H5234a H5234a
To recognize, discern, or acknowledge; also to show partiality, make oneself known, or deny recognition
A verb of perception and social judgment centered on the act of identifying someone or something. Its most common Hiphil usage denotes recognizing a person by sight, as when Joseph's brothers failed to recognize him (Gen 42:8) or when Boaz noticed Ruth gleaning in his field. The word extends into the moral realm: 'recognizing faces' becomes the Hebrew idiom for showing partiality in judgment (Deut 1:17; Prov 24:23). Spanish 'reconocer' and French 'reconnaitre' preserve this breadth from visual identification to social acknowledgment, while the rarer Piel and Hitpael stems push toward deliberate denial or self-revelation.
3. acknowledge or regard — To acknowledge or formally regard someone's status or claim. Deuteronomy 21:17 requires a father to 'acknowledge' the firstborn's rights; Isaiah 63:16 laments that Abraham does not 'acknowledge us.' The sense moves beyond mere visual recognition to deliberate social or covenantal acceptance. Spanish 'reconocera' and German evidence confirm this relational weight. 4×
AR["(يَعْتَرِفُ)","أَعْتَرِفُ","يَعْتَرِفُ","يَعْتَرِفُنَا"]·ben["[সে-চিনে]","আমাদের-চেনে","সে-স্বীকার-করবে","স্বীকৃতি-দেব"]·DE["[אכיר]","[הכיר]","[יכירנו]","er-soll-acknowledge"]·EN["I-will-regard","[ketiv:he-acknowledged]","acknowledges-us","he-shall-acknowledge"]·FR["[אכיר]","[יכירנו]","il-devra-acknowledge","reconnaître"]·heb["[הכיר]","אכיר","יכיר","יכירנו"]·HI["[जानता-था]","पहचानता-हमें","पहचानेगा","मानूँगा"]·ID["[dia-kenal]","akan-Kuakui","dia-akui","mengakui-kami"]·IT["[אכיר]","[הכיר]","[יכירנו]","egli-dovra-acknowledge"]·jav["Aku-badhe-nggatosaken","ngakeni-kawula","piyambak-ipun-ngakeni","piyambakipun-ngakoni"]·KO["[신명기]","내가-알리라","우리를-알아보지만","인정하리라"]·PT["[reconhecerá]","nos-reconhece","olharei","reconhecerá"]·RU["[кере]","признает","признаю","признаёт-нас"]·ES["[reconocer]","nos-reconoce","reconocerá","reconoceré"]·SW["[atamtambua]","atatambua","hatutambui","nitawatambua"]·TR["[tanıdı]","sayacağım","taniyor-bizi","tanıyacak"]·urd["[قدیم]","وہ-پہچانے","پہچانتا-ہمیں","پہچانوں-گا"]
▼ 6 more senses below
Senses
1. recognize or identify — The primary Hiphil sense: to recognize or identify by perception. Joseph recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him (Gen 42:8); Naomi's neighbors recognized her upon return (Ruth 1:18). Spanish 'reconocio' and French 'reconnaitre' map directly. This covers visual identification, discerning voices, and perceiving situations through evidence. 30×
AR["أَعْرِفْ","أَنْ-يَعْرِفَ","اعْرِفْ","الَّذِي-عَرَفَكِ","عَرَفُوا","فَ-اعْتَرَفَ","فَ-عَرَفَهُ","فَ-عَرَفْتُ","لِ-تَعْرِفَنِي","مُعتَرِفٌ","وَ-عَرَفَ","وَ-عَرَفَهُمْ","وَعَرَفَ","يَعرِفهُ","يَعرِفُ","يَعْرِفوهُ","يَعْرِفُ","يُمَيِّزُونَ"]·ben["আমাকে-চিনতে","আমি-চিনতে-পারছি","আর-চিনতে-পারলেন","আর-চিনল","আর-চিনল-তাদের","আর-বুঝলাম-আমি","এবং-চিনল","এবং-চিনলেন","চিনতে-পারল","চিনতে-পারল-তাকে","চিনতে-পারে","চিনে-দেখ-","চেনা;","চেনেন","তাঁকে-চিনলেন","তোমাকে-যে-চিনেছে","পার্থক্যকারী","বুঝলেন","সে-চেনে"]·DE["[אכיר]","[הכירהו]","[ואכירה]","[יכיר]","[להכירני]","[מכירים]","[מכירך]","einer-recognizing","erkannte-er-ihn","erkenne","recognized","und-erkannte","und-erkannte-sie","und-recognized"]·EN["He-knows","I-recognized","and-I-perceived","and-he-recognized-them","and-recognized","could-recognize","he-recognized-him","he-recognizes","one-recognizing","recognize","recognized","recognizing","the-one-who-noticed-you","they-recognized-him","to-recognize-me"]·FR["[ואכירה]","[מכירים]","de-reconnaître","et-il-recognized-eux","et-recognized","il-recognized-lui","le-un-qui-noticed-tu","pourrait-recognize","recognize","recognized","reconnaître","reconnaître-lui","à-recognize-moi"]·heb["אכיר","הכירו","הכירו-ו","הכירוהו","הכר","ו-אכירה-ה","ו-הכיר","ו-יכר","ו-יכרם-ם","יכיר","ל-הכירני","מכיר","מכירים","מכירך"]·HI["और-पहचाना","और-पहचाना-उन्हें","जानता-है","पहचान-","पहचान-सकी","पहचानने","पहचाननेवाला","पहचाना","पहचाना-उसको","पहचाना-उसे","पहचाना-मैं","पहचाने","वह-जानता-है"]·ID["Dan-mengenali","Dan-mengenallah","Ia mengetahui","aku-kenali","dan-aku-mengenali","dan-ia-mengenal-mereka","dan-mengenali","dapat-mengenali","ia-mengenal","kenalilah","membedakan","mengenali","mengenalinya","mengenalnya","mengetahui","untuk-mengenaliku","yang-memperhatikanmu","yang-mengenal"]·IT["[ואכירה]","[מכירים]","a-recognize-me","e-egli-recognized-loro","e-recognized","e-riconobbe","egli-recognized-lui","il-uno-chi-noticed-tu","poteva-recognize","recognize","recognized","riconobbe","riconoscere","riconoscere-suo"]·jav["Lan-kula-mangertos","Lan-ngakeni","Lan-nganggep","Lan-tepang","Mugi-titèni-","Panjenengan-ipun-mangertosi","Titènana-","ingkang-tepang","kangge-mangertosi-kula","kawula-tepang","lan-tepang","lan-wuninga","mangertosi","ngengani","ngertos-panjenengan","panjenenganipun-ngenali","piyambakipun-tepang","saged-mbedakaken","tepang","tepang-kaliyan-piyambakipun"]·KO["구별하는자들","그가-아신다","그리고-내가-알아보았다","그리고-알아보았다","그리고-알아보았다-그들을","그리고-알아봤다","나를-알아보시려고","너를-알아보는-자가","알아보기","알아보나니","알아보는-자-가","알아보소서","알아보았다","알아보았다-그를","알아보았다-내가","알았고"]·PT["E-reconheceu","E-reconheci","conhecem","distinguindo","e-reconheceu","e-reconheceu-os","o-que-te-reconheceu","para-reconhecer-me","quem-me-reconheça","reconhece","reconhecer","reconheceram","reconheceram-o","reconheceu","reconheceu-o","reconheci"]·RU["И-распознал-я","И-узнал","знает","знающего","и-узнал","и-узнал-их","признавший-тебя","признать-меня","различал","узнает","узнай-","узнал","узнал-его","узнал-я","узнали","узнали-его","узнаёт"]·ES["Y-reconoció","Y-reconocí","lo-reconocieron","lo-reconoció","para-reconocerme","quien-me-reconozca","quien-te-reconoció","reconoce","reconoce-","reconocer","reconociendo","reconocieron","reconoció","reconocí","y-lo-reconoció","y-los-reconoció","y-reconoció"]·SW["aliyekujali","anajua","anatambua","anayenijua","hakumtambua","kunijali","mtu-kumtambua","na-akaitambua","na-akakamatia","na-akamtambua","na-akatambua","na-nikatambua","nikitambua","tambua","wakimtambua","waliotambua","walitambua","yeye"]·TR["Tanı-","Ve-tanıdı","ayirt-edebiliyordu","fark-etti","tanıdı-onu","tanıdılar","tanıdılar-onu","tanıdım","tanımana","tanır","tanıyabilir","tanıyan","tanıyan-seni","ve-anladım","ve-tanıdı","ve-tanıdı-onları"]·urd["اور-میں-نے-پہچانا","اور-پہچانا","اور-پہچانا-انہیں","اور-پہچانا-اُسے","اور-پہچانی","تجھے-پہچاننے-والا","جان-لیا","وہ جانتا ہے","پہچان","پہچان-لیا-اُنہوں-نے","پہچانا-اُسے","پہچانا-میں-نے","پہچانتی","پہچانتے ہیں","پہچاننے-والا","پہچاننے-کو-مجھے","پہچانے"]
2. show partiality — The idiom hakker panim, 'recognizing faces,' meaning to show partiality or favoritism, especially forbidden in judicial contexts. Deuteronomy 1:17 and 16:19 prohibit judges from 'recognizing faces,' while Proverbs 24:23 and 28:21 warn that partiality is not good. Spanish 'hacer acepcion de' captures the technical legal nuance of prejudicial distinction. 4×
AR["تَعْرِفوا","تَمْيِيزُ-","تُحَابِي"]·ben["চিনবে","তুমি-পক্ষপাত-করবে","পক্ষপাত-দেখানো-"]·DE["[הכר]","du-soll-recognize","du-soll-zeigen-partiality"]·EN["partiality-of","you-shall-recognize","you-shall-show-partiality"]·FR["reconnaître","tu-devra-montrer-partiality","tu-devra-recognize"]·heb["הכר-","תכיר","תכירו"]·HI["पक्षपात-करोगे","पहचानना-","पहचानेगा"]·ID["Berat-sebelah","berat-sebelah","memandang","memihak"]·IT["riconoscere","tu-dovra-mostrare-partiality","tu-dovra-recognize"]·jav["kedah-panjenengan-ndelik","nepsu-ing-pilih","panjenengan-mbédakaken"]·KO["너희가-알아보아라","알아보다","알아보라","편파-"]·PT["Reconhecer-","farás-acçepção-de","reconhecer-","reconhecereis"]·RU["лицеприятие-","узнавай","узнавайте"]·ES["Hacer-acepción-de-","Hacer-distinción-de-","reconocerás","reconoceréis"]·SW["kumficha","kuonyesha","kupendelea-"]·TR["tanıyacaksın","tanıyacaksınız","taraf-tutmak-"]·urd["طرفداری-کرنا","پہچاننا","پہچاننا-","پہچانو"]
4. make oneself known — Hitpael reflexive: to make oneself known or reveal one's character. Proverbs 20:11 says even a youth 'makes himself known' by his deeds. This sole occurrence carries a proverbial flavor of self-revelation through action rather than words. The reflexive stem distinguishes it from external recognition. 1×
AR["يُعْرَفُ-"]·ben["চেনা-যায়"]·DE["[יתנכר]"]·EN["makes-himself-known"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["יתנכר־"]·HI["पहचाना-जाता-है-"]·ID["dikenal"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["dipunpirènani"]·KO["알리느니라-자기를-"]·PT["se-dá-a-conhecer-"]·RU["узнаётся-"]·ES["se-da-a-conocer-"]·SW["hujulikana"]·TR["tanınır-"]·urd["پہچانا-جاتا-ہے-"]
5. deny or disown — Piel with a privative or negative force: to refuse recognition, deny, or disown. Job 21:29 challenges the friends: 'Do you not recognize their signs?' The rhetorical context implies willful failure to acknowledge obvious evidence. The Piel intensification underscores deliberate, not accidental, non-recognition. 1×
AR["تُنْكِرُونَ"]·ben["তোমরা-অস্বীকার-কর"]·DE["[תנכרו]"]·EN["you-recognize"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["תנכרו"]·HI["तुम-अस्वीकार-करोगे"]·ID["kamu-akui"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["panjenengan-ngakeni"]·KO["부정하겠느냐"]·PT["reconheceis"]·RU["отвергаете"]·ES["desconocéis."]·SW["hamzikatai"]·TR["yabancı-bulursunuz"]·urd["تم پہچانتے"]
6. be regarded or favored — Piel passive-stative: to be regarded or shown preference. Job 34:19 declares God does not 'regard' the rich above the poor. This single occurrence parallels the adjacent phrase 'does not lift the face of princes,' confirming a sense of preferential treatment being negated. 1×
AR["يُفَضِّلُ"]·ben["চেনা-হয়-"]·DE["[נכר]"]·EN["is-regarded"]·FR["reconnaître"]·heb["ניכר"]·HI["पहचानता-है"]·ID["dikenal-"]·IT["riconoscere"]·jav["langkung-dipunaosi"]·KO["알아보지"]·PT["é-reconhecido"]·RU["признаётся-"]·ES["es-reconocido-"]·SW["anamtambua"]·TR["tanındı-"]·urd["مانا جاتا"]
7. be recognized — Nifal passive: to be recognized or identified by others. Lamentations 4:8 mourns that the Nazirites' faces are 'not recognized' in the streets because of famine's devastation. Spanish 'son reconocidos' preserves the passive. The physical transformation is so severe that identity itself is lost. 1×
AR["يُعْرَفُوا"]·ben["চেনা-যায়"]·DE["[נכרו]"]·EN["they-are-recognized"]·FR["[נכרו]"]·heb["ניכרו"]·HI["वे-पहचाने-जाते"]·ID["mereka-dikenali"]·IT["[נכרו]"]·jav["sami-kanal"]·KO["그들-이-알아볼-수-있었네"]·PT["são-reconhecidos"]·RU["узнаваемы"]·ES["son-reconocidos"]·SW["hawatambuliwi"]·TR["tanındılar"]·urd["پہچانے-گئے"]
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. [נָכַר] vb. (not Qal) regard, recognize (NH Hiph. know, be acquainted with; 𝔗 Aph. id.; Syriac Aph. ܐܰܟܰܪ id.; cf. also Arabic نَكِرَ in sense be shrewd, appar. rare, cf. نُكْرٌ cunning Lane 2850 a. v. p. 1125);— Niph. Pf. 3 mpl. לֹא נִכְּרוּ La 4:8 they are not recognized. Pi. Pf. לֹא נִכַּר שׁוֹעַ לִפְנֵי־דָ֑ל Jb 34:19 he regardeth not the opulent above the poor (‖ לֹא־נָשָׂא פְּנֵי…