Hebrew word · Strong's H3045

יָדַע

yâdaʻ · yaw-dah' · verb · “to know”

In a sentence

Yada means to know — but biblical knowing is more than information. It is relational, experiential, even intimate. To “know” God is to be in covenant relationship with him.

Yada covers the full range of knowing — from facts and skills to deep, relational knowledge. Adam “knew” his wife Eve; God “knows” his people; we are called to “know” the LORD.

Biblical knowing is not data retrieval. It is the steady, growing acquaintance of a real relationship. Hosea’s great longing — “Let us press on to know (yada) the LORD” — is the heart of true religion.

Strong's reference

Definition: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)

KJV usage: acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Hosea 6:3 “So let us know— let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.” Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.” Psalms 46:10 ““Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.””

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.