---
title: יָדַע — know · The Tanakh dictionary
description: יָדַע (3045), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 946 times: know. BDB 1906: vb. know Qal Hiph. Hoph. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917.
---

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# יָדַע

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«יָדַע» in the Tanakh dictionary: **know** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers.

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**Used:** 946 times · **Key:** 3045 · **BDB:** יָדַע

### Glosses

you.will.know (76); I.know (75); know (67)

### Meaning (OSHB)

know [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3045/#m1)

### Meaning (BDB 1906)

vb. know Qal Hiph. Hoph. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3045/#m2)

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**The whole BDB entry:** 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)— 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;— 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). 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־). ‖ 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. 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. 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. recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess Je 3:13; 14:20 Is 59:12 ψ 51:5. 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. לֹא ידע not know = not expect Is 47:11 ψ 35:8. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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;— 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. 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. be perceived (pass. of Qal), of perception by the eye Gn 41:21 (E), ψ 74:5. be instructed (pass. of Hiph.) Je 31:19, in spiritual sense, through chastisement. 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. 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. 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.) 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. 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). Impf. אֶתְוַדָּ֑ע Nu 12:6 (E), sq. אֶל־ make oneself known to, of י׳; Inf. הִתְוַדַּע אֶל־ Gn 45:1 (E), of Joseph.

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Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 330 of its verses cited, 1 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (6 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (5 candidates)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every English meaning of «יָדַע» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1497/3045/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.

### In the verses

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[Psalms 48:4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.48.4/)

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אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃

*Word for word:* God \[is\].in fortresses its he.has.made.himself.known to a.refuge

*JPS 1917:* God in her palaces hath made Himself known for a stronghold.

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<!-- .ref -->
[Psalms 94:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.94.11/)

<!-- .vt dir=rtl lang=hbo -->
יְֽהוָ֗ה יֹ֭דֵעַ מַחְשְׁב֣וֹת אָדָ֑ם כִּי־הֵ֥מָּה הָֽבֶל׃

*Word for word:* Yahweh \[is\].knowing \[the\].thoughts of.a.person (dm).that they \[are\].a.breath

*JPS 1917:* The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

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