יָדַע (ya.da)
ya.da
to know
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 695 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb yada means to know, but it describes a familiarity that goes far beyond simple facts. It covers learning through experience, recognizing someone deeply, and even the intimate physical union between partners. In Genesis 4:1, Eve acknowledges Cain as her child with this word, highlighting a personal connection rather than just biological observation.
Its range extends to practical skill and divine revelation. The sources note it can mean being skilful in a craft or having wisdom, while the Niphal stem describes God making Himself known to people. This dual nature shows that knowledge in Scripture is relational; it involves both human understanding and divine disclosure.
A notable feature is its use for sexual intercourse, as seen in Genesis 4:1 when Eve conceives Cain. This euphemistic usage underscores the word’s core theme of deep union. Translators often render it simply as "know," but the Hebrew carries a weight of shared life and mutual recognition that English rarely captures fully.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that God knows us, it is easy to think of a distant observer collecting data. The Hebrew word yada suggests something far warmer and more intimate. It describes a familiarity built through shared life and mutual recognition. In Genesis 4:1, the text uses this word for the physical union between Adam and Eve, highlighting that true knowledge involves deep personal connection rather than just biological fact.
This relational depth extends to how God interacts with people. In Genesis 18:19, God says He has known Abraham not merely to observe him, but so Abraham might guide his household in righteousness. This implies that divine knowledge is purposeful and transformative. When we seek to know God, we are invited into a relationship where He reveals His heart and we respond with trust.
Even in our daily lives, yada reminds us that true understanding comes from experience. Noah used the olive leaf to know the waters had receded (Genesis 8:11), showing that wisdom often grows from paying attention to the world around us. We can approach Scripture and prayer with this same openness, allowing God to reveal Himself through both His Word and our lived experiences.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 695 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I know65×
- you know42×
- he knows29×
- [is] knowing27×
- they know26×
- he knew26×
- to/ know23×
- and/ you will know23×
- I knew17×
- you will know16×
- and/ he knew15×
- they knew14×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יָדַ֔עְתִּי15×
- יָדַ֥ע12×
- יָדַ֣ע12×
- יָדַ֣עְתִּי10×
- יָדַ֔עְתָּ10×
- יָדְע֖וּ10×
- יָדַ֖עְתִּי9×
- יָ֭דַעְתִּי8×
- לָ/דַ֣עַת7×
- יוֹדֵ֣עַ7×
- יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙7×
- יָדַ֗עְתִּי7×
Key Verses
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Genesis 4:1
The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
This verse uses yada for sexual intercourse, establishing the word’s core theme of deep, intimate union beyond mere intellectual awareness.
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Genesis 18:19
For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”
God states He has known Abraham to show that divine knowledge is relational and intended to lead others into righteousness.
-
Genesis 8:11
The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.
Noah uses the olive leaf to know the waters had receded, illustrating how practical observation leads to understanding a changing situation.
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Genesis 24:16
The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher, and came up.
The text notes no man had known Rebekah, using yada to emphasize her virginity and the protective nature of intimate boundaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word yada mean?
How is yada different from other words for knowledge?
Where does yada appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (695 verses across 33 books)
Genesis 52 verses
for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3:7Their eyes were opened, and they both knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made coverings for…
Genesis 3:22Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 4:1The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
Genesis 4:9Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:17Cain knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Enoch. He built a city, and named the city after the name of his…
Genesis 4:25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, saying, “for God has given me another child…
Genesis 8:11The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the…
Genesis 9:24Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.
Genesis 12:11When he had come near to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to…
Genesis 15:8He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”
Genesis 15:13He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your offspring will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will…
Genesis 18:19For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the…
Genesis 18:21I will go down now, and see whether their deeds are as bad as the reports which have come to me. If not, I will know.”
Genesis 19:5They called to Lot, and said to him, “Where are the men who came in to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we…
Genesis 19:8See now, I have two virgin daughters. Please let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them what seems good to…
Genesis 19:33They made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father. He didn’t know when…
Genesis 19:35They made their father drink wine that night also. The younger went and lay with him. He didn’t know when she lay down,…
Genesis 20:6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld…
Genesis 20:7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t…
Genesis 21:26Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.”
Genesis 22:12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not…
Genesis 24:14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…
Genesis 24:16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her…
Genesis 24:21The man looked steadfastly at her, remaining silent, to know whether Yahweh had made his journey prosperous or not.
Genesis 25:27The boys grew. Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field. Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.
Genesis 27:2He said, “See now, I am old. I don’t know the day of my death.
Genesis 28:16Jacob awakened out of his sleep, and he said, “Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I didn’t know it.”
Genesis 29:5He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the son of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.”
Genesis 30:26Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know my service with which I have…
Genesis 30:29Jacob said to him, “You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me.
Genesis 31:6You know that I have served your father with all of my strength.
Genesis 31:32Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For…
Genesis 33:13Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young,…
Genesis 38:9Onan knew that the offspring wouldn’t be his; and when he went in to his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the…
Genesis 38:16He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his…
Genesis 38:26Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn’t give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew…
Genesis 39:6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…
Genesis 41:21and when they had eaten them up, it couldn’t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the…
Genesis 41:31and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.
Genesis 41:39Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you.
Genesis 42:23They didn’t know that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.
Genesis 42:33The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers…
Genesis 42:34Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will…
Genesis 43:7They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still…
Genesis 43:22We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”
Genesis 44:15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed do…
Genesis 44:27Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
Genesis 45:1Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go…
Genesis 47:6The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in…
Genesis 48:19His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great.…