Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "knows" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from intellectual understanding to intimate relational knowledge. In Scripture, the term often signifies more than mere cognitive awareness; it implies a deep, personal, and experiential understanding.
Divine KnowledgeGod's knowledge is perfect and all-encompassing. He knows all things, past, present, and future. This attribute of God is often referred to as His omniscience.
Psalm 139:1-4 declares, "O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD." This passage highlights God's intimate knowledge of every individual, emphasizing His awareness of our actions, thoughts, and words.
Human KnowledgeHuman knowledge, in contrast, is limited and often flawed. The Bible acknowledges this limitation and encourages believers to seek wisdom and understanding from God.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Here, the emphasis is on relying on God's superior knowledge rather than human insight.
Relational KnowledgeIn biblical terms, to "know" someone often implies a deep, personal relationship. This is evident in the use of the word in contexts such as
Genesis 4:1 , "And Adam knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain." This usage indicates an intimate, covenantal relationship, often within the context of marriage.
Knowledge of GodThe Bible places a high value on knowing God, which is portrayed as the ultimate goal of human existence.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 states, "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice, and righteousness on the earth, for I delight in these things,' declares the LORD." Knowing God involves understanding His character and His ways, leading to a life that reflects His values.
Jesus Christ and KnowledgeIn the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate revelation of God's knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3 speaks of Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Through Christ, believers gain access to the knowledge of God, which is transformative and redemptive.
Knowledge and LoveThe Bible also links knowledge with love, suggesting that true knowledge of God leads to love for Him and others.
1 Corinthians 8:1 warns, "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." This indicates that knowledge, when divorced from love, can lead to pride, but when combined with love, it edifies and strengthens the community of believers.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of "knows" is rich and multifaceted, encompassing God's perfect knowledge, the pursuit of understanding by humans, and the relational aspect of knowing God and others. It calls believers to seek a deeper understanding of God and His ways, leading to a life marked by love, wisdom, and righteousness.
Greek
1109. gnostes -- one who knows ... one who
knows. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: gnostes Phonetic
Spelling: (gnoce'-tace) Short Definition: one who
knows, an expert Definition
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1109.htm - 6k2589. kardiognostes -- knower of hearts
... 2589 ("the heart-discerner") is used only of God (Ac 1:24, 15:8) -- the one who
knows the inner workings of every person's heart, ie all their moral ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2589.htm - 7k
3609a. oida -- to have seen or perceived, hence to know
... 1), having a knowledge (1), knew (16), knew...about (1), know (216), know about
(1), know how (9), knowing (36), known (4), known about (1), knows (15), knows ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3609a.htm - 6k
1921. epiginosko -- to know exactly, to recognize
... NASB Word Usage acknowledge (1), ascertain (2), aware (2), find (1), found (2),
fully known (1), know (7), know fully (1), known (2), knows (1), learned (3 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1921.htm - 10k
1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive
... know (1), comprehend (1), felt (1), find (3), found (2), kept...a virgin* (1), knew
(13), know (104), know how (1), knowing (3), known (25), knows (14), learn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1097.htm - 12k
1281. diapragmateuomai -- to examine thoroughly, to gain by ...
... Lk 19:15). 1281 ("to increase by ") implies , trading that "" and
then knows ("make a change, "). Lk 19:15: " . that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1281.htm - 7k
1932. epieikeia -- fairness, gentleness
... 1932 ("true equity") is a "sweet reasonableness" that knows when to "relax the
requirements concern ing others . . to carry out the of the law" (GR ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1932.htm - 7k
1987. epistamai -- to know, to understand
... Word Origin from ephistemi Definition to know, to understand NASB Word Usage being
acquainted (1), know (6), know about (1), knowing (2), knows (1), understand ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1987.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
3077. Yehoyada -- "the LORD knows," the name of several Israelites... Yehoyada. 3078 . "the LORD
knows," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration:
Yehoyada Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-ho-yaw-daw') Short Definition: Jehoiada.
... /hebrew/3077.htm - 6k 1182. Beelyada -- "Baal knows," a son of David
... 1181, 1182. Beelyada. 1183 . "Baal knows," a son of David. Transliteration:
Beelyada Phonetic Spelling: (beh-el-yaw-daw') Short Definition: Beeliada. ...
/hebrew/1182.htm - 6k
450. Elyada -- "God knows," three Israelites
... 449, 450. Elyada. 451 . "God knows," three Israelites. Transliteration: Elyada
Phonetic Spelling: (el-yaw-daw') Short Definition: Eliada. ...
/hebrew/450.htm - 6k
3045. yada -- to know
... 38), know (542), know for certain (4), know with certainty (1), know assuredly
(1), know well (1), knowing (5), knowledge (4), known (65), knows (54), knows ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k
3046. yeda -- to know
... Aramaic) corresponding to yada Definition to know NASB Word Usage ignorant* (1),
inform (3), informed (3), knew (2), know (5), known (4), knows (1), learn (1 ...
/hebrew/3046.htm - 6k
5234. nakar -- to regard, recognize
... acknowledges (1), discern (1), distinguish (1), distinguishes (1), examine (1),
examine and see (1), examined (1), familiar (1), know (2), knows (1), partial ...
/hebrew/5234.htm - 6k
Library
How the Mind Knows Itself, not in Part, but as a Whole.
... Book X. Chapter 4."How the Mind Knows Itself, Not in Part, But as a Whole. ... Does
that which knows itself in part, not know itself in part? ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 4 how the mind knows.htm
The Mind Knows Itself, by the Very Act of Understanding the ...
... Book X. Chapter 9."The Mind Knows Itself, by the Very Act of Understanding the Precept
to Know Itself. 12. ... But if it knows both, then it knows also itself. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 9 the mind knows itself.htm
Whether an Angel Knows Singulars?
... OF THE ANGEL'S KNOWLEDGE OF MATERIAL THINGS (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether an angel knows
singulars? Objection 1: It would seem that angels do not know singulars. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an angel knows singulars.htm
Whether Our Intellect Knows Singulars?
... WHAT OUR INTELLECT KNOWS IN MATERIAL THINGS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether our
intellect knows singulars? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether our intellect knows singulars.htm
Whether by the Divine Revelation a Prophet Knows all that Can be ...
... TREATISE ON GRATUITOUS GRACES (QQ -182)OF PROPHECY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether by the
Divine revelation a prophet knows all that can be known prophetically? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether by the divine revelation.htm
Whether God Knows Singular Things?
... OF GOD'S KNOWLEDGE (SIXTEEN ARTICLES) Whether God knows singular things?
Objection ... eyes.". I answer that, God knows singular things. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether god knows singular things.htm
Whether God Knows Evil Things?
... OF GOD'S KNOWLEDGE (SIXTEEN ARTICLES) Whether God knows evil things? Objection
1: It seems that God does not know evil things. For ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether god knows evil things.htm
Whether God Knows Enunciable Things?
... OF GOD'S KNOWLEDGE (SIXTEEN ARTICLES) Whether God knows enunciable things?
Objection 1 ... Therefore God knows enunciable things. I answer ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether god knows enunciable things.htm
Whether Our Intellect Knows the Habits of the Soul by their ...
... HOW THE INTELLECTUAL SOUL KNOWS ITSELF AND ALL WITHIN ITSELF (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
our intellect knows the habits of the soul by their essence? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether our intellect knows the.htm
Whether one Angel Knows Another?
... OF THE ANGEL'S KNOWLEDGE OF IMMATERIAL THINGS (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
one angel knows another? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether one angel knows another.htm
Thesaurus
Knows (434 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Knows (434 Occurrences).
Knows is found 434 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.
.../k/knows.htm - 6kForeknow (1 Occurrence)
... Him as if He did not know certain things (Genesis 11:5; Genesis 18:21); nevertheless
the constant representation of the Scripture is that God knows everything. ...
/f/foreknow.htm - 36k
Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... Him as if He did not know certain things (Genesis 11:5; Genesis 18:21); nevertheless
the constant representation of the Scripture is that God knows everything. ...
/f/foreknowledge.htm - 37k
Night (3322 Occurrences)
... In Berakhoth 3b, Rabbi Nathan (2nd century) knows of only three night-watches; but
the patriarch, Rabbi Judah, knows four. See also DAY. Horace J. Wolf. NIGHT. ...
/n/night.htm - 15k
Unaware (16 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 5:3 "'Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness
is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it ...
/u/unaware.htm - 11k
Understands (16 Occurrences)
... cast you off forever. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Job 28:23 "God understands its way,
and he knows its place. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 33:15 ...
/u/understands.htm - 10k
Futile (12 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). 1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, "The Lord knows the reasoning
of the wise, that it is worthless." (See RSV NIV). ...
/f/futile.htm - 9k
Testified (65 Occurrences)
... John 19:35 He who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that
he tells the truth, that you may believe. (WEB WBS YLT NAS). ...
/t/testified.htm - 26k
Reveal (29 Occurrences)
... No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father,
except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to reveal him. ...
/r/reveal.htm - 15k
Relent (15 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:14 Who knows? ... Jonah 3:9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and
turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?" (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/r/relent.htm - 11k
Resources
Why does God create people when He knows they are going to go to hell? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God know our thoughts? | GotQuestions.orgIs God sovereign over death? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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