καρδιογνώστης
kardiognṓstēs
G2589 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who knows or discerns the inner thoughts, intentions, or dispositions of the heart; specifically, a knower of what is internal, especially of motives or the true character beneath outward actions. In most New Testament usage, this word is an epithet for the divine as one who can perceive the inner life that is inaccessible to humans. The core meaning is 'knower of hearts,' which extends to one who understands or investigates the inner being or center of thought and will.
Semantic Range
one who knows the heart, one who discerns internal motives or intentions, knower of the inner self, divine examiner of inner character
Root / Etymology
Compound formed from καρδία ('heart') and the agent-noun form of γινώσκω ('to know'), literally 'heart-knower.' The formation parallels other compound agent nouns in Greek; no evidence of development from non-Greek sources.
Historical & Contextual Notes
καρδιογνώστης appears rarely and almost exclusively as a divine epithet in Koine Greek, attested only in Acts 1:24 and 15:8 in the New Testament, both describing God as uniquely able to discern human motives and inner disposition. The term reflects Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian ideas about God's exclusive ability to know what is invisible to others (contrasted with merely external judgment). In extrabiblical Greek, the term is not found, marking it as a creation within Hellenistic Jewish or early Christian vocabulary. The foundational concept is present in Greek thought (e.g., the inaccessibility of the heart), but the specific compound 'heart-knower' is rare. Standard English translations like 'knower of hearts' or 'who knows the heart' capture the core lexical sense but may not convey its unique theological function as a divine epithet in its historical context. Distinct from related terms such as καρδιολόγος, which could mean a speaker about the heart, but is not attested in antiquity; or γνῶστης, which has the broader meaning of 'knower.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from καρδία and γινώσκω; a heart-knower:--which knowest the hearts.
Root Family
καρδιογνώστης (kardiognōstēs) — to know, to discern, to recognize
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2589-02 |
καρδιογνώστης | kardiognostes | N NOM M SG |
heart-knower | heart-knower | heart-knower | 1 |
G2589-01 |
καρδιογνῶστα | kardiognosta | N VOC M SG |
heart-knower | O heart-knower | O heart-knower | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences