Topical Encyclopedia The term "knew" in the Bible often signifies more than mere intellectual understanding or awareness. It frequently denotes an intimate, personal, and experiential knowledge. This entry explores the various contexts in which "knew" is used in the Scriptures, highlighting its theological and relational implications.1. Intimate Relationship: One of the most profound uses of "knew" in the Bible is to describe the intimate relationship between a husband and wife. This usage is rooted in the Hebrew word "yada," which implies a deep, personal connection. For example, in Genesis 4:1 , it is written, "And Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain." Here, "knew" signifies the marital union and the procreative act, emphasizing the depth of relational knowledge. 2. Divine Knowledge: The Bible also uses "knew" to describe God's intimate knowledge of individuals. This is not merely factual knowledge but a profound, personal understanding. In Jeremiah 1:5 , God declares, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations." This indicates God's sovereign and personal involvement in the lives of His people, underscoring His omniscience and intimate care. 3. Covenantal Relationship: "Knew" is used to describe the covenantal relationship between God and His people. In Amos 3:2 , God says to Israel, "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." Here, "known" signifies a chosen relationship, highlighting Israel's unique status as God's covenant people and the responsibilities that come with it. 4. Recognition and Acknowledgment: In the New Testament, "knew" can also refer to recognition or acknowledgment of Jesus' identity and authority. In John 1:10 , it is stated, "He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him." The failure to "know" Jesus in this context reflects a lack of spiritual insight and acceptance. 5. Moral and Spiritual Insight: The term is also used to convey moral and spiritual understanding. In Romans 1:21 , Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts." Here, "knew" indicates an awareness of God's existence and attributes, yet a willful rejection of that knowledge, leading to moral and spiritual decline. 6. Judgment and Accountability: In the context of judgment, "knew" can imply accountability based on knowledge. In Luke 12:47 , Jesus teaches, "That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows." Knowledge of the master's will brings a greater responsibility and accountability for one's actions. The multifaceted use of "knew" in the Bible underscores the importance of relational, experiential, and covenantal knowledge, both in human relationships and in one's relationship with God. It highlights the depth of intimacy and responsibility that comes with true knowledge, whether in the context of marriage, divine relationship, or spiritual understanding. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (imp.) of Know.Greek 3609a. oida -- to have seen or perceived, hence to know ... to have seen or perceived, hence to know NASB Word Usage appreciate (1), aware (3), become learned (1), conscious* (1), having a knowledge (1), knew (16), knew ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3609a.htm - 6k 1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive Strong's Hebrew 3045. yada -- to know... 1), illiterate* (1), indeed learn (1), inform (1), informed (4), instruct (3), instructed (1), intimate friends (1), investigate (2), knew (38), know (542 ... /hebrew/3045.htm - 8k 3046. yeda -- to know Library How Jesus Knew the Powers, Better or Worse, which Reside in Man. And after That, Jesus Knew that all Things were Finished... O Light that Knew no Dawn, As for Myself, Although I Knew of their Design... Whether Christ's Persecutors Knew who He Was? At this Time, He Knew in a Guilty Way Bersabe... "You Knew the Too Barbarous And, Beyond Measure, Bloody Ferocity ... Whether Christ Knew all Things by this Acquired or Empiric ... And Jesus Knew Within Himself that his Disciples were Murmuring ... But Maximian, who Knew the Outrageous Temper of Galerius... Thesaurus Knew (1181 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Knew (1181 Occurrences). Knew occurs 1181 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. ... /k/knew.htm - 6k Although (167 Occurrences) Understood (63 Occurrences) Realized (33 Occurrences) Whomsoever (28 Occurrences) Acknowledged (19 Occurrences) Sow (61 Occurrences) Recognized (37 Occurrences) Didn't (734 Occurrences) Severe (53 Occurrences) Resources What did Jesus mean when He said, “I never knew you. Depart from me”? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God send the flood when He knew sin would continue after the flood? | GotQuestions.org If God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, why did He create them? | GotQuestions.org Knew: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Knew (1181 Occurrences)Knew occurs 1181 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. Subtopics Related Terms |
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