οἶδα (oida)
oida
to know
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 263 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb oida signifies a state of knowing that is already established, rather than an act of learning. It appears 263 times in the New Testament, with significant usage in John’s Gospel and Paul’s letters. Unlike other words for knowledge that emphasize the process of discovery, oida describes a settled certainty or awareness that the subject possesses.
This sense of completed knowledge is evident in how Jesus speaks of his own understanding. In John 21:17, Peter asks if Jesus knows all things, using this verb to highlight divine omniscience as a fixed reality. The word often carries the weight of personal experience or intimate acquaintance, suggesting that what is known is not merely factual data but something held firmly in the mind.
Translators typically render oida as "know," though the tense implies a result: the knowing has happened and remains true. This distinguishes it from verbs that might imply ongoing investigation. The sources note its frequent use in assertions where the speaker appeals to shared or undeniable facts, grounding their argument in what is already clearly perceived.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word οἶδα describes a state of knowing that is already settled, not a process of learning. It suggests certainty and awareness rather than investigation. When Scripture uses this term, it often points to a deep, established truth that requires no further proof. This distinction helps us see that some knowledge in the Bible is about relationship and presence, not just information.
In Matthew 6:8, for example, we read that your Father knows what you need before you even ask. This is not a guess or a hope; it is a fixed reality of His care. Such passages remind us that God’s understanding of our lives is complete and immediate. We do not need to perform or explain ourselves to gain His attention.
This kind of knowing brings comfort because it rests on His character, not our performance. When we face uncertainty in our own lives, we can look to the One who knows all things. His awareness of your struggles is as complete as His knowledge of your needs. You are held in a certainty that does not waver.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 263 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- knowing44×
- I know41×
- you know37×
- know20×
- we know17×
- We know14×
- knows13×
- You know10×
- to know8×
- you may know5×
- you know,5×
- I do know5×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- οἴδατε50×
- οἶδα42×
- οἴδαμεν33×
- εἰδότες20×
- εἰδὼς18×
- οἶδεν16×
- οἶδας9×
- οἴδατε,9×
- εἰδέναι8×
- οἶδά7×
- οἴδασιν6×
- εἰδῆτε6×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:8
Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
This verse uses the word to show God’s settled awareness of our needs before we speak, highlighting His proactive care.
-
Matthew 24:36
“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Here the word emphasizes that even angels do not possess this settled knowledge, reserving it solely for the Father.
-
Mark 1:24
saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
The demon uses this term to declare a spiritual certainty about Jesus’ identity, showing the word applies to both divine and supernatural awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between οἶδα and other Greek words for know?
How does this word appear in the New Testament?
Why is Matthew 6:8 important for understanding this word?
Every Occurrence (263 verses across 26 books)
Matthew 21 verses
Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Matthew 7:11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven…
Matthew 9:6But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic),…
Matthew 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every…
Matthew 15:12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be…
Matthew 20:25But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones…
Matthew 21:27They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do…
Matthew 22:16They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach…
Matthew 22:29But Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
Matthew 24:36“But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matthew 24:42Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.
Matthew 25:12But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
Matthew 25:13Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 26:2“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Matthew 26:70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Matthew 26:72Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”
Matthew 26:74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
Matthew 27:65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
Matthew 28:5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.