γινώσκω (ginōskō)
ginōskō
to know
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 206 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb ginōskō describes coming to know something through experience or observation, rather than merely holding information in mind. While it translates as "to know," its root sense is about the process of discovery and recognition. This distinction separates it from oida, which implies a static state of knowing based on reflection or intuition. In the New Testament, ginōskō appears frequently to describe how people perceive truth or understand divine realities through interaction.
Its usage spans a wide range of contexts, from recognizing a person’s identity to understanding God’s will. For instance, Jesus speaks of knowing the Father in John 17:3, linking this knowledge to eternal life itself. The word also carries a specific idiomatic meaning in certain passages, such as Matthew 1:25 and Luke 1:34, where it refers to sexual intercourse, reflecting its use in the Septuagint for the Hebrew verb yada.
Translators often render ginōskō simply as "know," but this can obscure the active nature of the term. The sources highlight that genuine knowledge in Scripture is relational and transformative. It is not just intellectual assent but a deepening awareness that shapes one’s life, as seen when Jesus says he does not know those who do evil in Matthew 7:23.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ginōskō points to a knowledge that grows through experience rather than one we simply hold in our minds. In Scripture, this verb describes a deepening awareness that changes how we live. It is not just about having facts, but about recognizing truth through interaction and relationship.
This distinction matters for your faith because it invites you into a living connection with God. Jesus links this kind of knowing to eternal life in John 17:3, suggesting that true knowledge of Him transforms the heart. When we seek to know God through prayer and obedience, we move beyond simple information into a relational trust that shapes our daily walk.
Even when the word appears in contexts like Matthew 7:23, where Jesus says He never knew those who worked iniquity, it highlights the importance of genuine relationship over outward appearance. This encourages us to examine our hearts, seeking a faith that is real and active rather than merely formal or intellectual.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 206 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to know12×
- having known11×
- know9×
- we know8×
- knows8×
- knowing8×
- you know7×
- knew7×
- do know7×
- you may know6×
- you have known5×
- has known5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γινώσκετε18×
- ἔγνωσαν15×
- γνῶναι12×
- γινώσκει11×
- ἔγνω10×
- γνοὺς9×
- γινώσκομεν8×
- ἐγνώκαμεν6×
- γνῶτε6×
- γινώσκοντες6×
- ἔγνων5×
- γνόντες5×
Key Verses
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Matthew 7:23
Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Jesus uses this word to reject those who performed miracles but lacked a personal relationship with Him, showing that true knowledge involves relational intimacy rather than just spiritual power.
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Matthew 12:7
But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
Jesus quotes Hosea to correct the Pharisees, using this word to show that understanding God's desire for mercy is more important than rigid adherence to ritual sacrifice.
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Matthew 24:33
Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors.
Here the word calls believers to spiritual discernment, urging them to recognize the signs of the times and understand that Christ's return is near.
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Mark 5:29
Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
The woman feels in her body that she was healed, illustrating how this word can describe a personal, experiential realization of God's work rather than just an external observation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ginōskō and oida in the New Testament?
Why does Jesus say 'I never knew you' in Matthew 7:23?
Does this word ever refer to physical intimacy?
How can I apply this concept of 'knowing' to my daily life?
Every Occurrence (206 verses across 20 books)
Matthew 20 verses
and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
Matthew 6:3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
Matthew 7:23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
Matthew 9:30Then their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly commanded them, saying, “See that no one knows about this.”
Matthew 10:26Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be…
Matthew 12:7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 12:15Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
Matthew 12:33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by…
Matthew 13:11He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.
Matthew 16:3In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to…
Matthew 16:8Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?
Matthew 21:45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.
Matthew 22:18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
Matthew 24:32“Now from the fig tree learn this parable: When its branch has now become tender and produces its leaves, you know that…
Matthew 24:33Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors.
Matthew 24:39and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:43But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have…
Matthew 24:50the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,
Matthew 25:24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you…
Matthew 26:10However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.