Know

Lore & Background

The first use of 'know' in these passages is the serpent’s claim that God knows eating the fruit will open human eyes and make them 'as gods, knowing good and evil' (Genesis 3:5). God later confirms this outcome, saying, 'Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil' (Genesis 3:22). This moral knowledge distinguishes humanity but also leads to exile from the tree of life. Cain’s evasive 'I know not' (Genesis 4:9) contrasts with God’s full awareness of Abel’s murder. Abraham and his family use 'know' in practical and covenantal contexts. Abraham asks, 'whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?' (Genesis 15:8), and God responds with a prophecy: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger' (Genesis 15:13). God declares, 'For I know him, that he will command his children' (Genesis 18:19), linking divine knowledge to Abraham’s faithfulness. In the Sodom narrative, God says, 'I will go down now... and if not, I will know' (Genesis 18:21), using 'know' as judicial investigation. Later, 'know' appears in recognition (Genesis 29:5), testimony (Genesis 31:6), and testing (Genesis 42:33-34). Jacob’s sons send Joseph’s coat asking, 'know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no' (Genesis 37:32). Isaac says, 'I know not the day of my death' (Genesis 27:2), highlighting human ignorance of the future. God’s knowledge is portrayed as complete and relational, while human knowledge is partial, tested, and often uncertain.

Reader's Guide

The passages portray 'know' as a multifaceted term. Divine knowledge is absolute: God knows the outcome of the fall (Genesis 3:5), Abraham’s character (Genesis 18:19), and Abimelech’s integrity (Genesis 20:6). God also uses 'know' to describe his own investigative process (Genesis 18:21) and to confirm human faithfulness (Genesis 22:12). Human knowledge, by contrast, is often limited or conditional. Abraham asks for a sign to know God’s promise (Genesis 15:8), and Isaac admits ignorance of his death (Genesis 27:2). The term also carries a relational or experiential sense: 'know' can mean to recognize a person (Genesis 29:5), to be certain of a fact (Genesis 12:11), or to test someone’s character (Genesis 42:33-34). In the Sodom narrative, 'know' is used euphemistically for sexual intercourse (Genesis 19:5). The moral dimension is central: knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5, 3:22) is a divine-like attribute that comes with consequences. Overall, 'know' in these passages moves between God’s perfect awareness and humanity’s striving for certainty, often in contexts of covenant, testing, and moral responsibility.

Did You Know?

• The first use of 'know' in these passages is the serpent’s claim about God’s knowledge (Genesis 3:5).
• God uses 'know' to describe his own investigative process in Sodom (Genesis 18:21).
• Abraham asks for a sign to 'know' he will inherit the land (Genesis 15:8).
• Isaac admits he does not 'know' the day of his death (Genesis 27:2).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"The Master said, "Yu, shall I teach you what knowledge is? When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it; — this is knowledge." — Know "Variant translation: "Yu, shall I teach you about knowledge? What you know, you know, what you don't know, you don't know. This is true knowledge"." — Know "When you know a thing, to hold that you know it; and when you do not know a thing, to allow that you do not know it; this is knowledge." — Know "Confucius, Analects, Book II, Chapter XVII. Cited in: Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 419-23." — Know