KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

The Blue Letter Bible
Study Resources :: Dictionaries :: Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown

Dictionaries :: Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown

Choose a new font size and typeface
Below are articles from the following dictionary:
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
A-1 Verb Strong's Number: g1097 Greek: ginosko

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

signifies "to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand," or "to understand completely," e.g., Mar 13:28, 29; Jhn 13:12; 15:18; 21:17; 2Cr 8:9; Hbr 10:34; 1Jo 2:5; 4:2, 6 (twice), 7, 13; 5:2, 20; in its past tenses it frequently means "to know in the sense of realizing," the aorist or point tense usually indicating definiteness, Mat 13:11; Mar 7:24; Jhn 7:26; in Jhn 10:38 "that ye may know (aorist tense) and understand, (present tense);" Jhn 19:4; Act 1:7; 17:19; Rom 1:21; 1Cr 2:11 (2nd part), 14; 2Cr 2:4; Eph 3:19; 6:22; Phl 2:19; 3:10; 1Th 3:5; 2Ti 2:19; Jam 2:20; 1Jo 2:13 (twice), 14; 3:6; 4:8; 2Jo 1:1; Rev 2:24; 3:3, 9. In the Passive Voice, it often signifies "to become known," e.g., Mat 10:26; Phl 4:5. In the sense of complete and absolute understanding on God's part, it is used e.g., in Luk 16:15; Jhn 10:15 (of the Son as well as the Father); 1Cr 3:20. In Luk 12:46, AV, it is rendered "he is... aware."

In the NT ginosko frequently indicates a relation between the person "knowing" and the object known; in this respect, what is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship, e.g., especially of God's "knowledge," 1Cr 8:3, "if any man love God, the same is known of Him;" Gal 4:9, "to be known of God;" here the "knowing" suggests approval and bears the meaning "to be approved;" so in 2Ti 2:19; cp. Jhn 10:14, 27; Gen 18:19; Nah 1:7; the relationship implied may involve remedial chastisement, Amo 3:2. The same idea of appreciation as well as "knowledge" underlies several statements concerning the "knowledge" of God and His truth on the part of believers, e.g., Jhn 8:32; 14:20, 31; 17:3; Gal 4:9 (1st part); 1Jo 2:3, 13, 14; 4:6, 8, 16; 5:20; such "knowledge" is obtained, not by mere intellectual activity, but by operation of the Holy Spirit consequent upon acceptance of Christ. Nor is such "knowledge" marked by finality; see e.g., 2Pe 3:18; Hsa 6:3, RV.

The verb is also used to convey the thought of connection or union, as between man and woman, Mat 1:25; Luk 1:34.

A-2 Verb Strong's Number: g1492 Greek: oida

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

from the same root as eidon, "to see," is a perfect tense with a present meaning, signifying, primarily, "to have seen or perceived;" hence, "to know, to have knowledge of," whether absolutely, as in Divine knowledge, e.g., Mat 6:8, 32; Jhn 6:6, 64; 8:14; 11:42; 13:11; 18:4; 2Cr 11:31; 2Pe 2:9; Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1, 8, 15; or in the case of human "knowledge," to know from observation, e.g, 1Th 1:4, 5; 2:1; 2Th 3:7.

The differences between ginosko (No. 1) and oida demand consideration:

(a) ginosko, frequently suggests inception or progress in "knowledge," while oida suggests fullness of "knowledge," e.g., Jhn 8:55, "ye have not known Him" (ginosko), i.e., begun to "know," "but I know Him" (oida), i.e., "know Him perfectly;" Jhn 13:7, "What I do thou knowest not now," i.e. Peter did not yet perceive (oida) its significance, "but thou shalt understand," i.e., "get to know (ginosko), hereafter;" Jhn 14:7, "If ye had known Me" (ginosko), i.e., "had definitely come to know Me," "ye would have known My Father also" (oida), i.e., "would have had perception of:" "from henceforth ye know Him" (ginosko), i.e., having unconsciously been coming to the Father, as the One who was in Him, they would now consciously be in the constant and progressive experience of "knowing" Him; in Mar 4:13, "Know ye not (oida) this parable? and how shall ye know (ginosko) all the parables?" (RV), i.e., "Do ye not understand this parable? How shall ye come to perceive all... " the intimation being that the first parable is a leading and testing one;

(b) while ginosko frequently implies an active relation between the one who "knows" and the person or thing "known" (see No. 1, above), oida expresses the fact that the object has simply come within the scope of the "knower's" perception; thus in Mat 7:23 "I never knew you" (ginosko) suggests "I have never been in approving connection with you," whereas in Mat 25:12, "I know you not" (oida) suggests "you stand in no relation to Me."

A-3 Verb Strong's Number: g1921 Greek: epiginosko

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

denotes

(a) "to observe, fully perceive, notice attentively, discern, recognize" (epi, "upon," and No. 1); it suggests generally a directive, a more special, recognition of the object "known" than does No. 1; it also may suggest advanced "knowledge" or special appreciation; thus, in Rom 1:32, "knowing the ordinance of God" (epiginosko) means "knowing full well," whereas in verse 21 "knowing God" (ginosko) simply suggests that they could not avoid the perception. Sometimes epiginosko implies a special participation in the object "known," and gives greater weight to what is stated; thus in Jhn 8:32, "ye shall know the truth," ginosko is used, whereas in 1Ti 4:3, "them that believe and know the truth," epiginosko lays stress on participation in the truth. Cp. the stronger statement in Col 1:6 (epiginosko) with that in 2Cr 8:9 (ginosko), and the two verbs in 1Cr 13:12, "now I know in part (ginosko); but then shall I know (piginosko) even as also I have been known (epiginosko)," "a knowledge which perfectly unites the subject with the object;

(b) "to discover, ascertain, determine," e.g., Luk 7:37; 23:7; Act 9:30; 19:34; 22:29; 28:1; in Act 24:11 the best mss. have this verb instead of No. 1; hence the RV, "take knowledge." J. Armitage Robinson (on Ephesians) points out that epignosis is "knowledge directed towards a particular object, perceiving, discerning," whereas gnosis is knowledge in the abstract.
See ACKNOWLEDGE.

A-4 Verb Strong's Number: g4267 Greek: proginosko

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

"to know beforehand," is used

(a) of the Divine "foreknowledge" concerning believers, Rom 8:29; Israel, 11:2; Christ as the Lamb of God, 1Pe 1:20, RV, "foreknown" (AV, "foreordained");

(b) of human previous "knowledge," of a person, Act 26:5, RV, "having knowledge of" (AV, "which knew"); of facts, 2Pe 3:17.
See FOREKNOW.

A-5 Verb Strong's Number: g1987 Greek: epistamai

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

"to know, know of, understand" (probably an old Middle Voice form of ephistemi, "to set over"), is used in Mar 14:68, "understand," which follows oida "I (neither) know;" most frequently in the Acts, 10:28; 15:7; 18:25; 19:15, 25; 20:18; 22:19; 24:10; 26:26; elsewhere, 1Ti 6:4; Hbr 11:8; Jam 4:14; Jud 1:10.
See UNDERSTAND.

A-6 Verb Strong's Number: g4923 Greek: sunoida

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

sun, "with," and No. 2, a perfect tense with a present meaning, denotes

(a) "to share the knowledge of, be privy to," Act 5:2;

(b) "to be conscious of," especially of guilty consciousness, 1Cr 4:4, "I know nothing against (AV, by) myself." The verb is connected with suneidon, found in Act 12:12; 14:6 (in the best texts).
See CONSIDER, PRIVY, WARE.

A-7 Verb Strong's Number: g50 Greek: agnoeo

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

"not to know, to be ignorant:"
see IGNORANT.

A-8 Verb Strong's Number: g1107 Greek: gnorizo

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

signifies

(a) "to come to know, discover, know," Phl 1:22, "I wot (not)," i.e., "I know not," "I have not come to know" (the RV, marg. renders it,
as under (b), "I do not make known");

(b) "to make known," whether

(I) communicating things "before unknown," Luk 2:15, 17; in the latter some mss. have the verb diagnorizo (hence the AV, "made known abroad);" Jhn 15:15, "I have made known;" 17:26; Act 2:28; 7:13 (1st part), see Note (3) below; Rom 9:22, 23; 16:26 (Passive Voice); 2Cr 8:1, "we make known (to you)," RV, AV, "we do (you) to wit;" Eph 1:9; 3:3, 5, 10 (all three in the Passive Voice); 6:19, 21; Col 1:27; 4:7, 9, "shall make known" (AV, "shall declare"); 2Pe 1:16; or

(II) reasserting things already "known," 1Cr 12:3, "I give (you) to understand" (the Apostle reaffirms what they knew); 1Cr 15:1, of the Gospel; Gal 1:11 (he reminds them of what they well knew, the ground of his claim to Apostleship); Phl 4:6 (Passive Voice), of requests to God.
See CERTIFY, DECLARE (Note), UNDERSTAND, WIT, WOT.

Notes:

(1) In 2Ti 3:10, AV, parakoloutheo, "to follow closely, follow as a standard of conduct," is translated "hast fully known" (RV, "didst follow").
See FOLLOW.

(2) In 2Ti 4:17, AV, plerophoreo, "to fulfill, accomplish," is translated "might be fully known" (RV, "might be fully proclaimed").
See FULFILL.

(3) In Act 7:13, some mss. have the verb anagnorizo, "to make oneself known," "was made known," instead of No. 8 (which see).

(4) In Act 7:13 (2nd part) the AV, "was made known" translates the phrase phaneros ginomai, "to become manifest" (RV, "became manifest").
See MANIFEST.

(5) For diagnorizo, "to make known," in Luk 2:17, see No. 8.

(6) For diagnosko, in Act 24:22, "I will know the uttermost of,"
See DETERMINE, No. 5.

B-1 Adjective Strong's Number: g1110 Greek: gnostos

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

a later form of gnostos (from No. 1), most frequently denotes "known;" it is used ten times in the Acts, always with that meaning (save in Act 4:16, where it means "notable"); twice in the Gospel of John, Jhn 18:15, 16; in Luk 2:44; 23:49 it denotes "acquaintance;" elsewhere only in Rom 1:19, "(that which) may be known (of God)," lit., "the knowable of God," referring to the physical universe, in the creation of which God has made Himself "knowable," that is, by the exercise of man's natural faculties, without such supernatural revelations as those given to Israel.
See ACQUAINTANCE.

B-2 Adjective Strong's Number: g5318 Greek: phaneros

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

"visible, manifest," is translated "known" in Mat 12:16; Mar 3:12.
See APPEAR, MANIFEST, OPENLY, OUTWARDLY.

B-3 Adjective Strong's Number: g1990 Greek: epistemon

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

akin to A, No. 5, "knowing, skilled," is used in Jam 3:13, AV, "endued with knowledge" (RV "understanding").

B-4 Adjective Strong's Number: g57 Greek: agnostos

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

the negative of No. 1, "unknown," is found in Act 17:23.

C-1 Noun Strong's Number: g1108 Greek: gnosis

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

primarily "a seeking to know, an enquiry, investigation" (akin to A, No. 1), denotes, in the NT, "knowledge," especially of spiritual truth; it is used

(a) absolutely, in Luk 11:52; Rom 2:20; 15:14; 1Cr 1:5; 8:1 (twice), 7, 10, 11; 13:2, 8; 14:6; 2Cr 6:6; 8:7; 11:6; Eph 3:19; Col 2:3; 1Pe 3:7; 2Pe 1:5, 6;

(b) with an object: in respect of

(1) God, 2Cr 2:14; 10:5;

(2) the glory of God, 2Cr 4:6;

(3) Christ Jesus, Phl 3:8; 2Pe 3:18;

(4) salvation, Luk 1:77;

(c) subjectively, of God's "knowledge," Rom 11:33; the word of "knowledge," 1Cr 12:8; "knowledge" falsely so called, 1Ti 6:20.

C-2 Noun Strong's Number: g1922 Greek: epignosis

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

akin to A, No. 3, denotes "exact or full knowledge, discernment, recognition," and is a strengthened form of No. 1, expressing a fuller or a full "knowledge," a greater participation by the "knower" in the object "known," thus more powerfully influencing him. It is not found in the Gospels and Acts. Paul uses it 15 times (16 if Hbr 10:26 is included) out of the 20 occurrences; Peter 4 times, all in his 2nd Epistle. Contrast Rom 1:28 (epignosis) with the simple verb in Rom 1:21. "In all the four Epistles of the first Roman captivity it is an element in the Apostle's opening prayer for his correspondents' well-being, Phl 1:9; Eph 1:17; Col 1:9; Phm 1:6" (Lightfoot).

It is used with reference to God in Rom 1:28; 10:2; Eph 1:17; Col 1:10; 2Pe 1:3; God and Christ, 2Pe 1:2; Christ, Eph 4:13; 2Pe 1:8; 2:20; the will of the Lord, Col 1:9; every good thing, Phm 1:6, RV (AV, "acknowledging"); the truth, 1Ti 2:4; 2Ti 2:25, RV; 3:7; Tts 1:1, RV; the mystery of God. Col 2:2, RV, "(that they) may know" (AV, "to the acknowledgment of"), lit., "into a full knowledge." It is used without the mention of an object in Phl 1:9; Col 3:10, RV, "(renewed) unto knowledge."
See ACKNOWLEDGE.

C-3 Noun Strong's Number: g56 Greek: agnosia

Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown:

the negative of No. 1, "ignorance," is rendered "no knowledge" in 1Cr 15:34, RV (AV, "not the knowledge"); in 1Pe 2:15, ignorance.
See IGNORANCE.

Note: In Eph 3:4, AV, sunesis, "understanding," is translated "knowledge;" RV, "understanding." For kardiognostes see HEART (knowing the).

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.