UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to know, to know about, to have knowledge of, to be acquainted with, acquaintance

Semantic entry: 28.1

Semantic domains: Know

Subdomains: Know

Definition: to possess information about

Sense 2: to learn, to find out

Semantic entry: 27.2

Semantic domains: Learn

Subdomains: Learn

Definition: to acquire information by whatever means, but often with the implication of personal involvement or experience

Sense 3: to know, to become acquainted with, to be familiar with

Semantic entry: 27.18

Semantic domains: Learn

Subdomains: Learn

Definition: to learn to know a person through direct personal experience, implying a continuity of relationship

Notes: In translating γινώσκω in RV JHN 17:3 · LV JHN 17:3 · Read together JHN 17:3, it is important to avoid an expression which will mean merely ‘to learn about.’ Here the emphasis must be on the interpersonal relationship which is experienced.

Sense 4: to come to understand, to perceive, to comprehend

Semantic entry: 32.16

Semantic domains: Understand

Subdomains: Come To Understand

Definition: to come to an understanding as the result of ability to experience and learn{N:002}

Notes: It is also possible to interpret γινώσκω in RV MAT 13:11 · LV MAT 13:11 · Read together MAT 13:11 as meaning ‘to know about’ (see 28.1: γινώσκω / 28.1: γνωρίζω / 28.1: γνῶσις / 28.1: οἶδα).

Sense 5: to acknowledge

Semantic entry: 31.27

Semantic domains: Hold a View, Believe, Trust

Subdomains: Acknowledge

Definition: to indicate that one does know

Notes: It is also possible that in RV CO1 8:3 · LV CO1 8:3 · Read together CO1 8:3 γινώσκω means only ‘to know’ (28.1: γινώσκω / 28.1: γνωρίζω / 28.1: γνῶσις / 28.1: οἶδα).

Sense 6: to have sexual intercourse with

Semantic entry: 23.61

Semantic domains: Physiological Processes and States

Subdomains: Sexual Relations

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of γινώσκω[a] to know, 28.1: γινώσκω / 28.1: γνωρίζω / 28.1: γνῶσις / 28.1: οἶδα)

Notes: In almost all languages there are euphemistic ways of speaking about sexual intercourse, and the use of γινώσκω[f] and συνέρχομαι[c] is illustrative of this in the Greek NT. It is possible to translate γινώσκω in RV LUK 1:34 · LV LUK 1:34 · Read together LUK 1:34 as simply for I am not married to a man, and likewise, συνέρχομαι in RV MAT 1:18 · LV MAT 1:18 · Read together MAT 1:18 may be rendered as ‘before they were married.’ In some languages one may use such expressions as ‘before they were joined’ or ‘before they slept together’ or ‘before they discovered one another.’