A needle bed (2) in accordance with the invention for a knitting machine comprises guide channels for knitting tools that are interrupted, in particular, in the region of the knitting lock, so that each needle is only guided laterally in the region of its foot. Preferably, the needle bed is designed in a segmented manner, in which case the segments adjoin each other at a joint that extends in a direction transverse to all the guide channels. In so doing, the separating joint is located between the lock paths (15, 16; 16, 17; 17, 18 and 18, 19). The guide strips of the individual base body sections (5, 6, 7), respectively, are arranged offset with respect to each other by one needle division. Preferably, the needle body sections (5, 6, 7) have essentially the same configuration and are non-detachably connected to each other.