The term "wist" is an archaic English word that appears in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, derived from the Old English "witan," meaning "to know." In modern translations, including the Berean Standard Bible , this term is typically rendered as "knew" or "was aware." The word "wist" is used to convey a sense of knowledge or awareness, often in contexts where an individual is unaware of a significant event or fact.

Biblical Usage:

1. Exodus 34:29 (KJV): "And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him."

In this passage, the term "wist not" indicates that Moses was unaware of the radiance of his face after speaking with God. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as: "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken with the LORD."

2. Judges 16:20 (KJV): "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."

Here, "wist not" describes Samson's lack of awareness that the LORD had left him after Delilah had his hair cut. The Berean Standard Bible renders this as: "Then she called out, 'Samson, the Philistines are upon you!' When he awoke from his sleep, he thought, 'I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.' But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him."

3. Luke 2:49 (KJV): "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

In this New Testament instance, Jesus uses "wist ye not" to question why His parents did not understand that He needed to be in His Father's house. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as: "‘Why were you looking for Me?’ He asked. ‘Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’"

Theological Implications:

The use of "wist" in these contexts highlights moments of human unawareness in contrast to divine knowledge and presence. In Exodus, Moses' unawareness of his shining face underscores the transformative power of God's presence. In Judges, Samson's ignorance of the LORD's departure signifies the consequences of disobedience and the loss of divine strength. In Luke, Jesus' question to His parents emphasizes His divine mission and identity, which even those closest to Him did not fully comprehend at the time.

Linguistic and Historical Context:

The term "wist" is no longer used in contemporary English, having been replaced by more modern equivalents. Its presence in the KJV reflects the language of the early 17th century, when the translation was completed. Understanding such terms is crucial for interpreting the text accurately and appreciating the historical context of the translation.

In summary, "wist" serves as a reminder of the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine action and purpose. It calls believers to seek greater awareness of God's presence and work in their lives, encouraging a deeper engagement with Scripture and a more profound reliance on divine wisdom.1. (v.) Knew.

2. (p. p.) of Wit.

WIST, WITTY, WOT

wist, wit'-i, wot: The verb "to wit" in the King James Version is interchangeable with "to know," and is conjugated with a present "wot," and a past "wist." This inflection is derived from more complicated forms in the older English, and in post-Elizabethan times has become quite obsolete. (But compare the roots in "wisdom," "witness.") "Wit," then, is simply "knowledge," and "witty" is "having knowledge," although the noun and the adjective have become narrowly specialized in modern English (compare the similar evolution of "knowing," in its use as an adjective). Even in Elizabethan English, however, the indicative of "to wit" was becoming displaced by "know," and "wot" and "wist" together occur only 24 times in the King James Version (not at all in Apocrypha). the English Revised Version has retained all the New Testament examples, but in the Old Testament has altered about half the occurrences to "know," but has followed no discoverable rule in so doing ("wot" retained only in Joshua 2:5). the American Standard Revised Version has changed to "know" throughout (Old Testament and New Testament). The infinitive "to wit" is still in use (chiefly in legal formulas) before an apposition, and the King James Version has introduced it rather frequently to clarify a construction (Joshua 17:1 1 Kings 2:32, etc.), and the Revised Version (British and American) has usually retained it (omitted in Joshua 17:1 2 Chronicles 4:12). In the other uses of this inf. (Genesis 24:21 Exodus 2:4) it is replaced by "to know," while the very obsolete expression in 2 Corinthians 8:1, the King James Version "We do you to wit" (i.e. "We cause you to know"; see Do), has become in the Revised Version (British and American) "We make known unto you."

The noun "wit" is found in Psalm 107:27, "at their wits' (the King James Version "wit's") end," for chokhmah, "wisdom," "technical skill"; compare the Revised Version margin "All their wisdom is swallowed up." The meaning is "their skilled seamanship cannot cope with the danger" (the phrase is very commonly misapplied). "Wit" occurs also 1 Esdras 4:26 (dianoia, "mind"); 2 Esdras 5:9 (sensus, here "intelligence"); Sirach 31:20 (psuche, "soul," with the force of "reason").

Witty is found in the King James Version, the Revised Version margin Proverbs 8:12, "witty inventions" (mezimmah, "discretion" (so the Revised Version (British and American)); if "and" is not read in this verse, translate "discrete knowledge"). In Judith 11:23 occurs "witty in thy words" (agathos, "good," here probably = "thou hast spoken sound sense"). The Wisdom of Solomon 8:19 the King James Version has "a witty child," the Revised Version (British and American) "a child of parts," margin "goodly" (euphues, "well grown," "of a good disposition," "clever"). "Wittingly" occurs in Genesis 48:14 (sakhal, "act intelligently").

Burton Scott Easton

3045. yada -- to know
... regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach,
(can) tell, understand, have (understanding), X will be, wist, wit, wot. ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

Jesus in the World.
... wist ye not that I must be about my father's business?' And they understood not
the saying which he spake unto them."Luke ii.48-50. Was that his saying? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/hope of the gospel/jesus in the world.htm

"Thus was I Learned to Choose Jesus for My Heaven, whom I Saw Only ...
... For I wist well that while I beheld in the Cross I was surely-safe; therefore I
would not assent to put my soul in peril: for away from the Cross was no ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xix thus was i.htm

Blessed and Tragic Unconsciousness
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS BLESSED AND TRAGIC UNCONSCIOUSNESS. '... Moses wist not that
the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.'"Exodus 34:29. '... ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/blessed and tragic unconsciousness.htm

The Boy in the Temple
... I to XII THE BOY IN THE TEMPLE. 'And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought
Me! wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?' "Luke 2:49. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the boy in the temple.htm

Christ's Musts
... Then there is another class, of which His word to His mother when a twelve-year-
old child may be taken as a type: 'Wist ye not that I must be about My Father's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/christs musts.htm

Some Man May Say: "If There be not in the Dead any Care For...
... Just in that same way had he care for the living, albeit what they were doing he
wist not at all, as we have care for the dead, albeit what they do we ...
/.../augustine/on care to be had for the dead /17 some man may say .htm

A Short Excusation of Him that Made this Book Teaching How all ...
... Right as Martha wist full little what Mary her sister did when she complained of
her to our Lord; right so on the same manner these folk nowadays wot full ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the nineteenth chapter.htm

"How Might any Pain be More to Me than to See Him that is all My ...
... pain. For I wist well He suffered but once, but [this was as if] He would
shew it me and fill me with mind as I had afore desired. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xvii how might any.htm

In the Garden
... same words. And again He came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes
were very heavy; and they wist not what to answer Him. And ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 14 32-42 in the garden.htm

Acts xii. 1, 2
... me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which
was done by the Angel; but thought he saw a vision. When ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxvi acts xii 1.htm

Wist (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) Knew. 2. (pp) of Wit. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. WIST, WITTY, WOT. wist, wit'-i, wot: The ...
/w/wist.htm - 14k

Witty (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WIST, WITTY, WOT. wist, wit'-i, wot: The
verb "to wit" in the King James Version is interchangeable ...
/w/witty.htm - 10k

Wot (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp.) of Weet. 2. (pres. sing.) of Wit. 3. (v.) 1st & 3d pers. sing. pres.
Of Wit. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WIST, WITTY, WOT. ...
/w/wot.htm - 13k

Wishing (25 Occurrences)

/w/wishing.htm - 13k

Ought (130 Occurrences)
... Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I
must be about my Father's business? (Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/o/ought.htm - 36k

Liers (11 Occurrences)
... rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and
all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that ...
/l/liers.htm - 10k

Wistfully (1 Occurrence)

/w/wistfully.htm - 6k

Forbidden (20 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 5:17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden
to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is ...
/f/forbidden.htm - 12k

Erred (14 Occurrences)
... estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make
an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not ...
/e/erred.htm - 10k

Business (147 Occurrences)
... Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I
must be about my Father's business? (KJV WEY DBY WBS). Luke 4:34 saying, "Ah! ...
/b/business.htm - 42k

Wist: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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