γινώσκω (G1097) — Greek Lexicon

γινώσκω

ginṓskō

G1097 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To come to know, to recognize, to perceive through experience or observation; to acquire or possess knowledge. The term encompasses the process of coming to know (learning, realizing), as well as the state of having knowledge or understanding. In particular contexts, it may indicate intimate acquaintance, recognition, or comprehension of truth.

Semantic Range

to come to know, to learn, to recognize, to perceive, to acknowledge, to understand, to become aware of, to know intimately (sometimes), to realize, to identify

Root / Etymology

From the root γνο-/γνω-, which also underlies the perfect form ἔγνωκα and related terms such as γνώσις ('knowledge') and γνῶσις. Cognate with Latin (g)noscere ('to know'). The root is Indo-European: *ǵneh₃- ('to know').

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested from Homeric Greek onwards, γινώσκω carries the basic idea of learning or becoming acquainted with something, often stressing the process of acquiring knowledge as opposed to merely possessing it (cf. οἶδα, which emphasizes having or holding knowledge, often of something learned earlier). In classical Greek, it denotes coming to know through inquiry, experience, or perception. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods (including the Septuagint and New Testament), γινώσκω retains these senses but can also describe intimate knowledge (such as personal acquaintance or sexual relations—see Genesis 4:1 LXX, though this is not the primary sense in the New Testament). Theology and later translation traditions sometimes render γινώσκω simply as 'know', but this can obscure nuances such as investigation, recognition, discernment, or relational familiarity. In contrast to οἶδα (G1492), which often suggests effortless or settled knowledge, γινώσκω can indicate gaining knowledge by experience, reflection, or discovery. Standard English renderings ('know', 'understand', 'perceive') may miss the developmental or experiential aspects. The term appears regularly in LXX, New Testament, and broader Hellenistic literature, frequently in legal, philosophical, or relational contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "know" 50 occurrences

"Know" is the most natural, common, and flexible English verb to cover γινώσκω’s primary senses (to come to know, recognize, learn, understand, be acquainted with). It fits both the process and state uses, is the predominant rendering in the corpus, and allows straightforward inflection for person/tense while preserving consistency across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):--allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

Root Family

γνω- (ginṓskō) — to come to know, to recognize, to perceive, to learn

Root γνω- to come to know, to recognize, to perceive, to learn

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G1108	γνῶσις	to knowledge
G1110	γνωστός	known things
G56	ἀγνωσία	ignorance
G57	ἄγνωστος	to an unknown one

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1097-23`	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	know	you know	you know	23
`G1097-15`	ἔγνωσαν	egnosan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they knew	they came to know	they came to know	17
`G1097-03`	ἔγνω	egno	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	knew	he came to know	he came to know	16
`G1097-35`	γνῶναι	gnonai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to know	to come to know	to come to know	15
`G1097-19`	γινώσκει	ginoskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	knows	comes to know	he/she/it knows	12
`G1097-53`	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know	12
`G1097-26`	γινώσκομεν	ginoskomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we know	we come to know	we come to know	10
`G1097-21`	γινώσκεις	ginoskeis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	know	you are coming to know	you know	7
`G1097-25`	γινώσκω	ginosko	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I know	I am coming to know	I am coming to know	7
`G1097-05`	ἐγνώκαμεν	egnokamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	we have known	we have come to know	we have come to know	6
`G1097-13`	ἔγνων	egnon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I knew	I came to know	I came to know	6
`G1097-29`	γινώσκοντες	ginoskontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	knowing	those coming to know	knowing	6
`G1097-40`	γνώσεσθε	gnosesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	you will know	you yourselves will come to know	you yourselves will come to know	6
`G1097-50`	γνῶτε	gnote	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	you may know	Come to know	know, all of you	6
`G1097-08`	ἐγνώκατε	egnokate	`V PRF ACT IND 2P PL`	you have known	you have come to know	you have come to know	5
`G1097-37`	γνόντες	gnontes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having known	having come to know	having come to know	5
`G1097-01`	ἐγίνωσκεν	eginosken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	knew	was coming to know	he was coming to know	4
`G1097-33`	γνῷ	gno	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	I might know	may come to know	may come to know	4
`G1097-48`	γνωσθήσεται	gnosthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be known	will be recognized	will be known	4
`G1097-10`	ἔγνωκεν	egnoken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	knew	has come to know	has come to know	3
`G1097-14`	ἔγνως	egnos	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	known	you came to know	you came to know	3
`G1097-24`	γινωσκέτω	ginosketo	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	know	let him come to know	let him come to know	3
`G1097-34`	γνοῖ	gnoi	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	should know	he might come to know	might come to know	3
`G1097-45`	γνώσονται	gnosontai	`V FUT MID IND 3P PL`	will know	they will come to know	they will come to know	3
`G1097-04`	ἔγνωκα	egnoka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have known	I have come to know	I have come to know	2
`G1097-17`	ἐγνώσθη	egnosthe	`V AOR PASS IND 3P SG`	he was known	was made known	was known	2
`G1097-18`	γινώσκῃ	ginoske	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	know	may come to know	know	2
`G1097-20`	γινώσκειν	ginoskein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to know	to be coming to know	to be coming to know	2
`G1097-22`	γινώσκεται	ginosketai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is known	is being known	is known	2
`G1097-28`	γινώσκων	ginoskon	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	knowing	one coming to know	knowing	2
`G1097-43`	γνώσομαι	gnosomai	`V FUT MID IND 1P SG`	I will find out	I will come to know	I will come to know	2
`G1097-02`	ἐγίνωσκον	eginoskon	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	they knew	they were coming to know	they were coming to know	1
`G1097-06`	ἔγνωκαν	egnokan	`V PRF ACT IND 3P PL`	they have known	they have come to know	they have come to know	1
`G1097-07`	ἔγνωκάς	egnokas	`V PRF ACT IND 2P SG`	you have known	you have come to know	you have come to know	1
`G1097-09`	ἐγνώκειτε	egnokeite	`V PLPF ACT IND 2P PL`	you had known	you had come to know	you had come to know	1
`G1097-11`	ἐγνωκέναι	egnokenai	`V PRF ACT INF`	to know	to have come to know	to have come to know	1
`G1097-12`	ἐγνωκότες	egnokotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	have known	having come to know	having come to know	1
`G1097-16`	ἔγνωσται	egnostai	`V PRF PASS IND 3P SG`	is known	has become known	has become known	1
`G1097-27`	γινωσκομένη	ginoskomene	`V PRS PASS PTCP NOM F SG`	known	being recognized	being recognized	1
`G1097-30`	γινώσκωσι	ginoskosi	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they may know	they may come to know	they may come to know	1
`G1097-31`	γινώσκουσί	ginoskousi	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	know	they are coming to know	know	1
`G1097-32`	γινώσκουσιν	ginoskousin	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	who know	to those knowing	to those knowing	1
`G1097-36`	γνόντα	gnonta	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	knew	having come to know	having come to know	1
`G1097-38`	γνῷς	gnos	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you know	you may come to know	you may come to know	1
`G1097-39`	γνώσῃ	gnose	`V FUT MID IND 2P SG`	you will know	you will come to know	you will know	1
`G1097-41`	γνώσεται	gnosetai	`V FUT MID IND 3P SG`	he will know	he will come to know	he will come to know	1
`G1097-42`	γνῶσιν	gnosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they will know	knowledge	they will know	1
`G1097-44`	γνωσόμεθα	gnosometha	`V FUT MID IND 1P PL`	we shall know	we will come to know for ourselves	we will come to know for ourselves	1
`G1097-46`	γνωσθῇ	gnosthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	be known	may be known	may be known	1
`G1097-47`	γνωσθέντες	gnosthentes	`V AOR PASS PTCP NOM M PL`	having been known	having been recognized	having been known	1
`G1097-49`	γνωσθήτω	gnostheto	`V AOR PASS IMP 3P SG`	let be known	let it become known	let it become known	1
`G1097-51`	γνῶθι	gnothi	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	Know	Come to know	Come to know	1
`G1097-52`	γνώτω	gnoto	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let know	let him come to know	let know	1

Occurrences in Scripture

222 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1097-01`	Matthew 1:25	ἐγίνωσκεν	eginosken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	knew	was coming to know	he was coming to know
`G1097-52`	Matthew 6:3	γνώτω	gnoto	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let know	let him come to know	let know
`G1097-13`	Matthew 7:23	ἔγνων	egnon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I knew	I came to know	I came to know
`G1097-24`	Matthew 9:30	γινωσκέτω	ginosketo	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	know	let him come to know	let him come to know
`G1097-48`	Matthew 10:26	γνωσθήσεται	gnosthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be known	will be recognized	will be known
`G1097-09`	Matthew 12:7	ἐγνώκειτε	egnokeite	`V PLPF ACT IND 2P PL`	you had known	you had come to know	you had come to know
`G1097-53`	Matthew 12:15	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-22`	Matthew 12:33	γινώσκεται	ginosketai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is known	is being known	is known
`G1097-35`	Matthew 13:11	γνῶναι	gnonai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to know	to come to know	to come to know
`G1097-23`	Matthew 16:3	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you know	you know	you know
`G1097-53`	Matthew 16:8	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-15`	Matthew 21:45	ἔγνωσαν	egnosan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	understood	they came to know	they came to know
`G1097-53`	Matthew 22:18	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	perceiving	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-23`	Matthew 24:32	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you know	you know	you know
`G1097-23`	Matthew 24:33	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	know	you know	you know
`G1097-15`	Matthew 24:39	ἔγνωσαν	egnosan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they knew	they came to know	they knew
`G1097-23`	Matthew 24:43	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	know	you know	you know
`G1097-19`	Matthew 24:50	γινώσκει	ginoskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	knows	comes to know	he/she/it knows
`G1097-13`	Matthew 25:24	ἔγνων	egnon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I knew	I came to know	I came to know
`G1097-53`	Matthew 26:10	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-40`	Mark 4:13	γνώσεσθε	gnosesthe	`V FUT MID IND 2P PL`	will you understand	you yourselves will come to know	you yourselves will come to know
`G1097-03`	Mark 5:29	ἔγνω	egno	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	she felt	he came to know	she knew
`G1097-34`	Mark 5:43	γνοῖ	gnoi	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	should know	he might come to know	might come to know
`G1097-37`	Mark 6:38	γνόντες	gnontes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-35`	Mark 7:24	γνῶναι	gnonai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to know	to come to know	to come to know
`G1097-53`	Mark 8:17	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	knowing	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-34`	Mark 9:30	γνοῖ	gnoi	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	should know	he might come to know	might come to know
`G1097-15`	Mark 12:12	ἔγνωσαν	egnosan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they knew	they came to know	they knew
`G1097-23`	Mark 13:28	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	you know	you know	you know
`G1097-23`	Mark 13:29	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	know	you know	you know
`G1097-01`	Mark 15:10	ἐγίνωσκεν	eginosken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he knew	was coming to know	he knew
`G1097-53`	Mark 15:45	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-43`	Luke 1:18	γνώσομαι	gnosomai	`V FUT MID IND 1P SG`	shall I know	I will come to know	I will come to know
`G1097-25`	Luke 1:34	γινώσκω	ginosko	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I know	I am coming to know	I am coming to know
`G1097-15`	Luke 2:43	ἔγνωσαν	egnosan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	knew	they came to know	they knew
`G1097-22`	Luke 6:44	γινώσκεται	ginosketai	`V PRS PASS IND 3P SG`	is known	is being known	is known
`G1097-01`	Luke 7:39	ἐγίνωσκεν	eginosken	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he would know	was coming to know	would know
`G1097-35`	Luke 8:10	γνῶναι	gnonai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to know	to come to know	to come to know
`G1097-46`	Luke 8:17	γνωσθῇ	gnosthe	`V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG`	be known	may be known	may be known
`G1097-13`	Luke 8:46	ἔγνων	egnon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	knew	I came to know	I came to know
`G1097-37`	Luke 9:11	γνόντες	gnontes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-23`	Luke 10:11	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	know	you know	you know
`G1097-19`	Luke 10:22	γινώσκει	ginoskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	knows	comes to know	he/she/it knows
`G1097-48`	Luke 12:2	γνωσθήσεται	gnosthesetai	`V FUT PASS IND 3P SG`	will be known	will be recognized	will be known
`G1097-23`	Luke 12:39	γινώσκετε	ginoskete	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	know	you know	you know
`G1097-19`	Luke 12:46	γινώσκει	ginoskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	knows	comes to know	he/she/it knows
`G1097-53`	Luke 12:47	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	knew	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-53`	Luke 12:48	γνοὺς	gnous	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	having known	having come to know	having come to know
`G1097-13`	Luke 16:4	ἔγνων	egnon	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I know	I came to know	I came to know
`G1097-19`	Luke 16:15	γινώσκει	ginoskei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	knows	comes to know	he/she/it knows

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