יָדַע
to know
‘to know’ is one of 6 main senses fuller range ↓
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Qal verb in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Verb
- An action or state-of-being word.
Stem
- Qal
- The basic, simple active stem — the plain form of the verb (“he wrote”). Here: ‘know’
- Niphal
- Usually the simple passive or reflexive of the Qal (“he was written”). Here: ‘be made known’
- Hiphil
- The causative active stem (“he caused / brought about”).
- Hophal
- The passive counterpart of the Hiphil (“he was caused to…”).
- Pual
- The passive counterpart of the Piel. Here: ‘known’
- Piel
- An intensive or resultative active stem.
- Hithpael
- The reflexive or reciprocal stem (the subject acts on itself).
Form
- Perfect
- A completed action or state — Hebrew marks aspect (completeness) more than strict tense (“he wrote”).
- Sequential Perfect
- A perfect with prefixed waw continuing a preceding imperfect or command (waw-consecutive perfect).
- Participle Active
- A verbal adjective expressing ongoing or characteristic action (“writing / one who writes”).
- Infinitive Construct
- A bound verbal noun, frequently with prepositions (“to write / in writing”).
- Imperfect
- An incomplete, ongoing, or future action (“he will / would write”).
- Sequential Imperfect
- An imperfect with prefixed waw — the standard past-narrative form (waw-consecutive imperfect).
- Infinitive Absolute
- An unbound verbal noun, often intensifying or standing in for a finite verb.
- Imperative
- A direct command (“write!”).
- Cohortative
- A first-person volitional form expressing wish or resolve (“let me / let us write”).
- Jussive
- A third- or second-person volitional form expressing wish or command (“let him write”).
- Participle Passive
- A verbal adjective expressing action received (“written”).
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Person
- 1st Person
- The speaker (“I / we”).
- 3rd Person
- The one spoken about (“he / she / it / they”).
- 2nd Person
- The one addressed (“you”).
Gender
- Common
- Either gender — not distinguished for this form.
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
- Feminine
- Grammatically feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
Every verse where H3045 appears in the Book of Deuteronomy — 43 distinct verses. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Deuteronomy
- Deuteronomy 1:13 וִ/ידֻעִ֖ים conj + Qal ptcp.pass mp Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.
- Deuteronomy 1:15 וִֽ/ידֻעִ֔ים conj + Qal ptcp.pass mp So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.
- Deuteronomy 1:39 יָדְע֤וּ Qal pf 3cp Moreover your little ones, whom you said should be a prey, and your children, who this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there, and to them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
- Deuteronomy 2:7 יָדַ֣ע Qal pf 3ms For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
- Deuteronomy 3:19 יָדַ֕עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that you have much cattle), shall abide in your cities which I have given you,
- Deuteronomy 4:9 וְ/הוֹדַעְתָּ֥/ם conj + Hiphil wpf 2ms + sfx pers 3mp Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children's children;
- Deuteronomy 4:35 לָ/דַ֔עַת prep + Qal inf.cs To you it was shown, that you might know that Yahweh he is God; there is none else besides him.
- Deuteronomy 4:39 וְ/יָדַעְתָּ֣ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that Yahweh he is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is none else.
- Deuteronomy 7:9 וְ/יָ֣דַעְתָּ֔ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Know therefore that Yahweh your God, he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with them who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,
- Deuteronomy 7:15 יָדַ֗עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, will he put on you, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
- Deuteronomy 8:2 לָ/דַ֜עַת prep + Qal inf.cs You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to prove you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments, or not.
- Deuteronomy 8:3 יָדַ֔עְתָּ יָדְע֖וּ/ן הוֹדִֽעֲ/ךָ֗ Qal pf 2ms Qal pf 3cp + sfx n Hiphil inf.cs + sfx pers 2ms He humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you didn't know, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh does man live.
- Deuteronomy 8:5 וְ/יָדַעְתָּ֖ conj + Qal wpf 2ms You shall consider in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so Yahweh your God chastens you.
- Deuteronomy 8:16 יָדְע֖וּ/ן Qal pf 3cp + sfx n who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers didn't know; that he might humble you, and that he might prove you, to do you good at your latter end:
- Deuteronomy 9:2 יָדַ֨עְתָּ֙ Qal pf 2ms a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?
- Deuteronomy 9:3 וְ/יָדַעְתָּ֣ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Know therefore this day, that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before you: so shall you drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has spoken to you.
- Deuteronomy 9:6 וְ/יָדַעְתָּ֗ conj + Qal wpf 2ms Know therefore, that Yahweh your God doesn't give you this good land to possess it for your righteousness; for you are a stiff-necked people.
- Deuteronomy 9:24 דַּעְתִּ֥/י Qal inf.cs + sfx pers 1cs You have been rebellious against Yahweh from the day that I knew you.
- Deuteronomy 11:2 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּם֮ יָדְעוּ֙ conj + Qal wpf 2mp Qal pf 3cp Know you this day: for I don't speak with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of Yahweh your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm,
- Deuteronomy 11:28 יְדַעְתֶּֽם Qal pf 2mp and the curse, if you shall not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.
- Deuteronomy 13:2 יְדַעְתָּ֖/ם Qal pf 2ms + sfx pers 3mp and the sign or the wonder come to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them;
- Deuteronomy 13:3 לָ/דַ֗עַת prep + Qal inf.cs you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Deuteronomy 13:6 יָדַ֔עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you, nor your fathers;
- Deuteronomy 13:13 יְדַעְתֶּֽם Qal pf 2mp Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known;
- Deuteronomy 18:21 נֵדַ֣ע Qal impf 1cp If you say in your heart, How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?
- Deuteronomy 20:20 תֵּדַ֗ע Qal impf 2ms Only the trees of which you know that they are not trees for food, you shall destroy and cut them down; and you shall build bulwarks against the city that makes war with you, until it fall.
- Deuteronomy 21:1 נוֹדַ֖ע Niphal pf 3ms If one be found slain in the land which Yahweh your God gives you to possess it, lying in the field, and it isn't known who has struck him;
- Deuteronomy 22:2 יְדַעְתּ֑/וֹ Qal pf 2ms + sfx pers 3ms If your brother isn't near to you, or if you don't know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother seek after it, and you shall restore it to him.
- Deuteronomy 28:33 יָדָ֑עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms The fruit of your ground, and all your labors, shall a nation which you don't know eat up; and you shall be only oppressed and crushed always;
- Deuteronomy 28:36 יָדַ֖עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Yahweh will bring you, and your king whom you shall set over you, to a nation that you have not known, you nor your fathers; and there shall you serve other gods, wood and stone.
- Deuteronomy 28:64 יָדַ֛עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, which you have not known, you nor your fathers, even wood and stone.
- Deuteronomy 29:4 לָ/דַ֔עַת prep + Qal inf.cs but Yahweh has not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, to this day.
- Deuteronomy 29:6 תֵּֽדְע֔וּ Qal impf 2mp You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink; that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
- Deuteronomy 29:16 יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם Qal pf 2mp (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed;
- Deuteronomy 29:26 יְדָע֔וּ/ם Qal pf 3cp + sfx pers 3mp and went and served other gods, and worshiped them, gods that they didn't know, and that he had not given to them:
- Deuteronomy 31:13 יָדְע֗וּ Qal pf 3cp and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it.
- Deuteronomy 31:21 יָדַ֣עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs It shall happen, when many evils and troubles are come on them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
- Deuteronomy 31:27 יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ Qal pf 1cs For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; and how much more after my death?
- Deuteronomy 31:29 יָדַ֗עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days; because you will do that which is evil in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
- Deuteronomy 32:17 יְדָע֑וּ/ם Qal pf 3cp + sfx pers 3mp They sacrificed to demons, [which were] no God, To gods that they didn't know, To new [gods] that came up of late, Which your fathers didn't dread.
- Deuteronomy 33:9 יָדָ֑ע Qal pf 3ms Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed your word, Keep your covenant.
- Deuteronomy 34:6 יָדַ֥ע Qal pf 3ms He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor: but no man knows of his tomb to this day.
- Deuteronomy 34:10 יְדָע֣/וֹ Qal pf 3ms + sfx pers 3ms There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
At its core, ידע (yâdaʻ) means “to know.” One archaism survives in the King James Version — “thou knowest” — where modern Bibles read “know”; see the renderings breakdown. It turns up in 874 verses across 35 books, one of the most common footprint. It first appears in Genesis 3:5. Different stems carry different senses — BDB groups them under 8 stems, among them Qal and Niphal. Each statement above links to its evidence; the full detail follows below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H3045 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 874
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 874 distinct verses.
- 35 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 35 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #45
- by frequency
- Top 50 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 45 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 874 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 874 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 429 verses · 49%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 281 verses · 32%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 164 verses · 19%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Know 83×, I know 58×, Thou knowest 42×
- American Standard Version: Know 71×, I know 51×, Knoweth 36×
- Berean Standard Bible: Know 173×, You will know 56×, I know 44×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Know 276×, You will know 53×, I know 51×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H3045 across 941 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 270 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 6 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H3045 across 935 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 303 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H3045 across 913 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 241 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 31 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H3045 across 1,237 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 173 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
25 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
Hebrew verbs can shift meaning by stem (binyan): Qal is the basic action, Niphal is often passive or reflexive, Piel often intensifies or makes it factitive, and Hiphil is typically causative. The senses below are grouped under the stem BDB assigns to each. This entry also uses Pual (the passive of Piel), Hophal (the passive of Hiphil), Hithpael (reflexive or reciprocal), and one or more reduplicated stems (the Pōlēl/Pilpēl type), which for hollow or geminate roots behave much like Piel — often intensive or iterative.
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 25 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
Qal
- Pf. יָדַע Gn 4:1 +; יָדָ֑ע Lv 5:1 +; sf. יְדָעוֹ Dt 34:10 Jb 28:7; יְדָעָהּ Gn 24:16 1 K 1:4; יְדָעָ֫נוּ Is 63:16; 3 fs. יָֽדְעָה Ju 11:39 + 4 times; 2 ms. יָדַ֫עְתָּ Gn 30:26 +; יָדַ֫עְתָּה 2 S 2:26; יָדַ֫עַתְּ Ru 2:11; 1 K 2:15; יָדָ֑עַתְּ Je 50:24; וְיָדַ֫עַתְּ consec. Ru 3:4 + 6 times (incl. Ez 22:16, Co וִידַעְתֶּם, so 𝔊 𝔗) + Ez 28:22 Co (for וְיָֽדְעוּ), so 𝔊; יָדַ֫עְתִּי Gn 4:9 +; sf. יְדַעְתִּ֫יךָ Ex 33:12 + 2 times; יְדַעְתִּיו Gn 18:19; יְדַעְתִּים Pr 30:18; יְדַעְתִּין Is 48:7; יָֽדְעוּ Gn 19:8 +; יָדָ֑עוּ 2 K 4:39 +; יָֽדְעוּן Dt 8:3, 16 (Dr§ 6 n.); 2 mpl. יְדַעְתֶּם Gn 44:15 +; 2 fpl. יְדַעְתֶּן Gn 31:6; וִידַעְתֶּן consec. Ez 13:21, 23, etc.; Impf. יֵדַע Is 7:16 +; יֵדָ֑ע Jos 22:22 + 5 times; יְיֵדָ֑ע ψ 138:6 (read prob. יֵידָ֑ע v. Ges§ 69, 2 R. 3); וַיֵּ֫דַע Gn 4:17 +; sf. יֵדָֽעֶנּוּ Je 17:9; וְיֵֽדָעֵם Ho 14:10; Imv. דַּע Gn 20:7 + 10 times; דְּעֶה Pr 24:14; דָּ֑ע Ec 11:9; sf. דָּעֵ֫הוּ Pr 3:6; דְּעִי Je 2:19 + 4 times; דְּעוּ Nu 32:23 + 15 times; Inf. cstr. דֵּעָה Ex 2:4; דַּ֫עַת Gn 3:22 +; דַּעְתִּי Dt 9:24 Is 48:4, etc.; Inf. abs. יָדוֹעַ Gn 43:7 Jos 23:13; יָדֹעַ Gn 15:13 + 11 times; Pt. act. יֹדֵעַ Gn 3:5 +; f. יֹדַ֫עַת Nu 31:17 + 2 times; יֹדְעִים 2 K 17:26 +; pass. וִידוּעַ cstr. Is 53:3; pl. וִידֻעִים Dt 1:13, 15;— e.g. Genesis 4:1
- 1.
- a. know, learn to know, good and evil Gn 3:22 (J), sq. אֶת־אֲשֶׁר 1 S 28:9; מִסְפַּר הָעָם 2 S 24:2; anything מְאוּמָה 1 S 20:39; לֹא יָדַע אִתּוֹ מְאוּמָה Gn 39:6 (v. II. אֵת 1 b), so v 8; כָּל־דָּבָר 2 S 15:11; subj. God, knowing fowls ψ 50:11; way to wisdom Jb 28:23, etc.; of bird of prey נָתִיב לֹא יְדָעוֹ עָ֑יִט Jb 28:7; the price of wisdom Jb 28:13; something future יום מוֹתִי Gn 27:2 (J); especially sq. cl. Gn 12:11 (J) I know that thou art a woman of fair appearance, 22:12 (E), Ec 1:17; לֹא ידעתי Gn 28:16; answering qu. Where? without other obj., 4:9 (both J); sq. acc. + בְּ, in, in the matter of (v. בְּ I 2 b) לֹא יָדַע עַבְדְּךָ בְּכָל־זֹאת דָּבָר קָטֹן אוֹ גדוֹל 1 S 22:15 thy servant knoweth not of all this anything, little or much; sq. בְּ (rare), gain knowledge of, learn of or about, c. inf., הֲתֵדַע בְּשׂוּם־אֱלוֹהַּ עֲלֵיהֶם Jb 37:15 dost thou know about God’s enjoining upon them? also c. subst. אִישׁ אַל־יֵדַע בַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה Je 38:24 let not a man know of these words; similarly sq. עַל, only הֲתֵדַע עַל־מִפְלְשֵׂי־עָ֑ב Jb 37:16 dost thou know concerning the balancings of clouds? (in Jb 12:9 בְּ is instr. as Gn 15:8 ψ 41:12); sq. מִן, רְאוּ וּדְעוּ מִכָּל־הַמַּחֲבֹאִים 1 S 23:23 observe and get knowledge of all the hiding-places; but sq. obj. cl. + מִן of source, קֶדֶם יָדַעְתִּי מֵעֵדֹתֶ֑יךָ כִּי ψ 119:152 long ago I gained knowledge out of thy testimonies that etc.; sq. לְ, have knowledge of, †יָדַעְתָּ לְאִוַּלְתִּי ψ 69:6 thou knowest my foolishness; especially וידע כי אני יהוה and he shall (thou shalt, etc.) know that I am Yahweh Ex 10:2 (R), 6:7; 14:4; 16:12; 29:46 (all P), Ez 6:7, 10, 13 + often in Ezek., 1 K 20:13, 28; sq. acc., which is really subj. of foll. cl., Gn 18:19 (J) I know him that he will, etc. 2 S 3:25 (Ges§ 117. 1, R. 6). e.g. Genesis 3:22
- b. perceive Gn 19:33, 35 (J obj. cl., inf. c. בְּ); with added idea of observing, taking note of, a place, acc. Ru 3:4; c. בְּ, יָדַעְתָּ בְּצָרוֹת נַפְשִׁי ψ 31:8 (‖ רָאָה אֶת־). e.g. Genesis 19:33
- c. ‖ ראה, imv. דע וראה perceive and see 1 S 12:17; 24:12; find out and discern 14:38; 23:22; in reverse order, ראו ודעו only 23:23 (v. a supr.), Je 5:1 (v. DrSm).—Vid. also g infr. e.g. 1 Samuel 12:17
- d. discriminate, distinguish הַאֵדַע בֵּין־טוֹב לְרָ֑ע 2 S 19:36, cf. Dt 1:39 (no בֵּין); לֹא יָדְֽעוּ בֵין־יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ Jon 4:11 they cannot distinguish between their right hand and their left. e.g. 2 Samuel 19:36
- e. know by experience, וִידַעְתֶּם בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁכֶם כִּי Jos 23:14 (D) and know in all your hearts, and all your souls, that, etc.; learn to know י׳ Ho 13:4; learn (a bitter lesson) Ho 9:7 Is 9:8 ψ 14:4; experience י׳’s vengeance Ez 25:14 ψ 14:4 (abs.); quietness Jb 20:20. e.g. Joshua 23:14
- f. recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess Je 3:13; 14:20 Is 59:12 ψ 51:5. e.g. Jeremiah 3:13
- g. consider דְּעוּ מַה־תַּעֲשׂוּ Ju 18:14; ‖ ראה, imv. דע וראה, דעו וראו, 2 S 24:13; 1 K 20:7, 22; also וְיָדַעְתָּ עִם־לִבָבֶ֑ךָ כִּי Dt 8:5 and thou shalt consider with (in) thy heart, that, 4:39. e.g. Judges 18:14
- h. לֹא ידע not know = not expect Is 47:11 ψ 35:8. e.g. Isaiah 47:11
- 2. know a person, be acquainted with Gn 29:5 (J), Ex 1:8 (E), Jb 42:11, know י׳ 24:1; c. לֹא, obj. especially other gods, strange land, etc. = have no knowledge of, or acquaintance with, have not heard of, especially Dt Je:—Dt 11:28; 13:3, 7, 14; 28:64; 29:25; 32:17 (poem), Je 7:9; 9:15; 14:18; 16:13; 17:4; 19:4; 22:28; 44:3; pt. act. acquaintance Jb 19:13; †pt. pass. acquainted with אִישׁ מַכְאֹבוֹת וִידוּעַ חֹ֑לִי Is 53:3 (lit. known of sickness, v. Thes Ew Che Di Du); well-known (with implied trustworthiness) Dt 1:13, 15 †; of beasts knowing owner and master’s crib Is 1:3 (cf. Je 8:7); especially of knowing God לֹא יָדַעְתִּי (י׳) אֶת־י׳ Ex 5:2 (J); involving intelligent worship, obedience, etc. Ju 2:10 1 S 2:12 (read יֵדַע for MT יָדַע, Dr), 3:7 Ho 2:22; 8:2; 5:4 Jb 18:21 ψ 79:6 (v. also דַּעַת 2 b); of God’s knowing persons, etc., thoroughly Ho 5:3; Jb 11:11; knowing the heart 1 K 8:39; 2 Ch 6:30 ψ 139:4; knowing his true servants, recognising and acknowledging them 2 S 7:20; Na 1:7 1 Ch 17:18 +; יְדַעְתִּיךָ בְּשֵׁם Ex 33:12 (JE); = take notice of, regard ψ 1:6; 31:8; 37:18; so of Isr. as chosen people Am 3:2; Ho 13:5 (Assyrian ilu šâ îdûšu, God who regardeth him, HptBAS i. 15) cf. Gn. 18:19; 39:6 (J) Dt 33:9 Jb 9:21. e.g. Genesis 29:5
- 3. know a person carnally, sq. acc.: man subj. Gn 4:1, 17, 25; 24:16; 38:26 (all J), 1 S 1:19; Ju 19:25; 1 K 1:4; woman subj. Gn 19:8 (J), Nu 31:17, 18, 35 (all P), Ju 11:39; יֹדַעַת מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר Ju 21:11; לֹא יָֽדְעָה אִישׁ לְמִשְׁכַּב זָכָר v 12; man subj. and obj. (of sodomy) Gn 19:5 (J), Ju 19:22. e.g. Genesis 4:1
- 4.
- a. know how to do a thing, be able to do it, often c. לֹא and sq. inf.: לֹא יָֽדְעוּ עֲשׂוֹת־נְכֹחָה Am 3:10 they know not how to do right; לֹא יָדַעְתִּי דַבֵּר Je 1:6; 6:15; 1 K 3:7; Is 56:11(×11), c. לְ 50:4 Ec 10:15; לֹא יָדַע לְהִזָּהֵר Ec 4:13 know not how to be admonished (v 17 know that); inf. abs. ידע מָאוֹס בָּרָע וּבָחוֹר בַּטּוֹב Is 7:15, 16. e.g. Amos 3:10
- b. be skilful in, especially pt., sq. acc. יֹדֵעַ צַיִד Gn 25:27 (J) skilled in hunting; ידע סֵפֶר skilled in a book, learned Is 29:11, 12(×12); as pl. cstr. יוֹדְעֵי נֶ֑הִי Am 5:16 knowers of lamentation, professional mourners; יֹדְעֵי הַיָּם 1 K 9:27 skilled in the sea, 2 Ch 8:18; especially sq. inf. יֹדֵעַ נַגֵּן 1 S 16:18 skilled in playing, 1 K 5:20; 2 Ch 2:6, 7, 13: יֹדֵעַ מְנַגֵּן בַּכִּנּוֹר 1 S 16:16 knowing, (as) a player on the lyre (v. Dr). e.g. Genesis 25:27
- 5. abs. have knowledge, be wise: לַיֹּדְעִים Ec 9:11 (‖ חֲכָמִים, נְבֹנִים); especially have knowledge of God and duty, or in practical affairs Is 1:3 (‖ בין), 56:10; often c. acc. cogn.: דַּעַת Pr 17:27; 30:3; בִּינָה Is 29:24; Pr 4:1; 2 Ch 2:12, cf. יוֹדְעֵי בִּינָה לָעִתִּים 1 Ch 12:33 (Baer), Est 1:13; also יֹדְעֵי דָּת וָדִין v 13; יֹדְעֵי דַעַת וּמְבִינֵי מַדָּע Dn 1:4; obj. שֶׂכֶל וּבִינָה 2 Ch 2:11 (‖ בֵּן חָכָם); חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר Pr 1:2 (‖ הבין אִמְרֵי בִּינָה); חָכְמָה Pr 24:14; Ec 8:16. e.g. Ecclesiastes 9:11
Niphal
- Pf. נוֹדַע Gn 41:21 + 10 times; וְנוֹדַע consec. 1 S 6:3 + 2 times; 3 fs. וְנוֹדְעָה Lv 4:14; Is 66:14, etc.; Impf. יִוָּדַע Gn 41:31 + 10 times; יִוָּדֵ֑עַ Pr 10:9; וַיִּוָּדַ֫ע Est 2:22; 3 fs. תִּוָּדֵ֑עַ Pr 14:33; 2 fs. תִּוָּֽדְעִי Ru 3:3; וָאִוָּדַע Ez 20:5; Inf. sf. הִוָּֽדְעִי Je 31:19; Pt. נוֹדָע ψ 76:2 + 2 times;— e.g. Genesis 41:21
- 1. be made known, be or become known, of things Gn 41:31 (sq. בְּ), Ex 2:14 (both E), Lv 4:14 (P), Ju 16:9; 2 S 17:19; Na 3:17; Zc 14:7 (sq. לְ), ψ 77:20; 79:10 (sq. בְּ), 88:13 (sq. בְּ); of hand of י׳ Is 66:14 (sq. אֶת); c. subj. cl. Ex 21:36; 33:16 (both JE), Dt 21:1; 1 S 6:3 (sq. לְ), 1 K 18:36 Ez 36:32 (sq. לְ), Ru 3:14; Ec 6:10; Est 2:22 (sq. לְ); of pers., Pr 31:23 (sq. בְּ) Is 61:9 (sq. בְּ and בְּתוֹךְ); of י׳ ψ 76:2 (sq. בְּ); = be revealed, discovered, of pers. 1 S 22:6; Je 28:9; Pr 10:9; of things Ne 4:9; Pr 12:16; 14:33. e.g. Genesis 41:31
- 2. make oneself known, of pers., sq. לְ Ru 3:3, usually of God (י׳) Ex 6:3 (P; ‖ וָאֵרָא אֶל־), Is 19:21; Ez 20:5, sq. לְעֵינֵי 38:23; sq. אֶל־ 20:9; sq. בְּ 35:11 ψ 48:4; without prep. 9:17. e.g. Ruth 3:3
- 3. be perceived (pass. of Qal), of perception by the eye Gn 41:21 (E), ψ 74:5. e.g. Genesis 41:21
- 4. be instructed (pass. of Hiph.) Je 31:19, in spiritual sense, through chastisement. e.g. Jeremiah 31:19
Piel
- Pf. 2 ms. יִדַּ֫עְתָּ, only ידעתה שַׁחַר מְקֹמוֹ Jb 38:12 Kt; read with Qr יִדַּעְתָּ הַשַּׁחַר cause to know, sq. 2 acc.; so ψ 104:19 according to Bae, who reads יִדַּע, after Aq Symm. e.g. Job 38:12
Po
- Pf. 1 s. יוֹדַעְתִּי 1 S 21:3 I have caused to know, i.e. directed, sq. acc., but read יוֹעַדְתִּי or יָעַדְתִּי, from יעד, so 𝔊 We Dr. e.g. 1 Samuel 21:3
Pual
- Pt. known מידעת Is 12:5 Kt (Qr מוּדַעַת v. Hoph.); elsewhere as subst. = acquaintance מְיֻדָּעִי ψ 55:14; מְיֻדָּעָיו 2 K 10:11; מְיֻדָּעַי ψ 88:9 Jb 19:14 (‖ קְרוֹבָ֑י), ψ 88:19 (‖ אֹהֵב and רֵעַ); מְיֻדָּעָ֑י ψ 31:12, Kt מידע Ru 2:1 (Qr מוֹדַע q.v. infr.) e.g. Isaiah 12:5
Hiphil
- Pf. הוֹדִיעַ ψ 98:2; הוֹדִיעַ֫נִי Je 11:18; הוֹדַ֫עְתָּ 1 K 1:27 + 2 times; הוֹדָ֑עְתָּ Jb 26:3, etc.; Impf. יוֹדִיעַ ψ 103:7 Is 38:19; juss. יֹדַ֫ע Nu 16:5; וַיֹּדַע Ju 8:16; יוֹדִיעֶנּוּ Is 40:13, 14; 2 ms. תּוֹדִיעַ Hb 3:2; תּוֹדִיעֵנִי ψ 16:11; 51:8; 1 s. אוֹדִיעַ ψ 89:2 Ez 39:7; אוֹדִיעָה Pr 1:23 Is 5:5; יוֹדִיעוּ Jb 32:7; יוֹדִעֻם Ez 44:23; נוֹדִיעָה 1 S 14:12; Imv. הוֹדַע Pr 9:9 + 3 times (הוֹדַ֑ע ψ 90:12); sf. חוֹדִיעֵנִי Jb 10:2 + 6 times, etc.; Inf. cstr. הוֹדִיעַ 2 S 7:21 + 3 times; הֹדִיעַ 1 Ch 17:19; הוֹדִיעֵנִי 1 S 28:15, etc.; Pt. מוֹדִיעֲךָ Dn 8:19; מוֹדִיעָם Je 16:21; מוֹדִיעִים Is 47:13 2 Ch 23:13;—make known, declare, c. acc. rei Nu 16:5 (P), Ez 39:7; 1 Ch 17:19; Jb 26:3 ψ 89:2; 98:2; 106:8; obj. om. Hb 3:2; teach, c. acc. rei Jb 32:7; sq. inf. ψ 90:12 and (peculiarly) מ׳ לְהַלֵּל 2 Ch 23:13 i.e. led in praising; c. לְ pers. Pr 9:9; c. acc. pers. Is 40:13; Ju 8:16 (but read וַיָּ֫דָשׁ, v. דושׁ); make known, declare, c. acc. rei, + לְ pers. Ex 18:20; Dt 4:9; Ne 8:12; 9:14 ψ 78:5; 103:7; 145:12; Is 38:19 (c. אל rei) 64:1; c. cl., + לְ pers. 1 S 10:8; make one know, c. cl. of thing and acc. (sf.) pers. Ex 33:12 Dt 8:3 1 S 6:2; 16:3; 28:15 Jb 10:2; 37:19; c. acc. rei + sf. pers. הוֹדִעֵנִי נָא אֶת־דְּרָכֶ֔ךָ וְאֵדָעֲךָ Ex 33:13 (JE) make me, I pray, to know thy ways, that I may know thee; Je 16:21 Ez 20:4; 22:2; 43:11; Is 40:14 (‖ וַיְלַמְּדֵהוּ דַעַת, also v a וַיְבִינֵהוּ), Pr 22:21; Jb 13:23 ψ 16:11; 25:4 (‖ לַמְּדֵנִי), v 14 (on inf. c. לְ v. Ges§ 114. 2, R. 2, Exx.), 39:5; 51:8; 143:8 (‖ הַשְׁמִיעֵנִי); חַטָּאתִי אוֹדִיעֲךָ 32:5 (‖ עֲוֹנִי לֹא־כִסִּיתִי); sq. 2 separate acc. Gn 41:39 (E), 1 S 14:12; Is 5:5 Ez 20:11; 16:2 Pr 1:23; Dn 8:19; acc. pers. om. Ex 18:16 (E); acc. rei om. Jos 4:22 = teach one (D), so Is 40:13, 2 S 7:21; 1 K 1:27; = answer Jb 38:3; 40:7; 42:4; c. sf. pers., acc. rei om. Je 11:18; 16:21 Pr 22:19; sq. acc. rei + בְּ ψ 77:15 thou hast made known thy might among the peoples, Is 12:4 1 Ch 18:8 = ψ 105:1; sq. cl. + בְּ pers. Ho 5:9; sq. בֵּין, teach the difference between, to discriminate between בֵּין הַטָּמֵא לְטָהוֹר Ez 22:26; + sf. pers. 44:23 (cf. Qal 1 d); sq. מִן partit. מוֹדִעִים לֶחֳדָשִׁים מֵאֲשֶׁר יָבוֹאוּ Is 47:13 who declare, at the new moons, of (the things) which are to come. e.g. Psalms 98:2
Hophal
- Pf. הוֹדַע Lv 4:23, 28 (v. Köi, 427); Pt. מוּדַעַת Qr Is 12:5 (> Kt מְיֻדַּעַת);—made known (Pt.) Qr Is 12:5 let this be made known in (בְּ) all the earth (> Kt Pu. Pt. which is not elsewhere in this sense); sq. אֵלָיו if his sin be made known unto himself Lv 4:23, 28 (P). e.g. Leviticus 4:23
Hithpael
- Impf. אֶתְוַדָּ֑ע Nu 12:6 (E), sq. אֶל־ make oneself known to, of י׳; Inf. הִתְוַדַּע אֶל־ Gn 45:1 (E), of Joseph. e.g. Numbers 12:6
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
vb. know (NH id.; Aramaic יְדַע, ܝܺܕܰܥ Ph. ידע; Ethiopic አይድዐ ii. i. indicate, announce, narrate; Assyrian idû, know, COTGloss.; Sab. ידע, especially in cpd. n.pr. DHMZMG 1875, 612)—
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Origin: a primitive root
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
יָדַע
- [to point out, select, love,]
- 1. to recognize, know; to find out. Pes. 87ᵇ כיון שי׳ שחטא when he was convinced that he had done wrong. Ib. ואין אתה יוֹדֵעַ אם וכ׳ and thou knowest not whether &c. Ib. יודע הקב"ה את ישראל וכ׳ the Lord knows that Israel cannot endure the cruel persecutions of Rome (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note); Yalk. Hos. 529. Shebu. 4ᵇ; ib. 5ᵃ ונעלם מבלל שי׳ it says, ‘and it escaped his memory’ (Lev. V, 3)—this proves that there was a time when he knew (the nature of his act, v. יְדִיעָה). Zeb. 115ᵇ דבר זה … ולא יְדָעוֹ וכ׳ this word (Ex. XXIX, 43) the Lord had said to Moses, but he did not understand it, until the sons of Aaron died. Ib. כיון שי׳ … יְדוּעֵי מקום הן when Aaron learned that his sons were the chosen of the Lord (Lev. X, 3); a. v. fr.—Part. pass. יָדוּעַ a) chosen. Pl. יְדוּעִים, constr. יְדוּעֵי, v. supra.—b) known, special, certain. Sifra Vayikra, Ḥobah, Par. 6, ch. VIII חטא י׳ a known (discovered) sin, v. יְדִיעָה. Y. Sot. I, 16ᶜ טומאה יְדוּעָה (not ידוע) an ascertained levitical uncleanness, opp. ספק; a. fr.—בְּיָדוּעַ it is sure. R. Hash. 20ᵇ בי׳ שנראה וכ׳ the moon must have been visible &c. Succ. 49ᵇ כל אדם … בי׳ שהוא וכ׳ a popular man (v. חֵן) is, you may be sure, a God-fearing man; a. fr. e.g. Leviticus 5:3
- 2. (euphem.) to have sexual intercourse with. Yeb. 57ᵃ בלא יְדָעָהּ when he never had connection with her. Esth. R. to III, 7 שלא יְדָעָהּ איש וכ׳ whom no man except her husband touched; a. e.
- to make known, inform. Gen. R. s. 22, beg. (ref. to Gen. IV, 1, reading יִדַּע for homiletical purposes) ה׳ דרך ארץ לכל he showed to all the way of the land (propagation, v. דֶּרֶךְ). Ḥull. V, 3 צריך להוֹדִיעַ must inform (the purchaser). Ab. IV, 22 לֵידַע להודיע ולהִוָּורַע to learn, to proclaim and to be made to feel (be thoroughly convinced). Sabb. 10ᵇ צריך להוֹדִיעוֹ must inform him. Ib. לך והוֹדִיעֵם go and tell them. Ib. הנותן … צריך לה׳ לאמו he who gives bread to a child must inform his mother; a. fr. e.g. Genesis 4:1
- to be informed, become conscious; to be made known. Shebu. I, 6 ה׳ ולא ה׳ whether he became conscious (of his transgression) or not. Sifra Vayikra, Ḥobah, ch. XX, Par. 12 (ref. to Lev. IV, 23; 28) את ה׳ שלהם when they become known; a. fr.—B. Bath. 113ᵇ הוֹדְעָה Ms. M. (v. אָרַע II). e.g. Leviticus 4:23
- same. Hor. III, 3. Ab. IV, 22, v. supra. Shebu. 9ᵇ שסופו לִיוָּדַע of which he is likely to be informed. Ḥull. 9ᵃ עד שיִוָּדַע לך, v. חֲזָקָה. Nidd. IX, 5, v. infra; a. fr.
- , Nithpa. נִתְוַודַּע
- 1. same. Bekh. 25ᵇ עד שיִתְוַורַּע הטומאה (Nidd. l. c. עד שיודע לך וכ׳) until he ascertains the exact place of uncleanness; Pes. 10ᵃ עד שתִּיוָּדַע לך Ms. M. (v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.). Y. Sabb. III, 6ᵇ נתודע לו וכ׳ he found it out after sunset; a. fr.
- 2. (v. מוֹדַע) to force one’s self upon the notice of, to pretend friendship for. Ab. I, 10 אל תִּתְוַדַּע לרשות do not make thyself a partisan of the (foreign) government.
יְדַע
- Targ. Gen. IV, 1; a. fr.—Ib. XXX, 26; a. fr:—Fut. יִדַּע, יִנְדַּע (fr. נדע). Targ. Ps. XXXIX, 5 אִידַּע Ms. (ed. אֵידַע). Targ. Ex. VIII, 6; a. fr.—Ber. 33ᵇ אנא לא האי יְדַעְנָע I learned nothing either about this &c. Snh. 103ᵃ (prov.—of one who derives no lesson from adversity or success) בכיי ליה למר ולא י׳ וכ׳ Ms. M. (ed. דלא, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l.) they lament to you and you understand it not, they laugh to you and you understand it not; וי ליה למאן דלא י׳ וכ׳ (not למר) woe to him who knows not the difference between good and evil; a. fr.
- as preced. Hif. Targ. Ex. XXXIII, 13. Targ. Ps. CVI, 8 לאוֹדָעָה (Ms. לאַנְדָּ׳, v. supra); a. fr.—Snh. 11ᵇ מְהוֹדְעִין אנחנא וכ׳ we (the Sanhedrin) notify you &c.; Y. ib. I, 18ᵈ top מוֹדַעְנָא; Tosef. ib. II, 6 מְהוֹדַעְנָא (Var. מְהוֹדְעֵי אנחנא). Sabb. 33ᵇ מאן לוֹדְעֵיה לבר וכ׳ (Ms. M. מוֹדְעֵיה) Oh, that some one would inform the son of Yoḥai &c. Ned. 62ᵃ לאוֹדוּעֵי נפשיה to make one’s self known (as a scholar). Gen. R. s. 11 מנאן את מוֹדַע לי (some ed. מְיַדַּע) how will you prove it to me?; a. fr.
- same. Cant. R. to III, 6 לינא מְיַדַּע לדין וכ׳ shall I not let him know with whom he is dealing?. Gen. R. s. 11, v. supra.—Part. pass. מְיַדַּע friend. Targ. Ps. LXXXVIII, 9 מְיַדְּעַי Ms. (ed. מיודעי, hebraism).
- to be made known, to make one’s self known. Targ. O. Gen. XLV, 1. Ib. XLI, 21; a. fr.—[Targ. Y. Deut. XXI, 11 תתידעון, read: תיתרעון, as in v. 14.]—Hor. 2ᵃ כי מִתְיַדַּע להו לבי דינא if the court were made aware of it. Sabb. 71ᵇ א׳ ליה קודם וכ׳ he became aware of it before setting the sacrifice aside; a. e.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 509 distinct written forms H3045 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that stem’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 449 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H3045, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derived from this word
- דע dêaʻ H1843 knowledge
- דעת daʻath H1847 knowledge
- ידע yᵉdaʻ H3046 to know
- ידעני yiddᵉʻônîy H3049 soothsayer
- מדע maddâʻ H4093 knowledge
- מודע môwdaʻ H4129 kinsman
- מודעת môwdaʻath H4130 kindred
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- דעואל Dᵉʻûwʼêl H1845 Deuel
- ידוע Yaddûwaʻ H3037 Jaddua
- ידיעאל Yᵉdîyʻăʼêl H3043 Jediael
- ידע Yâdâʻ H3047 Jada
- ידעיה Yᵉdaʻyâh H3048 Jedaiah
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 13 — not the complete family. 5 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 830 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 874 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 3:5
- Exodus 1:8
- Leviticus 4:14
- Numbers 10:31
- Deuteronomy 1:13
- Joshua 2:4
- Judges 2:10
- Ruth 2:1
- 1 Samuel 1:19
- 2 Samuel 1:5
- 1 Kings 1:4
- 2 Kings 2:3
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
