Postrarse v. doblegarse.....

Question

In the Spanish language is there any differences between postrarse (to prostrate) and doblegarse (to bow down)? Other than the obvious? Last night I was reading Matthew 1:18, where the wise men find Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child. I noticed the English translated they "...bowed down..." while the Spanish translates it as "...they prostrated..." I thought I may be missing something culturally. Thanks.

Answer 1

Thanks to all for the replies.

Answer 2

It has to do with the amount of respect and humility associated with what you are trying to say.

Prostrate has more of a worshipful connotation, bow has a bit of a ritualistic or official connotation.

Answer 3

Vance,

I really like that passage in the Bible.

You would probably get more responses to this kind of post if you placed it in the Vocabulary & Grammar forum.

Answer 4

Prostrate means to kneel down before somebody and also to loss your strengths, especially an old person who has to pass his/her last days in bed.

About 'doblegarse' I found the English equivalent as 'give in' or 'hand over', to defeat a rival or to humiliate.

http://www.elpais.com/diccionarios/castellano/doblegar
http://www.elpais.com/diccionarios/castellano/postrar

By the way, that dictionary is new for me.