Crouch
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The term "crouch" appears in the Bible primarily in the context of describing a posture of submission, humility, or readiness to attack. It is often used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths or moral lessons. The imagery of crouching can be found in both the Old and New Testaments, illustrating various aspects of human behavior and divine interaction.

Old Testament Usage

1. Genesis 4:7 · In the narrative of Cain and Abel, God warns Cain about the sin that is "crouching at the door." The Berean Standard Bible translates this verse as: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must rule over it." Here, the term "crouching" is used to personify sin as a predator lying in wait, ready to pounce on Cain if he does not master it. This vivid imagery underscores the ever-present danger of sin and the need for vigilance and self-control.

2. Genesis 49:9 · In Jacob's blessing over his sons, he describes Judah as a lion: "Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?" . The crouching lion symbolizes strength, dominance, and the regal nature of Judah's lineage, which ultimately leads to the Davidic line and the Messiah.

3. Job 38:40 · In God's discourse with Job, He describes the behavior of lions: "when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in the thicket?" . This depiction of lions crouching in their dens highlights their predatory nature and serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all creation, including the most powerful creatures.

New Testament Implications

While the specific term "crouch" is not directly used in the New Testament, the concept of humility and submission, often associated with crouching, is prevalent. Believers are encouraged to adopt a posture of humility before God and others.

1. James 4:7 · "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." . The act of submission to God can be likened to a spiritual crouching, where believers humble themselves under God's mighty hand, acknowledging His authority and power.

2. 1 Peter 5:6 · "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you." . This verse calls for a posture of humility, akin to crouching, as believers trust in God's timing and providence.

Theological Significance

The imagery of crouching in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the human condition and the spiritual battles faced by believers. It illustrates the tension between sin's lurking presence and the call to righteousness. The posture of crouching can represent both the threat of sin and the strength found in humility and submission to God. Through these depictions, Scripture encourages believers to remain vigilant, resist sin, and humbly submit to God's will, trusting in His ultimate authority and deliverance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.

2. (v. i.) To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe.

3. (v. t.) To sign with the cross; to bless.

4. (v. t.) To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.

Greek
4434. ptochos -- (of one who crouches and cowers, hence) beggarly ...
... 4434 (from , "to crouch or cower like a beggar") -- properly, bent over; (figuratively)
, completely lacking resources (earthly wealth) -- ie . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4434.htm - 8k

4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... From pros and a probable derivative of kuon (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking
his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, ie (literally or figuratively ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4352.htm - 10k

Strong's Hebrew
7817. shachach -- to bow, be bowed down, crouch
... shachach. 7818 . to bow, be bowed down, crouch. Transliteration: shachach Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-khakh') Short Definition: despair. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7817.htm - 6k

1457. gahar -- to bend, crouch
... 1456, 1457. gahar. 1458 . to bend, crouch. Transliteration: gahar Phonetic
Spelling: (gaw-har') Short Definition: stretched. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1457.htm - 5k

7164. qaras -- to bend down, stoop, crouch
... 7163b, 7164. qaras. 7165 . to bend down, stoop, crouch. Transliteration: qaras
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-ras') Short Definition: over. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7164.htm - 6k

7257. rabats -- stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
... crouch down, fall down, make a fold, lay, cause to, make to lie down, make
to rest, sit. A primitive root; to crouch (on all four ...
/hebrew/7257.htm - 6k

1794. dakah -- to crush
... break sore, contrite, crouch. A primitive root (compare dak, daka'); to collapse
(phys. Or mentally) -- break (sore), contrite, crouch. see HEBREW dak. ...
/hebrew/1794.htm - 6k

7812. shachah -- to bow down
... bow self down, crouch, fall down flat, humbly beseech, do reverence, worship.
A primitive root; to depress, ie Prostrate (especially ...
/hebrew/7812.htm - 6k

3766. kara -- to bow down
... to bow down NASB Word Usage bow (3), bow down (2), bowed (4), bowed down (9), bring
him low (1), brought me very low (1), couches (2), crouch (1), feeble (1 ...
/hebrew/3766.htm - 6k

Library

Letter C
... 1829, Located 1840 * Crosby, George F. "Received 1829, Located 1835 * Cross, Isaac
"Received 1835 * Cross, Joseph "Received 1836 * Crouch, Benjamin T ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter c.htm

The General Conference of 1832
... Kentucky Conference: William Adams, Peter Akers, Henry B. Bascom, Benjamin T. Crouch,
HH Kavanaugh, Marcus Lindsay, George McNelly, Martin Ruter, Jonathan ...
/.../chapter 11 the general conference.htm

The General Conference of 1836
... Kentucky Conference: Henry B. Bascom, Benjamin T. Crouch, HH Kavanaugh,
Jonathan Stamper, Edward Stevenson, GW Taylor. Illinois ...
/.../chapter 13 the general conference.htm

The Criminal and his Relation to Society.
... And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, is there not acceptance?
But if thou doest not well, Does not sin crouch at the door? ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study iii the criminal and.htm

The General Conference of 1828
... Kentucky Conference: William Adams, Peter Akers, Benjamin T. Crouch, George C. Light,
Marcus Lindsey, Henry McDaniel, George W. McNelly, Thomas A. Morris ...
/.../chapter 9 the general conference.htm

Personal Service
... No more do I crouch at thy feet or go to thy footstool cowering like a slave, but
l came to thee with privilege of access, up to thy very throne. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/personal service.htm

Twenty-Fifth Day. Receiving Sinners.
... Does He suffer the veriest dregs of human depravity to crouch unbidden at His feet,
and to gaze on His forgiving countenance with the uplifted eye of hope, and ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/twenty-fifth day receiving sinners.htm

To Brother Raimondo of Capua at Avignon
... Thank God a second time! Why come temptations but for man to meet, And master, and
make crouch beneath his feet, And so be pedestalled in triumph!". ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to brother raimondo of capua 2.htm

The Power and Triumph of Faith. Dan 3:06
... For what had they to lose,. When GOD espoused their cause? He made the hungry lions
crouch,. Nor durst the fire his children touch. The Lord is still the same,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 73 the power and.htm

God's Awful Power and Goodness.
... adore. 2 Let proud imperious kings Bow low before his throne, Crouch to
his feet, ye haughty things, Or he shall tread you down. ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 0 138888889 gods awful power.htm

Thesaurus
Crouch (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Crouch (7 Occurrences). ... (See NAS). Job 38:40 when they
crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket? (WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/c/crouch.htm - 8k

Couch (55 Occurrences)
... included or involved darkly. 11. (vi) To bend the body, as in reverence,
pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch. 12. (n.) A bed ...
/c/couch.htm - 25k

Lair (8 Occurrences)
... remain in their dens. (DBY NAS RSV). Job 38:40 when they crouch in their
dens, and lie in wait in the thicket? (See NAS). Psalms 10:9 ...
/l/lair.htm - 8k

Tempt (18 Occurrences)
... "Why comes temptation but for man to meet And master and make crouch beneath his
foot, And so be pedestaled in triumph?" Holiness in its best estate is ...
/t/tempt.htm - 15k

Temptation (22 Occurrences)
... "Why comes temptation but for man to meet And master and make crouch beneath his
foot, And so be pedestaled in triumph?" Holiness in its best estate is ...
/t/temptation.htm - 30k

Thicket (9 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Job 38:40 when they crouch in their
dens, and lie in wait in the thicket? (WEB DBY YLT NIV). ...
/t/thicket.htm - 10k

Dens (10 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV). Job 38:40 when they crouch in their dens, and
lie in wait in the thicket? (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/dens.htm - 9k

Priestly (16 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 2:36 And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of thy house
shall come to crouch to him for a small piece of silver and for a cake of bread ...
/p/priestly.htm - 11k

Beggarly (2 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEGGARLY. beg'-er-li (ptochos): The word has the thought
of "to crouch" or "cringe," such as is common with professional beggars. ...
/b/beggarly.htm - 8k

Crouched (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Crouch. 2. (a.) Marked with the sign
of the cross. Multi-Version Concordance Crouched (4 Occurrences). ...
/c/crouched.htm - 7k

Resources
Is the Word of Faith movement biblical? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Issachar? | GotQuestions.org

Crouch: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Crouch (7 Occurrences)

Numbers 24:9
He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed."
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 2:36
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Job 9:13
"God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
(See NAS)

Job 38:40
when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
(WEB DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Job 39:3
They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they end their labor pains.
(See RSV NIV)

Psalms 104:22
The sun riseth, they are gathered, And in their dens they crouch.
(YLT)

Isaiah 10:4
They can but crouch under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.
(DBY JPS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Crouch

Related Terms

Crouches (3 Occurrences)

Crouch (7 Occurrences)

Knobs (9 Occurrences)

James (40 Occurrences)

Lion's (14 Occurrences)

Lioness (13 Occurrences)

Rouse (25 Occurrences)

Dares (6 Occurrences)

Droves (17 Occurrences)

Cub (4 Occurrences)

Croak (1 Occurrence)

Stooped (15 Occurrences)

Prey (105 Occurrences)

Hedgehog (3 Occurrences)

Hedge-hog (2 Occurrences)

Lies (208 Occurrences)

Bent (107 Occurrences)

Causeth (209 Occurrences)

Exposed (39 Occurrences)

Lion (92 Occurrences)

Arise (235 Occurrences)

Multiplied (109 Occurrences)

Judah (802 Occurrences)

Cross-ways
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