Job 11:8 — Word Study
WLCגָּבְהֵ֣י שָׁ֭מַיִם מַה־ תִּפְעָ֑ל עֲמֻקָּ֥ה מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל מַה־ תֵּדָֽע׃
BSAThey are highergôbahh [as high as heaven] than the heavensshâmayim [the visible universe and the abode of God] whatmâh [or how] can you dopâʻal▸ [or accomplish] They are deeperʻâmôq [more profound] than Sheolshᵉʼôwl [the underworld or grave] whatmâh [or how] can you knowyâdaʻ▸ [or understand]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| גָּבְהֵ֣י | [the] heights of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| שָׁ֭מַיִם | [the] heavens | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| מַה־ | what? | Pronoun |
| תִּפְעָ֑ל | will you do | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| עֲמֻקָּ֥ה | deep | Adj |
| מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל | more than Sheol | Preposition, noun common both singular absolute |
| מַה־ | what? | Pronoun |
| תֵּדָֽע׃ | will you know | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? |
| KJV | It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? |
| ASV | It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know? |
| YLT | Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou? |
| WEB | They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know? |
| BBE | They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge; |
Where they part company is מַה־ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the contrast between God's heights and depths.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּעַל
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 11:8
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Reflection on God's Naturegenerated
Job 11:8 presents Job's assertion about the nature of God, emphasizing that God's heights and depths are beyond human capability to grasp. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job addresses the limitations of human understanding in the face of divine majesty, contrasting human frailty with God's infinite wisdom and power. Job's rhetorical questions highlight the futility of attempting to measure or comprehend the divine, as seen in the surrounding verses that further explore God's greatness.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 22:12 | Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are! |
| 2 | Job 35:5 | Look to the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds high above you. |
| 3 | 2 Chronicles 6:18 | But will God indeed dwell with man upon the earth? Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built. |
| 4 | Psalm 103:11 | For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. |
| 5 | Psalm 148:13 | Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גָּבְהֵ֣י, ga.ve.Heigenerated
The word גֹּבַהּ (gobahh) refers to height or elevation, indicating something grand or lofty. It is derived from a root associated with elation and pride, and can describe both physical heights, such as mountains, and abstract concepts of grandeur.
In this verse, גָּבְהֵ֣י emphasizes the immeasurable heights of God, suggesting that His nature is far beyond human reach or understanding. The parsing as a masculine plural construct indicates a plurality of heights, reinforcing the idea of God's infinite majesty.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תִּפְעָ֑ל (tif'al), meaning 'will you do,' governs the main clause, with two phrases following: a noun phrase indicating the heights of heaven and a prepositional phrase describing the depths of Sheol. The structure emphasizes the contrast between God's heights and depths and human capability.
The syntax highlights the rhetorical nature of Job's questions, as he juxtaposes the divine attributes with human limitations, creating a structure that invites reflection on the nature of God.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew גָּבְהֵ֣י is rendered as ὑψηλὸς (hypsēlos), meaning 'high' or 'elevated.' This choice reinforces the idea of God's greatness and the inaccessibility of His nature.
The LXX translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, emphasizing the heights of God in a way that is consistent with the overall theme of divine transcendence.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 11:8 emphasizes the vastness of God's nature, stating that He is higher than the heavens and deeper than Sheol. Job questions what humans can do or know in light of God's incomprehensible greatness, highlighting the limitations of human understanding.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing that God's nature is beyond human comprehension, emphasizing His greatness and majesty.
Sheol represents the depths of the underworld, illustrating that even in the realm of the dead, God's nature surpasses human understanding.
Job's questions serve to highlight the limitations of human ability to influence or understand the divine, inviting reflection on the nature of God.
This verse underscores the theme of God's incomprehensibility throughout the book of Job, contrasting human frailty with divine majesty.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I struggle to understand God's ways, just as Job reflects on divine incomprehensibility?
- How can I cultivate a sense of humility in recognizing the vastness of God's nature?
- What are some ways I can seek to understand God better, despite His incomprehensibility?
- How does acknowledging God's greatness affect my perspective on my own challenges?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers comment on Job's reflections, using this verse to illustrate the vastness of God's nature and the limitations of human understanding.
He means either, “Can you do anything similar?” or “You are a humble creature in the universe, and consequently you can do nothing; and you are as far from God as ‘heaven is removed from earth.’ ”Early Church Fathers on Job 11 →
He is higher than heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know? His measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.Early Church Fathers on Job 11 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 11:8 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible[It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do?.... Or, "is higher than the heavens" (i); either the wisdom of God and the secrets of it; the perfection of his wisdom, by which he has made the
Read John Gill on Job 11 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryIt is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? It is as high as heaven - the "wisdom" of God (Job 11:6). The abruptness of the Hebrew is forcible: 'The heights of heaven!
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 11 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThou canst not measure the heights of the visible heavens, much less of the Divine perfections. What canst thou do, to wit, to find him out? What canst thou know, concerning him and his ways, which are far out of thy sight and reach?
Read Matthew Poole on Job 11 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 11:8 [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?Ver. 8. It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?] And much higher; it is as the highnesses of heaven (so the Hebrew hath it), which is so high that one would wonder we should be able to behold the starry sky (which yet is but as the marble wall round about the palace), and the very eye not be tired in the way. How high that second heaven is may hereby be gathered, in that the stars (whereof those of the first magnitude are said to be every one above 107 times as large again as the whole earth) do yet seem to us but as so many small sparks or spangles; but how high the third heaven is above…
Read John Trapp on Job 11 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(8) It is as high as heaven.—Literally, The heights of heaven; what canst thou do? it is deeper than the grave; what canst thou know?
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 11 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 8. It is as high as heaven] High as the heavens, what canst thou work? Deep below sheol, (the invisible world,) what canst thou know? Long beyond the earth, and broad beyond the sea, is its measure. These are instances in the immensity of created things, and all out of the reach of human power and knowledge; and if these things are so, how incomprehensible must he be, who designed, created, preserves, and governs the whole! We find the same thought in Milton: - "These are thy glorious works, Parent of good! Almighty! Thine this universal frame: How wondrous fair! Thyself how wondrous then!"
Read AdamClarke on Job 11 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges8. His wisdom is immeasurable, unfathomable. The words are an exclamation: heights of heaven! what canst thou do?—thou art impotent before it, to scale it or reach it. deeper than hell] i. e. than Sheol, the place of the dead—canst thou fathom it, penetrate with thy knowledge to it?
Read Cambridge on Job 11 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleIt is as high as heaven - That is, the knowledge of God; or the subject is as high as heaven.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 11 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know?
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
It is higher than the heavens – what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol – what can you know?
Tyndale line
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
The heauens are hie, what canst thou doe? it is deeper then the hell, how canst thou know it?
Strictly literal
[It is as] the heights of heaven; what wilt thou do? deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?
Heights of the heavens! — what dost thou? Deeper than Sheol! — what knowest thou?
Heights of the heavens—what [can] you do? Deeper than Sheol—what [can] you know?
It is as high as heaven; what canst thou effect? it is deeper than the nether world; what canst thou know?
The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
From the Latin
He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know?
Simplified
It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol —what can you know?
They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording for Job 11:8. The Septuagint matches seven of the eight Hebrew words, indicating a close relationship between the two texts, though the order and articles differ.
גָּבְהֵ֣י שָׁ֭מַיִם מַה־ תִּפְעָ֑ל עֲמֻקָּ֥ה מִ֝שְּׁא֗וֹל מַה־ תֵּדָֽע׃
7 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 11:8
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
גֹּ֫בַהּ (gobahh) refers to height or elevation, encompassing meanings like grandeur and haughtiness. It is derived from a root associated with elation and pride. The term can describe physical height, such as that of buildings or trees, as well as a more abstract sense of exaltation.
גֹּ֫בַהּ n.m. height
height, of buildings and trees
exaltation, grandeur
haughtiness
base
H1363 גֹּ֫בַהּ
1363 gobahh go'-bah
from 1361; elation, grandeur, arrogance:--excellency,
haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride.
see HEBREW for 01361
גֹּ֫בַהּ (go.vah) — height.
1) height, exaltation
1a) height
1b) exaltation, grandeur
1c) haughtiness
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
The Hebrew word שָׁמַיִם (*shamayim*) is a dual noun meaning 'heavens' or 'sky.' It refers to the visible heavens where celestial bodies are found, as well as the abode of God. The dual form may suggest both the arch of the sky and the higher ether. It is noted in contexts such as Elijah's ascent in a whirlwind.
[שָׁמַי] n.m. only pl. שָׁמַיִם 421 heavens, sky
visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
phrases
as abode of God
Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
base
H8064 שָׁמַי only pl. שָׁמַיִם heavens, sky . . visible heavens, sky, where stars, etc., are
. phrases
. . as abode of God
. Elijah taken up הַשּׁ׳ in whirlwind
. הַשּׁ׳ personified in various relations
8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim
dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused
root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps
alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well
as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies
revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).
שָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) — heaven.
1) heaven, heavens, sky
1a) visible heavens, sky
1a1) as abode of the stars
1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc
1b) Heaven (as the abode of God)
Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
hev'-'nz (shamayim; ouranoi): On the physical heavens see ASTRONOMY; WORLD. Above these, in popular conception, were the celestial heavens, the abode of God and of the hosts of angels (Ps 11:4; 103:19-21; Isa 66:1; Re 4:2; 5:11; compare Da 7:10), though it was recognized that Yahweh's presence was not confined to any region (1Ki 8:27). Later Judaism reckoned seven heavens. The apostle Paul speaks of himself as caught up into "the third heaven," which he evidently identifies with Paradise (2Co 12:2).
See HEAVENLY.
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
פָּעַל (pa'al) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, often used in a systematic or habitual sense. It encompasses actions like committing, ordaining, and working, with a poetic nuance compared to the more common verb for 'to do' (עָשָׂה). The entries consistently highlight its usage in the Qal stem, emphasizing its foundational role in expressing action.
פָּעַל 67 vb. do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)
Qal
do
make
base
H6466 פָּעַל do, make (poet. for עָשָׂה)
6466 pa`al paw-al'
a primitive root; to do or make (systematically and
habitually), especially to practise:--commit, (evil-)
do(-er), make(-r), ordain, work(-er).
פָּעַל (pa.al) — to work.
1) to do, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do
1a2) to make
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms
עָמֹק (amoq) means 'deep' in both a literal and figurative sense, often implying something that is unsearchable or mysterious. It is derived from another Hebrew word, עָמַק (amaq), and is used in contexts that emphasize depth.
עָמֹק 17 adj. deep
lit.
= unsearchable
base
H6013 עָמֹק
6013 `amoq aw-moke'
from 6009; deep (literally or figuratively):--(X exceeding)
deep (thing).
see HEBREW for 06009
עָמֹק (a.moq) — deep.
1) deep, mysterious, depths
1a) deep
1b) unsearchable
Adj — AdjHAafsa
שְׁאוֹל (sh'owl) refers to the underworld or the realm of the dead in Hebrew. It encompasses concepts such as hell, the grave, and a pit, often associated with punishment for the wicked and a place from which the righteous are not abandoned. The term implies a location of extreme degradation and is noted for its lack of praise for God.
שְׁאוֹל, שְׁאֹל n.f. Shᵉ’ōl, underworld (√ dub.; i.e. place of inquiry)
base
H7585 שְׁאוֹל, שְׁאֹל Shᵉ’ōl, underworld (√ dub.; i.e. place of inquiry)
7585 sh'owl sheh-ole'
or shol {sheh-ole'}; from 7592; Hades or the world of the
dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories
and inmates:--grave, hell, pit.
see HEBREW for 07592
שְׁאוֹל (she.ol) — hell: Sheol.
Sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
1a) the underworld
1b) Sheol-the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1b1) place of no return
1b2) without praise of God
1b3) wicked sent there for punishment
1b4) righteous not abandoned to it
1b5) of the place of exile (fig)
1b6) of extreme degradation in sin
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun common both singular absoluteHR/Ncbsa
she'-ol (she'ol):
1. The Name
2. The Abode of the Dead
(1) Not a State of Unconsciousness
(2) Not Removed from God's Jurisdiction
(3) Relation to Immortality
3. Post-canonical Period
1. The Name:
Sheol
(Heb., “the all-demanding world” = Gr. Hades, “the unknown region”), the invisible world of departed souls. (See HELL.)
→ See HELL (Hades)
מָה (mah) is a Hebrew word primarily used as an interrogative particle meaning 'what?' or 'how?'. It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, encompassing meanings like 'anything' or 'whatever'. The word is versatile, appearing in various adverbial forms and often used with prefixes to express different nuances, such as reason or manner.
מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron.interrog. and indef. what? how? aught
interrog. what?
Used adverbially
Indef. pron.
With preps.
base
H4100 מָה, rarely מָה־, מַה־, מַהּ, מֶה, מַּ, מָ—pron. interrog. and indef. what? how? aught . interrog. what?
. Used adverbially
. Indef. pron.
. With preps.
4100 mah maw
or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a
primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including
how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including
how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even
relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various
adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (-
soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing),
whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.
מָה (mah) — what?.
interr pron
1) what, how, of what kind
1a) (interrogative)
1a1) what?
1a2) of what kind
1a3) what? (rhetorical)
1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what
1b) (adverb)
1b1) how, how now
1b2) why
1b3) how! (exclamation)
1c) (with prep)
1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means?
1c2) because of what?
1c3) the like of what?
1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often?
1c3b) for how long?
1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose?
1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore?
indef pron
2) anything, aught, what may
Part — PronounHPi
יָדַע (yada`) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to know,' encompassing a wide range of senses including perception, recognition, and experience. It can refer to knowing someone intimately or being skilled in a task. The word has various forms, indicating actions such as making known or being made known. Lexicons note its use in both literal and figurative contexts, but there is no significant disagreement among them.
יָדַע 943 vb. know
Qal
know, learn to know
perceive
perceive and see; find out and discern
discriminate, distinguish
know by experience
recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
consider
not know = not expect
know a person, be acquainted with
know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
be skilful in
abs. have knowledge, be wise
Niph.
be made known, be or become known, of things
make oneself known of pers.
be perceived
be instructed
Pi. cause to know
Pu. known
Hiph. make known, declare
Hoph. made known
Hithp. make oneself known
base
H3045 יָדַע know .. . know, learn to know
. perceive
. perceive and see; find out and discern
. discriminate, distinguish
. know by experience
. recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess
. consider
. not know = not expect
. know a person, be acquainted with
. know a person carnally, of sexual intercourse
. . know how, to do a thing, be able to do it
. be skilful in
. abs. have knowledge, be wise
. . be made known, be or become known, of things
. make oneself known of pers.
. be perceived
. be instructed
. cause to know
. known
. make known, declare
. made known
. make oneself known
3045 yada` yaw-dah'
a primitive root; 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.) (as follow):--acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted
with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware,
(un-)awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, X
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, + be
learned, + lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, X
prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man
of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell,
יָדַע (ya.da) — to know.
1) to know
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to know
1a1a) to know, learn to know
1a1b) to perceive
1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern
1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish
1a1e) to know by experience
1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess
1a1g) to consider
1a2) to know, be acquainted with
1a3) to know (a person carnally)
1a4) to know how, be skilful in
1a5) to have knowledge, be wise
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed
1b2) to make oneself known
1b3) to be perceived
1b4) to be instructed
1c) (Piel) to cause to know
1d) (Poal) to cause to know
1e) (Pual)
1e1) to be known
1e2) known, one known, acquaintance (participle)
1f) (Hiphil) to make known, declare
1g) (Hophal) to be made known
1h) (Hithpael) to make oneself known, reveal oneself
Aramaic equivalent: ye.da (יְדַע "to know" H3046)
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVqi2ms