[B-Greek] To Know

Carl Conrad cwconrad2 at mac.com
Thu Jun 16 15:49:58 EDT 2005


This is one matter on which I've altered my views in the course of  
years; I used to think that OIDA and GI(G)NWSKW continued in Koine  
(and so in the GNT) to be pretty much the same as in Classical Attic,  
roughly equivalent to German Wissen, French Savoir and to German  
Kennen, French connaitre respectively, the former meaning something  
like "envision mentally" (as it is the perfect of EIDON), the latter  
meaning something like get/be familiar with or know by acquaintance.  
Now, while I think that distinction still holds to a considerable  
extent in Koine Greek, I think that at some points they have come to  
overlap and to be roughly synonymous. It's worth looking at Louw &  
Nida's several entries on these words. §28.1, 28.7, 29.6, 32.4,  
87.12. Only the first (§28.1) of these entries shows overlap of  
usage. So: the distinction is there, but it is not universally  
observed in usage.


On Jun 16, 2005, at 4:30 AM, Beata Urbanek wrote:

> The difference between OIDA and GINWSKW can be seen, as de la Potterie
> argues, in the Gospel of John. He says (I've got an Italian copy,  
> so forgive
> me my poor translation) that OIDA is possesing knowledge, being  
> absolutely
> sure, kind if intuition, whereas GINWSKW means a process of getting  
> to know,
> understanding, getting information.
>
> Beata Urbanek
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "malcolm robertson" <mjriii2003 at yahoo.com>
> To: <B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 10:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] To Know
>
>
>
>> Dear Diana,
>>
>> OIDA is the Perfect Active Indicative form (with present meaning)  
>> of EIDW.
>>
> I suppose from an (false) etymological stance one could argue that  
> OIDA has
> to do with first hand (seen)knowledge.  Hence words like SUNOIDA "I am
> conscious(ly) aware" or SUNEIDHSIS "conscience" (cf. Rom 2:15).
>
>>
>> GINWSKW may imply more of an understanding aspect - but I doubt it  
>> (cf. 1
>>
> Cor 13:9).  However, the use of the prefixed preposition EPIGNWSIS  
> perhaps
> does imply a fuller knowledge (cf. Rom 1:28; Eph 1:17 etc).
>
>>
>> This line of reasoning is equally reminiscent of the alleged  
>> difference
>>
> between FILEW and AGAPAW.  Semantic choice of the author and his style
> variation within the context always determine meaning.  However,  
> the Koine
> did lose and blur many distinctions that the classical Attic might  
> have
> maintain.
>
>>
>> Cordially in Christ,
>>
>> Malcolm Robertson
>>
>>
>> Diana L Hayes <dihayes at juno.com> wrote:
>> Dear B-Greeks,
>> Could you tell me what the differences in the 'Knows',
>> OIDA and GINWSKW.
>>
>> Is this the same 'to know' just in different forms, one in the  
>> perfect
>> and one in the present? Or are these two "knows" different  
>> slightly in
>> meaning? Thank you will be looking forward to replies.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Diana Hayes
>> Shepherd, TX
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>>
>>
>>
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