"pr. to make a thing a subject of observation; hence, to arrive at knowledge from preliminaries; to attain to a knowledge of, Mt. 11:27; to ascertain, Lk. 7:37; 23:7; to perceive, Mk. 2:8; 5:30; to discern, detect, Mt. 7:16, 20; to recognize, Mk. 6:33; Lk. 24:16, 31; Acts 3:10; to..."
Definition and meaning
pr. to make a thing a subject of observation; hence, to arrive at knowledge from preliminaries; to attain to a knowledge of, Mt. 11:27; to ascertain, Lk. 7:37; 23:7; to perceive, Mk. 2:8; 5:30; to discern, detect, Mt. 7:16, 20; to recognize, Mk. 6:33; Lk. 24:16, 31; Acts 3:10; to acknowledge, admit, 1 Cor. 14:37; 1 Tim. 4:3; pass. to have one’s character discerned and acknowledged, 2 Cor. 6:9; from the Hebrew, to regard with favor and kindness, 1 Cor. 16:18
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιγινώσκω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epiginosko (G1921) across the King James Bible.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
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Common questions
Strong's G1921 (epiginosko) is a Greek word that means: pr. to make a thing a subject of observation; hence, to arrive at knowledge from preliminaries; to attain to a knowledge of, Mt. 11:27; to ascertain, Lk. 7:37; 23:7; to perceive, Mk. 2:8; 5:30; to dis... It appears 38 times in the King James Bible.
The word epiginosko (G1921) appears 38 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1921 is epiginosko, a Greek word defined as: pr. to make a thing a subject of observation; hence, to arrive at knowledge from preliminaries; to attain to a knowledge of, Mt. 11:27; to ascertain, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epiginosko is a Greek word found in the New Testament.