The Way of The Word
Nov 15, 2024
And His own know Him
In the context of the Bible, the word "know" relates significant meaning in both the Greek and Hebrew languages, and its usage and interpretation can differ notably between the Old and New Testaments. Here we will explore the nuances, cultural interpretations, and scriptural applications of the word “know” in both the Old and New Testaments to deepen our understanding.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "know" is “yada”. “Yada” goes beyond mere intellectual awareness and implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. It frequently appears in contexts ranging from God's covenantal relationship with Israel to deeply personal relationships among individuals.
For instance, in Genesis 4:1 (LSB), "Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain…” the word “yada” (“knew”) in this passage expresses a deep, intimate act and signifies an experiential knowledge often associated with personal intimate relationships and even covenantal love.
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You." Psalm 9-10 (NASB 1995)
In the context of Psalm 9:10 (NASB 1995), "yada" suggests a deep, personal relationship with God, on behalf of the Hebrews, that goes beyond simple awareness. Their relationship reflects a heartfelt trust and reliance on God's, Yahweh's, character and promises that is based on their experience of His faithfulness to them as a nation and to individuals among them.
The mutual nature of the relationship between God and the Hebrew people is expressed in Hosea 6:6 (LSB) where God expresses his desire for kindness and mercy from Israel rather than merely the required sacrifices and burnt offerings His law commanded.
“For I delight in lovingkindness [this word is “checed” most often translated as mercy, but more closely means goodness, kindness, favor, or a good deed] rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 (LSB)
In the New Testament, the Greek the word "know” can be translated a few different ways. The word "epistamai" (to know) is used to depict a sense of familiarity that comes through experience or study. The Greek word “eidó” represents the idea of seeing something physically that then extends to perception, insight, and spiritual understanding.
The Greek word that is often translated to “know” that we will look at today, is “ginōskō”. While “ginōskō” involves intellectual understanding, like its Hebrew counterpart, it also involves a level of knowledge that is more than intellectual. It implies a relational understanding that is rooted in experience and personal encounter.
"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me." John 10:14 (NASB 1995)
In John 10:14 (NASB 1995), “ginōskō” suggests a mutual, intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, akin to the Hebrew “yada’”. It emphasizes recognition and deep familiarity based on shared experience and connection.
In Matthew 7:23 (NASB 1995) Jesus uses the word “ginōskō” as he speaks of a lack of personal relationship or intimate acquaintance between Him and those He addresses, rather than ignorance of existence.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB 1995)
Here, "ginōskō "denotes more than just awareness, it represents a close, experiential relationship. Jesus emphasizes that mere surface-level acknowledgment or knowledge of Him is insufficient without a genuine connection. He indicates that even those through whom he worked many miraculous things will be counted among those He does not "ginōskō ".
To gain a broader understanding of the word “know” as it would have been interpreted by those hearing the words as they were spoken in ancient times, we can investigate the contexts of the ancient Hebrew and Greek cultures. The Greek and Hebrew concepts of "know" reflect differing cultural understandings of knowing or knowledge.
In ancient Greek culture knowledge was valued not only as an intellectual pursuit but also as an experiential journey toward wisdom and truth. In the New Testament, "knowing” involves both recognition and deeper relationship. The use of “ginōskō” in the New Testament often bridges the Hebrew understanding of relational knowledge with a broader intellectual comprehension.
In ancient Hebrew culture, knowledge was not merely intellectual, or theoretical, it was intertwined with lived experience and relationship that was characterized by loyalty, love, and faithfulness. To "know" (“yada”) someone meant to have a profound, personal connection that involved both mind, heart, and action. To "know" (“yada”) Yahweh meant to engage with Him in a covenantal relationship expressed by love and loyalty that prioritized knowledge and lived experience over abstract or detached reasoning. This understanding is reflected throughout the Old Testament, where knowing is often associated with obedience and love.
In both Hebrew and Greek contexts, knowing God goes beyond mere factual knowledge to a deep, relational understand. Such knowledge invites believers into a dynamic relationship with God, grounded in trust and transformed by experience.
Word Study Challenge
Using scripture mapping, translate Jeremiah 1:5 into your own words. Biblehub.com is a great resource for this exercise.
References:
American Bible Society. (1995). New American Standard Bible (1995 ed.). The Lockman Foundation. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/
Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1979). The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/lexicon/
Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (1995). Genesis 4:1. The Lockman Foundation. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/genesis/4.htm
New American Standard Bible. (1995). Matthew 7:23. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/matthew/7.htm
New American Standard Bible. (1995). Hosea 6:6. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/nasb/hosea/6.htm
Kittel, G., & Friedrich, G. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (G. W. Bromiley, Trans. & Ed.). Eerdmans. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/1985-gerhard-kittel-editor-gerhard-friedrich-editor-theological-dictionary-of-th
Legacy Standard Bible. (n.d.). Genesis 4:1. BibleHub. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/lsb/genesis/4.htm
Liddell, H. G., & Scott, R. (1996). A Greek-English Lexicon (H. S. Jones, Rev. & Augm.; R. McKenzie & others, Eds.). Clarendon Press. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/greekenglishlex00lidduoft/page/n1/mode/2up
Strong, J. (1890). Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Abingdon Press. Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/strongs.htm
Thayer, J. H. (1889). Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Harper & Brothers. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/greekenglishlexi00grimuoft
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Thomas Nelson. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/vinescompleteexp0000vine_y7p8
Vine, W. E., & Bruce, F. F. (1981). Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/vinesexpositoryd0000vine
Vine, W. E. (1996). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Thomas Nelson. Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/vinescompleteexp0000vine