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ἀγνωσία

agnōsía

G56 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or condition of not knowing, lack of knowledge or understanding, particularly of factual or moral matters; absence of acquaintance with a subject or person. In philosophical or ethical contexts, can imply willful or culpable ignorance.

Semantic Range

lack of knowledge, ignorance (general), ignorance of divine matters, moral ignorance, unwittingness

Root / Etymology

From ἀ- (alpha privative, negative prefix) + γνῶσις (knowledge, understanding). Represents the negation of knowing or awareness; literally, 'not-knowing.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἀγνωσία is a post-classical Greek term, rare in classical sources but more frequent in Hellenistic and later Greek. In philosophical writings (especially Middle Platonism and Stoicism), it expresses ignorance as a deficiency in knowledge, often with ethical implications (e.g., ignorance of the good or of divine will). In the Septuagint and New Testament (e.g., Acts 3:17, 1 Peter 1:14), ἀγνωσία can refer to lack of awareness of divine law or intention, sometimes exculpating. In these contexts, ignorance is not merely the absence of information, but may be seen as a moral or spiritual condition. English Bibles typically render it as 'ignorance,' but the nuance—whether culpable or innocent—depends on context. Distinguished from related terms like ἄγνοια (G52), which is similar but often used for a more general lack of knowledge, while ἀγνωσία carries a sense of ongoing state or condition.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as negative particle) and γνῶσις; ignorance (properly, the state):--ignorance, not the knowledge.

Root Family

ἀγνωσία (agnōsia) — not knowing, ignorance, lack of understanding

Root γνω- to know, to recognize, to understand

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G56-01 ἀγνωσίαν agnosian N ACC F SG ignorance ignorance ignorance 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G56-01 1 Corinthians 15:34 ἀγνωσίαν agnosian N ACC F SG ignorance ignorance ignorance
G56-01 1 Peter 2:15 ἀγνωσίαν agnosian N ACC F SG ignorance ignorance ignorance
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