kneel before (someone or something)

1. Literally, to go down on one or both of one's knees in front of someone or something, a gesture of obedience, subservience, loyalty, or respect. The knight knelt before the king. Several people were kneeling before the shrine in prayer.

2. To obey, pledge allegiance to, or submit one's will to someone, especially in a reverential or servile manner. Usually followed by "to" or "before." The megalomaniac wished to make the whole world kneel before her. The rebel group made it clear that it would never kneel before the empire.