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 Exodus — 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.
Exodus
- Exodus 1:8 יָדַ֖ע Qal pf 3ms Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn't know Joseph.
- Exodus 2:4 לְ/דֵעָ֕ה prep + Qal inf.cs His sister stood far off, to see what would be done to him.
- Exodus 2:14 נוֹדַ֥ע Niphal pf 3ms He said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?" Moses was afraid, and said, "Surely this thing is known."
- Exodus 2:25 וַ/יֵּ֖דַע conj + Qal wimpf 3ms God saw the children of Israel, and God was concerned about them.
- Exodus 3:7 יָדַ֖עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Yahweh said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
- Exodus 3:19 יָדַ֔עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs I know that the king of Egypt won't give you permission to go, no, not by a mighty hand.
- Exodus 4:14 יָדַ֕עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Moses, and he said, "What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes forth to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.
- Exodus 5:2 יָדַ֨עְתִּי֙ Qal pf 1cs Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don't know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go."
- Exodus 6:3 נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי Niphal pf 1cs and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.
- Exodus 6:7 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּ֗ם conj + Qal wpf 2mp and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
- Exodus 7:5 וְ/יָדְע֤וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I stretch forth my hand on Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them."
- Exodus 7:17 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms Thus says Yahweh, "In this you shall know that I am Yahweh. Behold, I will strike with the rod that is in my hand on the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.
- Exodus 8:10 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms He said, "Tomorrow." He said, "Be it according to your word, that you may know that there is none like Yahweh our God.
- Exodus 8:22 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of the earth.
- Exodus 9:14 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms For this time I will send all my plagues against your heart, against your officials, and against your people; that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.
- Exodus 9:29 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's.
- Exodus 9:30 יָדַ֕עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs But as for you and your servants, I know that you don't yet fear Yahweh God."
- Exodus 10:2 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּ֖ם conj + Qal wpf 2mp and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son's son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that you may know that I am Yahweh."
- Exodus 10:7 תֵּדַ֔ע Qal impf 2ms Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve Yahweh, their God. Don't you yet know that Egypt is destroyed?"
- Exodus 10:26 נֵדַ֗ע Qal impf 1cp Our cattle also shall go with us. There shall not a hoof be left behind, for of it we must take to serve Yahweh our God; and we don't know with what we must serve Yahweh, until we come there."
- Exodus 11:7 תֵּֽדְע֔וּ/ן Qal impf 2mp + sfx n But against any of the children of Israel a dog won't even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal; that you may know that Yahweh makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.
- Exodus 14:4 וְ/יָדְע֥וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his host; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh." They did so.
- Exodus 14:18 וְ/יָדְע֥וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen."
- Exodus 16:6 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּ֕ם conj + Qal pf 2mp Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening, then you shall know that Yahweh has brought you out from the land of Egypt;
- Exodus 16:12 וִֽ/ידַעְתֶּ֕ם conj + Qal wpf 2mp "I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, 'At evening you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread: and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God.'"
- Exodus 16:15 יָדְע֖וּ Qal pf 3cp When the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, "What is it?" For they didn't know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread which Yahweh has given you to eat."
- Exodus 18:11 יָדַ֔עְתִּי Qal pf 1cs Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all gods because of the thing in which they dealt arrogantly against them."
- Exodus 18:16 וְ/הוֹדַעְתִּ֛י conj + Hiphil wpf 1cs When they have a matter, they come to me, and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws."
- Exodus 18:20 וְ/הוֹדַעְתָּ֣ conj + Hiphil wpf 2ms You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.
- Exodus 21:36 נוֹדַ֗ע Niphal pf 3ms Or if it is known that the bull was in the habit of goring in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall surely pay bull for bull, and the dead animal shall be his own.
- Exodus 23:9 יְדַעְתֶּם֙ Qal pf 2mp "You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, seeing you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
- Exodus 29:46 וְ/יָדְע֗וּ conj + Qal wpf 3cp They shall know that I am Yahweh their God, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Yahweh their God.
- Exodus 31:13 לָ/דַ֕עַת prep + Qal inf.cs "Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, 'Most assuredly you shall keep my Sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
- Exodus 32:1 יָדַ֖עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him."
- Exodus 32:22 יָדַ֣עְתָּ Qal pf 2ms Aaron said, "Don't let the anger of my lord grow hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.
- Exodus 32:23 יָדַ֖עְנוּ Qal pf 1cp For they said to me, 'Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.'
- Exodus 33:5 וְ/אֵדְעָ֖ה conj + Qal coh 1cs Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell the children of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up into your midst for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you."
- Exodus 33:12 הֽוֹדַעְתַּ֔/נִי יְדַעְתִּ֣י/ךָֽ Hiphil pf 2ms + sfx pers 1cs Qal pf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms Moses said to Yahweh, "Behold, you tell me, 'Bring up this people:' and you haven't let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'
- Exodus 33:13 הוֹדִעֵ֤/נִי וְ/אֵדָ֣עֲ/ךָ֔ Hiphil impv 2ms + sfx pers 1cs conj + Qal impf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight: and consider that this nation is your people."
- Exodus 33:16 יִוָּדַ֣ע Niphal impf 3ms For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn't it in that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?"
- Exodus 33:17 וָ/אֵדָעֲ/ךָ֖ conj + Qal wimpf 1cs + sfx pers 2ms Yahweh said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name."
- Exodus 34:29 יָדַ֗ע Qal pf 3ms It happened, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mountain, that Moses didn't know that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.
- Exodus 36:1 לָ/דַ֣עַת prep + Qal inf.cs "Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Yahweh has commanded."
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.
