Weekly Musing - Bonnie

Know: Yada (Hebrew), Ginosko (Greek), and Eido (Greek).

The Hebrew word yada is translated as "know" in English. It means to know deeply, intimately, and with thorough, firsthand experience and understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge (yada) Him, and He will make your paths straight." In Psalm 139:1, David writes, "You have searched me and known (yada) me".

The Greek words ginosko and eido are translated as "know" in English. Ginosko is the equivalent word to the Hebrew word yada. Eido means to see, to perceive, to be aware.

In John 10:14-15 Jesus says, "I am the Good Shepherd, and I know (ginosko) My own, and My own know (ginosko) Me, just as the Father knows (ginosko) Me and I know (ginosko) the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."

John 14:4-7 says, (Jesus speaking) "And you know (eido) the way where I am going." Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know (eido) where You are going; how do we know (eido) the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known (ginosko) Me, you would have known (eido) My Father also; from now on you know (ginosko) Him, and have seen Him."

Within the Trinity is deep, intimate, and experiential knowing. Even though Thomas was asking about eido (perceiving, being aware of) the way (an impersonal formula or means), I AM has always been about the yada, ginosko (deeply connected and intimate firsthand experiential knowing through relationship). Jesus revealed and awakened us to I AM's ginosko knowing of us by His actions and declaration that the Way is a Person (not a formula), and now we ginosko the Trinity. We are embraced by and in the Trinity and held in yada and ginosko knowing, a knowing that is far beyond factual information. This ginosko knowing is from I AM's eternal indwelling in us, experiencing all that we experience.

What marvelous Love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are (1 John 3:1a, MSG).