ka.na describes humbling oneself before God or bringing persons, peoples, and hostile powers low.

The verb is used chiefly of people humbling themselves before God, often in response to divine words, distress, or wrongdoing. It also describes peoples and enemies being brought under another’s hand, while Hiphil forms portray an agent bringing opponents, a land, hearts, or a proud person low.

1. Humble oneself before God · dominant

   Niphal forms describe deliberate self-humbling in relation to God: in 2 Chronicles 7:14 the people humble themselves alongside prayer, seeking God’s face, and turning from harmful ways. In 2 Chronicles 34:27, the addressee humbles himself before God after hearing words concerning the place and its inhabitants; the APB renders the clause “you humbled yourself before God.”

   1 Kings 21:292 Chronicles 12:62 Chronicles 30:112 Chronicles 32:262 Chronicles 33:122 Chronicles 7:14
2. Be brought under an opponent’s hand · common

   Niphal forms describe a people or force being overcome in conflict. In Judges 11:33 the sons of Ammon are subdued after a great slaughter, and in 1 Samuel 7:13 the Philistines are subdued and no longer enter Israel’s territory; the APB presents the result as military defeat or subjection.

   Judges 3:30Judges 8:28Judges 11:331 Samuel 7:131 Chronicles 20:4Psalm 106:42
3. Bring low or subdue · common

   Hiphil forms place the action with an agent who lowers or subdues another. In Deuteronomy 9:3, the LORD will subdue those before Israel; in Nehemiah 9:24, God humbles the inhabitants of the land before Israel; and in Job 40:12 the addressee is commanded to humble every proud person.

   Deuteronomy 9:3Judges 4:232 Samuel 8:11 Chronicles 17:10Nehemiah 9:24Job 40:12

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly uses “humbled himself” for self-humbling and “subdued” for defeated peoples or enemies; it also uses “brought low” in Psalm 106:42. These renderings present the clauses’ overall sense rather than a fixed English equivalent for each form.