48. TO KNOW, PERCEIVE, UNDERSTAND
48. TO KNOW, PERCEIVE, UNDERSTAND
By these and other renderings in the A.V. several words in the original are expressed, with no attempt to distinguish them. This may not be always possible in an English version, yet the differences are not unimportant
(with its substantive ), (with its substantive ), , and are the ordinary Greek words. The first two are found together in 1 Cor. 13; in 1Co 13:8 there is a knowledge () that shall vanish away, for it is explained (1Co 13:9) “we know (.) in part,” so different is this knowledge in its present fragmentary character from what will be “when that which is perfect is come” (1Co 13:10); which leads to the contrast of 1Co 13:12 “now I know (.) in part, but then shall I fully know (.) even as also I am fully known (.).” The difference between the two words is the intensive character given to , ‘knowledge’ (or its verb) by the preposition which is added to it, making it ‘a deeper and more intimate knowledge, and acquaintance.’ Yet only in one passage in the A.V. is this recognised, 2Co 6:9, where is rendered ‘well-known.’ But the following passages in which the compound or is found will confirm the distinctive force of it: Rom 3:20; Rom 10:2; Eph 1:17; Eph 4:13; Php 1:9; Col 1:6; Col 1:9-10; Col 2:2 (‘acknowledgement’ A.V.); Col 3:10; 1Ti 2:4; 1Ti 4:3; Tit 1:1; 2Pe 1:2-3; 2Pe 1:8: comp. Mat 11:27
In some passages the compound word, specially in the verb, gives the meaning of ‘certain personal knowledge, and the consequent recognition of the truth of a thing,’ ‘recognising because we know;’ see Mat 7:16; Mat 7:20; Mat 14:35 (‘had knowledge of Him’ A.V.); Mar 5:30; Mar 6:33; Mar 6:54; Luk 1:4; Luk 1:22 (‘perceived’ A.V., so Luk 5:22; Mar 2:8); Luk 24:16; Luk 24:31; Act 4:13 (‘took knowledge of ‘ A.V. so Act 24:8); Rom 1:32; 1Co 14:37 (‘acknowledge’ A.V. so 1Co 16:18; 2Co 1:13); 2Co 13:5. This may help as to the use of in such passages as Rom 1:28 (compare the simple form of the word in Rom 1:19 as to how the certain knowledge was to be had); 2Ti 2:25; 2Ti 3:7; Heb 10:26
and are found together, Joh 3:10-11; Joh 8:55; Joh 21:17; Heb 8:11; 1Jn 2:29; 1Jn 5:19-20, with the same rendering of the different words used. is ‘to come to know’ and is used of knowledge acquired and communicated objectively, a true apprehension of external impressions; as compared with which (from , ‘to see with the mind’s eye’) is inward consciousness, knowledge of in one’s own mind (hence a derivative of it signifies ‘conscience’) it is the more inclusive term. We read, Heb 8:11, that there will be no need to say “know (.) the Lord, for all shall know () me” – of consciousness in oneself, internal knowledge. So 1Jn 2:29 “if ye know ()” – knowledge realised inwardly – “that he is righteous, ye know (.)” – have the knowledge from without by witness borne – “that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” In 1Jn 5:20 “we know” is the inwardly realised () as in 1Jn 5:18-19, while the second ‘know’ is the knowledge we have come to by the Son of God having come. In Joh 3:10 it was such acquired knowledge (.) as a teacher of Israel ought to have had, while Joh 3:11 is that of the Lord Jesus and those He associated with Him, “we speak that we do know ();” with the same difference at Joh 8:55 – between the Jews who had no objective knowledge (.) of God, and the knowledge of the Lord ( three times repeated in the verse). 1Co 8:1; “we know” – conscious knowledge () that all have knowledge (.) – objective; similarly (.) of that which “puffs up.” In 1Co 8:2 “think that he knoweth” of the ordinary text is , but (from .) is better attested, as twice in the last clause – “he knows nothing,” namely objectively, “as he ought to know (.)” – so 1Co 8:3: in 1Co 8:4 “we know” is inward conscious knowledge (), 1Co 8:10 what a man has learned, acquired (.)
For see Mat 12:25 (Mat 12:15 is , ‘having known it’); Mar 1:34; demons had the inward conscious knowledge of who He was. 1Co 2:11 shows its force clearly (note that in the second clause the reading of knowing the things of God seems best attested). 1Co 13:2, know inwardly in my mind (), (stronger than if . had been used); 2 Cor. 12 all through. In Eph 5:5 the true reading (from ) brings both words interestingly together – the objectively acquired knowledge had passed into internal conscious knowledge – what they were well aware of, knowing – a process that as to the use of the words could not be reversed. In 2Ti 1:15, the apostle had no need to inform Timothy because of conscious knowledge, . Compare 2Ti 3:1 where in “this know (.) also” he communicates what could not have been otherwise known. 2Ti 1:12 was his own inward realisation () as 2Ti 3:14 was Timothy’s ().
is primarily ‘to know’ with such a knowledge as is gained by proximity to the thing known, being also used for fixing the mind or thoughts on something; it is thus the knowledge gained by experience – as that of an expert (, an adjective formed from it, found only in Jam 3:13, is rendered “endued with knowledge”). The verb is found in Mar 14:68 (‘understand’ A.V.) where it is associated with in Peter’s denial of the Lord. It occurs often in the Acts. Act 18:25; Act 19:25; Act 20:18; Act 26:26; also in Jud 1:10, there is what they know not (had no conscious knowledge of ) and know naturally, . In Act 19:15 it is found with , “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with (.).” See for the same word 1Ti 6:4; Heb 11:8; Abraham had no knowledge as of experience of where he was going, nor we of what shall be on the morrow. Jam 4:14
is another word found for ‘understand,’ being indeed always so rendered in the A.V. save Mar 6:52 ‘considered’ and 2Co 10:12 ‘be wise’ (though and are also occasionally translated ‘understand’). (from and ) is ‘to bring or set together’ (even originally in a hostile sense), it becomes metaphorically the expression of the soul’s innate capacity to do so, connecting the outward object with the inward sense; it is to weigh, consider attentively, and so comprehend the meaning of a thing. See Mat 13:13-14 and parallel passages, also Mat 13:19; Mat 13:23; Mat 13:51; Mar 7:14; Mar 8:17; Mar 8:21; Luk 24:45; Act 7:25. Outside the Gospels and Acts it is only found at Rom 3:11; Rom 15:21; Eph 5:17 and 2Co 10:12; in the last text “are not intelligent” would better preserve the sense. The corresponding substantive , ‘intelligence’ or ‘understanding,’ occurs in Eph 3:4, “my knowledge in the mystery;” Col 1:9, “spiritual understanding;” also Col 2:2; 2Ti 2:7; and elsewhere, ‘understanding.’