ἐπιγιγνώσκω G1921
To recognize, come to know, discern; to perceive fully, acknowledge, or identify a person, fact, or truth.
Epiginosko adds the prefix epi- to basic ginosko ('to know'), and that prefix does real semantic work — intensifying, directing, or specifying the knowing. In the Gospels, crowds 'recognize' Jesus on sight (Matt 14:35), while Jesus 'perceives' unspoken thoughts (Mark 2:8). Paul uses the word at its deepest in 1 Cor 13:12: 'now I know in part, but then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.' French reconnaître and Spanish reconocer both preserve the 're-' prefix paralleling Greek epi-, suggesting that recognition — knowing again upon encounter — is this word's center of gravity.
Senses
1. know, come to know — To come to know, learn, find out — gaining cognitive awareness of a previously unknown fact or truth. The largest cluster at 19 occurrences, found especially in Luke's careful historical narration. In Luke 1:4 Theophilus is to 'know with certainty' (epignos) the things he has been taught; in Mark 2:8 and Luke 5:22 Jesus 'perceived' (epignous) their reasoning. Spanish conocer and German erkennen both select inception-of-knowledge vocabulary. The epi- prefix here signals arrival at knowledge rather than mere possession of it, distinguishing this from simple ginosko. 19×
AR["أَنْ-أَعْرِفَ", "أَنْ-تَعْرِفَ", "الَّذينَ-عَرَفوا", "تَعْرِفَ", "تَعْلَمُ", "عارِفينَ", "عَرَفنا", "عَرَفْتُمْ", "عَلِمَ", "عَلِمَت", "لَمَّا-عَلِمَ", "يَعرِفوا", "يَعْلَمَ"]·ben["জান", "জানা", "জানিতে", "জানিলাম", "জেনে", "জেনেও,", "তুমি-জানতে-পার", "তোমরা-জানলে", "বুঝে", "সে-জানতে-পারে"]·DE["erkennen", "erkennt"]·EN["having-known", "having-learned", "he-might-find-out", "knew", "know", "knowing", "to-have-known", "to-learn", "we-learned", "you-may-know"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["הִכַּרְנוּ", "הִכַּרְתֶּם", "יֵדַע", "יָדְעָה", "יָדְעוּ", "יָדַע", "יוֹדְעִים", "יוֹדְעֵי-הַ-", "יוֹדֵעַ", "כְּשֶׁיָּדַע", "לְאַחַר-שֶׁיָּדְעוּ", "לָדַעַת", "שֶׁתֵּדַע"]·HI["जअन्ने-वअलोन", "जानकर", "जानताहै।", "जानते-हुए", "जानना", "जानने", "जाने", "तुम-ने-जन", "तू-जान-ले", "पहचानकर", "हमने-जाना"]·ID["engkau-mengetahui", "mengenal", "mengenal,", "mengetahui", "mengetahui.", "yang-mengenal"]·IT["epegnōkenai", "epegnōkosi", "epegnōte", "epignousin", "riconoscere"]·jav["Mangertos", "kita-mangertos", "mangertos", "mangertos,", "mangertosi", "mangertosi.", "panjenengan-mangertos", "panjenengan-mangertosi,", "sampun-mangertos", "wanuh"]·KO["그가-알도록", "아시고", "안-자들", "알게-되도록", "알게-되어", "알게-된", "알고", "알고,", "알고-있다", "알기를", "알면서도", "알아채고", "알았는-것이", "알았다", "알았으면"]·PT["conhecendo", "conhecestes", "conheças", "que-conhecem", "reconheces.", "sabendo", "soubemos", "tendo-conhecido", "tendo-sabido", "ter-conhecido"]·RU["знаешь", "мы-узнали", "познав", "познавшим", "познали", "познать", "ты-узнал", "узнав", "узнавшие", "узнать"]·ES["conocer", "conociendo", "conocisteis", "conozcas", "haber-conocido", "habiendo-conocido", "que-han-conocido", "saber", "sabes", "sabiendo", "supiera", "supimos"]·SW["Alipofahamu", "ajue", "akijua", "alikamatia", "alipotambua", "kuijua", "kujua", "mkajua", "tulitambua", "unajua", "upate-kujua", "wakiijua", "wakijua,", "walipojua", "wanaoufahamu"]·TR["anlayınca", "bilesin", "biliyorsun", "bilmiş-olarak", "tandiniz", "tanımamak", "tanıyanlara", "tanıyıp", "öğrendik", "öğrenen", "öğrenince", "öğrenmek", "öğrensin"]·urd["تو-جانے", "جان-کر", "جان-کر،", "جانا", "جانتا-ہے", "جانتے-ہوئے", "جاننا", "جاننے-والوں", "وہ-معلوم-کرے", "کہ"]
Mark 2:8, Mark 5:30, Luke 1:4, Luke 5:22, Luke 7:37, Luke 23:7, Acts 9:30, Acts 22:24, Acts 22:29, Acts 23:28, Acts 24:8, Acts 24:11 (+7 more)
2. recognize, identify — To recognize or identify a person or thing — perceiving who or what someone is upon encounter. Eighteen occurrences, heavily concentrated in narrative contexts. In Matt 14:35 the men of Gennesaret 'recognized' Jesus; in Mark 6:33 the crowds 'recognized' the disciples departing. Acts 3:10 and 4:13 use the word for recognizing the healed beggar and recognizing Peter and John as companions of Jesus. Spanish reconocer and French reconnaître both carry the 're-cognize' structure that mirrors Greek epi-ginosko. Korean 알아보다 ('to recognize by seeing') similarly selects a compound verb that marks the moment of identification. 18×
AR["أَدْرَكُوا", "تَعرِفونَ", "تَعرِفونَهُم", "تَعْرِفونَ", "سَتَعرِفونَ", "عَارِفَةً", "عَرَفاهُ", "عَرَفتُمونا", "عَرَفوهُ", "عَرَفَهُمْ", "عَرَفُوهُ", "عَرَفُوهُمَا", "وَلَمَّا-عَرَفُوا", "يَعْرِفاهُ", "يَعْرِفُوا", "يَعْرِفُوهُ"]·ben["চিনত", "চিনতে", "চিনতে-পেরে", "চিনবে", "চিনল", "চিনলেন", "চিনিতেছিল", "চিনে", "জান", "তারা-চিনলেন", "তোমরা-স্বীকার-করবে,", "তোমরা-স্বীকার-করেছ", "বুঝলেন", "স্বীকার-কর;"]·DE["erkennen", "erkennt"]·EN["having-recognized", "recognized", "recognizing", "they-recognized", "they-were-recognizing", "to-recognize", "you-recognize", "you-recognized", "you-will-recognize"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["הִכִּירָה", "הִכִּירוּ", "הִכַּרְתֶּם", "הֵבִינוּ", "הַכִּיר", "מַכִּירִים", "מַכִּירִים-אַתֶּם", "תַּכִּירוּ", "תַּכִּירוּם"]·HI["और", "जान-गए", "जान-लोगे", "जानते-हो", "तुम-पहचानते-हो", "तुमने-जाना", "पहचानकर", "पहचानते-थे", "पहचानतेथे;", "पहचानने-को", "पहचाना", "पहचानोगे", "पेहचअन", "पेहचअन-कर"]·ID["Mereka-mengenal", "kamu-akan-mengenal", "kamu-akan-mengerti", "kamu-mengenal", "kamu-pahami", "kamu-telah-mengerti", "mengenal", "mengenali", "mengenali;", "mereka-mengenali", "mereka-mengerti"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["Mangertos", "mangertos", "ngertos", "panjenengan-badhé-mangertos,", "panjenengan-mangertos", "panjenengan-mangertos;", "panjenengan-sampun-mangertos", "panjenengan-sedaya-badhe-tepang", "pirsa", "sami-mangertosi", "tepang", "tepang;", "wanuh"]·KO["놀랐다", "알-것이다", "알리라", "알아보고", "알아보는가", "알아보았다", "알아보지", "알아봤다", "알아차린-후에", "알았다", "인정한다"]·PT["conhecereis", "o-reconheceram", "perceberam", "reconheceis", "reconhecereis", "reconhecestes", "reconheciam", "reconheciam;", "tendo-o-reconhecido", "tendo-reconhecido"]·RU["познаёте", "поняли", "признаете", "признали", "признаёте", "узнав", "узнавали", "узнавали-", "узнавшие", "узнаете", "узнали", "узнать"]·ES["Reconociendo", "habiendo-reconocido", "le-reconocieron", "los‒conoceréis", "reconocer", "reconoceréis", "reconociendo", "reconocieron", "reconocisteis", "reconocéis", "reconocían"]·SW["-jui", "akiitambua", "hawakuitambua", "mlitufahamu", "mnaelewa;", "mta-wa-tambua", "mtaelewa,", "mtambua", "mtambue", "wakatambua", "wakimtambua", "walimtambua", "waliwatambua"]·TR["anladıklarında", "anladılar", "tam olarak tanıyacaksınız", "tanıdılar", "tanıdınız", "tanımalarından", "tanımıyorlardı", "tanıyacaksınız", "tanıyan", "tanıyarak", "tanıyorlardı", "tanıyorsunuz", "tanıyınca"]·urd["جان-لو-گے", "جان-لیا", "جان-گئے", "جانتے-ہو", "پہچان-لیا", "پہچان-کر", "پہچانا", "پہچانتے-تھے", "پہچاننا", "پہچانو-گے"]
Matt 7:16, Matt 7:20, Matt 14:35, Matt 17:12, Mark 6:33, Mark 6:54, Luke 1:22, Luke 24:16, Luke 24:31, Acts 3:10, Acts 4:13, Acts 12:14 (+6 more)
3. know fully, know completely — To know fully, know completely — the epi- prefix functioning as an intensifier yielding thorough, complete knowledge. Three occurrences, most memorably in 1 Cor 13:12 where Paul contrasts partial present knowledge with the eschatological promise 'then I shall know fully (epignosomai) even as I have been fully known.' Matt 11:27 (twice) declares that no one 'fully knows' the Son except the Father and vice versa — a claim about the exhaustive mutual knowledge between Father and Son. Spanish conoceré plenamente ('I will know fully') and German völlig erkennen both add intensifying adverbs to mark this as more than ordinary knowing. 3×
AR["سَأعرِفُ", "يَعرِفُ"]·ben["জানে", "পূর্ণভাবে-জানব,"]·DE["erkennen", "erkennt"]·EN["I-will-know-fully", "knows-fully"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["אֵדַע-בִּשְׁלֵמוּת", "מַכִּיר"]·HI["जअन्त", "जअन्त-है", "पूर्ण-जानूँगा"]·ID["aku-akan-mengenal", "mengenal"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["kula-badhé-mangertosi-sampurna", "tepang", "tepang,"]·KO["알지-못하니", "완전히-알리라"]·PT["conhece", "conhecerei-plenamente,"]·RU["знает", "познаю-полностью"]·ES["conoce", "conoceré-plenamente"]·SW["ham-jui,", "m-jua", "nitajua-kikamilifu"]·TR["bilir", "bilmez", "tam olarak bileceğim"]·urd["جانتا", "پوری-طرح-جانوں-گا"]
4. be known, be recognized — To be known, be recognized — the passive voice forms. Two clear occurrences: in 1 Cor 13:12 Paul says 'even as I was fully known (epegnosthen),' and in 2 Cor 6:9 the apostles are described as 'unknown yet being recognized (epiginoskomenoi).' Spanish fui conocido plenamente and German erkannt werden both use straightforward passivization. The passive matters theologically in 1 Cor 13 because it asserts that divine knowledge of Paul is already complete, while Paul's knowledge of God awaits eschatological consummation. 2×
AR["عُرِفتُ", "مَعروفينَ"]·ben["পূর্ণভাবে-জানা-গিয়েছি।", "সুপরিচিত;"]·DE["erkennen"]·EN["I-was-known-fully", "being-recognized"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["מֻכָּרִים", "נוֹדַעְתִּי"]·HI["पहचाने-जाते-हुए", "पूर्ण-जाना-गया-हूँ"]·ID["aku-telah-dikenal", "dikenal"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["dipun-tepang;", "kula-dipun-mangertosi"]·KO["알려졌듯이", "알려진"]·PT["bem-conhecidos", "fui-plenamente-conhecido."]·RU["познаваемые", "познан-был"]·ES["fui-conocido-plenamente", "siendo-reconocidos"]·SW["nilivyojulikana-kikamilifu", "wanaojulikana;"]·TR["tam olarak bilindim", "tanınan"]·urd["جانا-گیا", "پہچانے-جانے-والے"]
5. acknowledge, accept as valid — To acknowledge, accept as valid or authoritative — a volitional act that goes beyond mere cognitive recognition to willing acceptance. Two occurrences in Paul: in 1 Cor 14:37 'let him recognize (epiginosketo) that the things I write are the Lord's commandment'; in 1 Cor 16:18 'therefore acknowledge (epiginoskete) such men.' Spanish reconoced and German erkennt function here with the force of 'accept and affirm' rather than mere intellectual apprehension. This sense is close to the LXX usage noted by LSJ where epiginosko means 'take notice of, show favour to' — acknowledgment that carries relational and authoritative weight. 2×
AR["فَاعْرِفُوا", "لِيَعرِف"]·ben["স্বীকার-করুক", "স্বীকার-করো"]·DE["erkennen"]·EN["let-him-recognize", "recognize"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["הַכִּירוּ", "יַכִּיר"]·HI["पहचाने", "पहचानो"]·ID["hargailah", "hendaklah-ia-mengakui"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["mangertosa", "piyambakipun-mangertosa"]·KO["인정하라", "인정할지니"]·PT["reconheça"]·RU["признавайте", "пусть-признаёт"]·ES["reconoced", "reconozca"]·SW["atambue", "watambueni"]·TR["o-", "tanısın"]·urd["پہچانو", "پہچانے"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιγιγνώσκω, Ionic dialect and laterἐπιγενν-γῑνώσκω, look upon, witness, observe, Refs 8th c.BC+ __II. recognize, Refs 8th c.BC+; ὅπως μήτηρ σε μὴ 'πιγνώσεται φαιδρῷ προσώπῳ by thy glad face, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II.2. of things, find out, discover, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐπιγνοίης ἂν αὐτὴν [τὴν σοφίαν].. οἰκείαν γενομένη; would you recognize when it became your own?, LXX+5th c.BC+passive, Refs 3rd c.BC+…