Isaiah 35:3-4

35:3 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp,

steady the knees that shake! ¹ 

35:4 Tell those who panic, ² 

“Be strong! Do not fear!

Look, your God comes to avenge!

With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.” ³ 

Daniel 5:6

5:6 Then all the color drained from the king’s face ⁴  and he became alarmed. ⁵  The joints of his hips gave way, ⁶  and his knees began knocking together.

Hebrews 12:12

12:12 Therefore, strengthen ⁷  your listless hands and your weak knees, ⁸ 

[35:3]  ¹ tn Heb “staggering knees”; KJV, ASV, NRSV “feeble knees”; NIV “knees that give way.”

[35:4]  ² tn Heb “Say to the hasty of heart,” i.e., those whose hearts beat quickly from fear.

[35:4]  ³ tn The jussive form וְיֹשַׁעֲכֶם (vÿyosha’akhem), which is subordinated to the preceding imperfect with vav conjunctive, indicates purpose.

[5:6]  ⁴ tn Aram “[the king’s] brightness changed for him.”

[5:6]  ⁵ tn Aram “his thoughts were alarming him.”

[5:6]  ⁶ tn Aram “his loins went slack.”

[12:12]  ⁷ tn Or “straighten.”

[12:12]  ⁸ sn A quotation from Isa 35:3. Strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees refers to the readers’ need for renewed resolve and fresh strength in their struggles (cf. Heb 10:36-39; 12:1-3).