘bow down before’ (see 53.61).
9.16 · People · Human Beings
person, individual (a figurative extension of meaning of γόνυ[a] ‘knee,’ 8.47) a person in the attitude or position of one worshiping or submitting to authority
53.61 · Religious Activities · Worship, Reverence
Collocation: κάμπτω τὸ γόνυ
to worship, to bow before (a Semitic idiom, literally: the knee bends, or: the knee bows) to bend or bow the knee as a symbol of religious devotion
25.152 · Attitudes and Emotions · Encouragement, Consolation
Collocation: τὰ παραλελυμένα γόνατα ἀνορθόω
to become encouraged, to encourage oneself by determination (an idiom, literally: straighten paralyzed knees) to gain encouragement by a strong resolve See discussion at 23.170.
17.19 · Stances and Events Related to Stances · Kneel
Collocation: τίθημι τὰ γόνατα
to kneel down, to kneel (an idiom, literally: to place the knees, a Latinism) to kneel down before, with the implication of an act of reverence or of supplication In a number of cultures, kneeling does not imply either reverence or an act of supplication. In some instances translators have used a functional substitute involving a similar type of stance, namely, ‘to bow low before,’ but it may be necessary to use a more or less literal description of ‘kneeling before’ and then to place in a marginal note an indication of the implications of such an act.
MRK 15:19 · LUK 22:41 · ACT 7:60 · ACT 9:40 · ACT 20:36 · ACT 21:5
1 In this subdomain (Human Beings) a number of expressions referring to people are based upon metonymies involving terms for parts or aspects of persons. Such metonymic figures of speech are involved in σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα (9.14), γόνυ[b] (9.16), χείρ[b] (9.17), γλῶσσα[g] (9.18), ὄνομα[b] (9.19), and ψυχή[c] (9.20). 2 One may also interpret the idiom κάμπτω τὸ γόνυ as consisting of a metonymy in the case of τὸ γόνυ (in other words, knee as a substitute for person). Accordingly, κάμπτω to bend or to bow could then be interpreted as meaning simply to worship.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
γόνυ, γύνατος, τό, [fr. Hom. down], the knee: Heb. xii. 12; τιθέναι τὰ γόνατα to bend the knees, kneel down, of persons supplicating: Lk. xxii. 41; Acts vii. 60; ix. 40; xx. 36; xxi. 5; of [mock] worshippers, Mk. xv. 19, so also προσπίπτειν τοῖς γόνασί twos, Lk. ν. 8 (of a suppliant in Eur. Or. 1332); κάμπτειν τὰ γόνατα to bow the knee, of those worshipping God or Christ: τινί, Ro. xi. 4; πρός twa, Eph. iii. 14; reflexively, γόνυ κάμπτει τινί, fo i.e. in honor of one, Ro. xiv. 11 (1 K. xix. 18) ; ἐν ὀνόματι ᾿Ιησοῦ, Phil. ii. 10 (Is. xlv. 28).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
γόνυ gony 12x
the knee, Lk. 22:41; Heb. 12:12, et al.
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
γόνυ, -ατος, τό,
[in LXX chiefly for בֶּרֶךְ ;]
the knee: He 12:12; of a suppliant, προσπίπτειν τοῖς γ., Lk 5:8; so also τιθέναι τὰ γ., to kneel: Lk 22:41, Ac 7:60 9:40 20:36 21:5; in mockery, Mk 15:19; κάμπτειν τὰ γ., to bend the knee: Ro 11:4 (LXX) 14:11 (LXX), Eph 3:14, Phl 2:10.†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
γόνυ (gonu) — a knee. γόνῠ, τό, genitive γόνατος, Epic dialect and Ionic dialect γούνατος (for γόνϝατος) [Refs 8th c.BC+]: plural nominative __A γούνατα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also Epic dialect genitive γουνός (explanation as for γόνυος by Hdn.Gr.2.768, [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—Aeolic dialect accusative plural γόνα [Refs 7th c.BC+] __E has γουνάτων [Refs] accusative plural was read by [Refs 5th c.AD+]:—knee, γόνυ γουνὸς ἀμείβων [Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently of clasping the knees in earnest supplication, ἥψατο γούνων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποτὶ (variant{περὶ}) or ἀμφὶ γούνασί τινος χεῖρας βαλεῖν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐς γούνατά τινι or τινος πεσεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; γόνυ τινός or πρὸς γόνυ προσπίπτειν[Refs] on my knees, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πίπτειν πρὸς τὰ γ. τινος, tini, [Refs 8th c.BC+] __E.2 of a sitting posture, φημί μιν ἀσπασίως γ. κάμψειν will be glad to bend the knee so as to sit down and rest, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but also, bow the knee in submission, ἐμοὶ κάμψει (intransitive) πᾶν γ. [LXX]; γ. ὀκλάζειν τινί[LXX] on one's knees, ἐπὶ γούνασι πατρός [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πέπλον.. θεῖναι Ἀθηναίης ἐπὶ γούνασιν to lay it on her lap (as an offering), [Refs 8th c.BC+] it rests in the lap of.., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but ἐν γούνασιν πίτνοντα Νίκας victorious, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __E.3 of the knees as the seat of strength, ἐν δὲ βίην ὤμοισι καὶ ἐν γούνεσσιν ἔθηκε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of swiftness, λαιψηρά γ. [Refs], etc.; ὑπὸ γούνατ᾽ ἔλυσεν [Refs]; βλάπτειν γ. τινι, κάματος δ᾽ ὑπὸ γ. ἐδάμνα, [Refs]:—passive, αὐτοῦ λύτο γούνατα [Refs] __E.4 metaphorically, ἐς γόνυ βάλλειν bring down upon the knee, i. e. humble, conquer, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐς γ. ῥίπτειν, κλίνειν, [Refs 4th c.BC+] __E.5 proverbial, ἀπωτέρω ἢ γόνυ κνάμα 'blood is thicker than water', 'charity begins at home', [Refs 4th c.BC+] __E.II joint of grasses or plants, [Refs 5th c.BC+]. (Cf. Sanskrit jā´nu, Latin genu, etc.)