אַרְכֻבָּה (ar.khu.vah)
ar.khu.vah
knee
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun arkhaba refers to the knee, appearing only once in the Hebrew Bible within Daniel 5:6. In this context, King Belshazzar sees mysterious writing on the wall and his physical reaction is immediate: his knees knock together and his legs tremble. This usage captures a visceral moment of terror, where the body betrays the mind’s attempt to remain composed.
Linguistically, the word is identified as an Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew root for bowing or kneeling. Its presence in Daniel reflects the book’s bilingual nature, switching between Hebrew and Aramaic as the narrative moves from Jewish subjects to the imperial court. The term anchors the scene in physical reality, emphasizing that even a powerful king could not stand firm before divine judgment.
Translators typically render this word simply as "knees," preserving the concrete imagery of the text. Unlike abstract terms for fear or awe, arkhaba grounds the theological weight of the moment in human physiology. The trembling knees serve as an undeniable sign of vulnerability, marking the point where royal authority meets the sovereignty of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word for knee, arkhubah, appears only once in the Old Testament, capturing a moment of sheer vulnerability. In Daniel 5:6, King Belshazzar sees writing on the wall and his knees knock together. This physical reaction shows how fear can bypass our thoughts and strike directly at our bodies. It reminds us that no matter how much power we hold, we are not in ultimate control.
When life feels unstable, this image offers comfort rather than shame. The Bible does not hide human weakness; it places it right in the center of divine encounters. Even those with great authority can find their strength failing when faced with God’s presence. This honesty about our fragility invites us to rely on grace instead of our own ability to stand firm.
Understanding this word helps us see that trembling is not a sign of faith failure. It is often the first step toward recognizing who truly holds the world together. We can bring our fears and uncertainties to God, knowing He sees our human limits with compassion.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ knees/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔/הּ1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 5:6
Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
This verse uses the term to describe a visceral physical reaction where knees strike together, grounding the theological weight of divine judgment in tangible human physiology.